Assistant United States Attorney

First round consideration will be given to applications submitted by September 04, 2026, at 11:59pm EST. Applicant list will be reviewed every 30 days.

About the role

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is one of the largest and busiest U.S. Attorney's Offices in the nation, spanning 43 counties and 44,000 square miles and representing 8.3 million people from the Houston area to the Mexico border. This position is located in Brownsville, Houston, Corpus Christi, McAllen, or Laredo, Texas.

As an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA), you will join the more than 100,000 dedicated public servants of the Department of Justice and will further the Department's mission of enforcing federal law, defending the interests of the United States, seeking just punishment for the guilty, and ensuring the impartial administration of justice for all Americans. The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is at the forefront of national efforts to secure the border, stem narcotics trafficking, and deter and punish violent crime, offering a fast-paced, challenging, and varied caseload with frequent courtroom appearances.

The selected individual will serve in the Civil Division, working on immigration enforcement matters, issuing warrants, defending habeas corpus cases, seeking injunctions, defending asylum and passport cases, and general civil litigation. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

The position is advertised for all AD grades from 21 to 29. The grade is generally determined based on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The selected individual will be placed in our Brownsville, Corpus Christi, McAllen, or Laredo, Texas office.

Responsibilities

• Litigate a broad range of cases involving significant, complex issues on behalf of the United States in federal court.
• Handle immigration enforcement matters, including issuing warrants and defending habeas corpus cases.
• Seek injunctions and defend asylum and passport cases.
• Engage in general civil litigation.
• Perform duties that will increase in complexity as training and experience progress.
• Travel 1 to 5 nights per month on average.

Requirements

• Must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit, and tax checks, and drug testing.
• Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a July 2026 bar examination may be considered.
• Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof (see 28 U.S.C. 545 for district-specific information).

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date.
• United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong academic credentials.
• Superior legal research and writing skills.
• Quick analytical ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical case-related issues.
• High-volume courtroom experience.
• Outstanding organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with other AUSAs, support staff, and investigative agencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.
• Courtroom experience, including first-chair jury trials, is preferred.
• Computer proficiency, capable of doing their own legal research and writing.
• Self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings.

Pay

Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of pay for this position (including locality) is $76,748.00 to $197,100.00.

Benefits

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Telework opportunities.
• Life insurance and health benefits.
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized.