Assistant United States Attorney

Duties

Help An appointment with the U.S. Attorney's Office offers unique and challenging experiences for the highly motivated attorney. Serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and assigned to the Criminal, Civil, or Appellate Division, you will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce federal criminal laws that protect life, liberty, and property of citizens.

• The investigation and prosecution of federal criminal laws involving guns, violence, immigration, terrorism, drug trafficking, crimes against children, government program fraud, health care fraud, other white collar offenses, public corruption, and organized crime.
• Handling all aspects of investigations and cases, including gathering evidence, researching the law, and appearing in court at hearings and trials.
• Affirmative Litigation: Pursuing civil enforcement actions against public and private entities and individuals that engage in fraud, violate federal laws, divert controlled substances, or damage federal lands or resources.
• Defensive Litigation: Defending the United States, its agencies, and employees in a wide variety of defensive civil matters in federal court, involving tort, employment discrimination, constitutional, Administrative Procedures Act, immigration, and numerous other claims.
• Civil Rights: Enforcing federal civil rights statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, religion, familial status, and national origin.
• Appeals: Appealing from diverse crimes, such as health care fraud, mortgage fraud, other complex fraud, organized drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, alien smuggling and other immigration offenses.
• Providing real-time trial assistance to Criminal Division attorneys.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes 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.
• J.D. degree and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.
• 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 AND be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• Proof of active bar membership is required.
• United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Very strong ability to analyze complex legal and factual issues.
• Write clearly and persuasively.
• Strong work ethic.
• Good organizational skills.
• Exercise fair and sound judgment.
• Pay careful attention to facts and details.
• Work well both independently and on a team.
• Be ready and willing to volunteer to help other attorneys.
• Be able to negotiate fairly and effectively with opposing counsel.
• Handle matters in court persuasively on behalf of the United States of America.
• Devoted to justice, excellence, and representing the public.

Benefits

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Salary Information

Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $84,655 to $197,100, which includes the 29.12% Detroit/Flint locality pay.