Assistant United States Attorney
About the role
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia (USAO-WDVA) enforces federal laws to ensure fair and impartial justice, reduce crime, and seek just punishment for unlawful behavior. The office serves a population of 2.2 million across 52 counties and 18 independent cities in western Virginia, with offices in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Abingdon, Harrisonburg, and Lynchburg. The Civil Division is seeking motivated Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) to handle affirmative and defensive civil litigation on behalf of the United States.
Responsibilities
- Lead investigations and prosecutions of federal civil offenses, including False Claims Act violations.
- Represent federal agencies and employees in litigation under the Federal Tort Claims Act (medical malpractice, automobile accidents, premises liability, and other torts), Title VII, ADEA, Rehabilitation Act, Administrative Procedures Act, and other statutes.
- Represent federal employees sued in their individual capacities under Bivens or other federal statutes.
- Represent the Bureau of Prisons and its employees in prisoner-related litigation.
- Conduct legal research and draft dispositive motions, findings of fact, and conclusions of law.
- Engage in discovery, including interviewing witnesses, taking and defending depositions, working with expert witnesses, and responding to written discovery requests.
- Participate in mediations, settlement conferences, and represent the United States at bench and jury trials in federal court.
- Handle an increasing caseload with growing complexity as training and experience progress.
Requirements
- United States citizenship or nationality.
- J.D. degree and active membership in the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
- Reside in the Western District of Virginia or within 25 miles thereof.
- Satisfactory preemployment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit, tax checks, and drug testing.
- Favorable adjudication of a background investigation for continued employment.
- Registration with the Selective Service System, if applicable (male applicants born after December 31, 1959).
Preferred Qualifications
- Federal clerkship experience.
- Experience litigating in federal court.
- Strong academic record, superior legal research and writing skills, and sound judgment.
Attorneys are generally prohibited from compensated outside legal practice, except for law professors engaged in teaching.
Salary
Assistant United States Attorney pay is administratively determined based, in part, on years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $76,748 to $197,100, which includes a 17.06% locality adjustment.
Benefits
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
- Telework opportunities.
- Life insurance and health benefits.
- Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
Relocation expenses are not authorized.