Assistant United States Attorney

About the role

This is an open-continuous announcement for Assistant United States Attorneys in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia (Roanoke or Charlottesville offices). The announcement remains open until all available positions are filled. Primary consideration will be given to applicants who apply by Sunday, September 6, 2026; additional applicants will be reviewed and referred every two weeks thereafter until the vacancies are filled, but no later than November 27, 2026.

Duties

The mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia is to enforce the Nation’s laws, ensure fair and impartial administration of justice, provide federal leadership in preventing and reducing crime, and seek just punishment for unlawful behavior. The Western District covers approximately 60 percent of Virginia’s land area and serves a population of 2.2 million across 52 counties and 18 independent cities. The Civil Division handles a wide variety of complex civil matters in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Abingdon, Harrisonburg, and Lynchburg.

The successful candidate will represent the United States as either Plaintiff or Defendant in affirmative and defensive civil litigation, including:

• Affirmative civil enforcement, such as False Claims Act matters
• Defensive litigation under the Federal Tort Claims Act (medical malpractice, automobile accidents, premises liability, other torts)
• Employment discrimination claims under Title VII, the ADEA, the Rehabilitation Act
• Administrative Procedure Act challenges to agency actions and decisions
• Bivens and other claims against federal employees sued in their individual capacities
• Prisoner-related litigation involving the Bureau of Prisons and its employees

Responsibilities include legal research and writing (dispositive motions, findings of fact and conclusions of law), discovery (witness interviews, depositions, expert engagement, written discovery), mediations and settlement conferences, and representation at bench and jury trials in federal court. Assignments and complexity increase with training and experience.

Residency Requirements

Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof, as provided in 28 U.S.C. § 545.

Requirements

• United States citizenship or nationality
• J.D. degree and active membership in the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction
• Satisfactory pre-employment adjudication (fingerprint, credit and tax checks, drug testing)
• Continued employment subject to a favorable background investigation
• Registration with the Selective Service System, if applicable (males born after December 31, 1959)

Preferred Qualifications

• Federal clerkship experience
• Litigation experience in federal court
• Strong academic record
• Superior legal research and writing skills
• Sound judgment

Attorneys are generally prohibited from compensated outside practice of law, except for law professors teaching law.

Salary

Base pay ranges from $76,748 to $197,100, including a 17.06% locality adjustment.

Benefits

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

Travel

Travel, both inside and outside the district, may be required depending on case needs.

Conflict Disclosure

Applicants must notify the office if they or a family member currently represent clients or adjudicate matters involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office to allow evaluation of any potential conflict of interest or disqualification.