Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

About the role

The mission of the United States Attorneys in the Criminal Division is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. We strive to build a stronger office through recruitment efforts and by promoting professional development.

Responsibilities

• Assist federal law enforcement agents in structuring and implementing criminal investigative plans and strategies.
• Litigate cases of varying degrees of complexity from start to finish.

Requirements

Residency Requirements: Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which he or she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district-specific information.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

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.

You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.

Qualifications

THIS IS AN ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION FOR RECENT GRADUATES.

• Must have graduated with a J.D. degree from an accredited law school within the last 8 months. Class rank required within top 1/3 of law school class.
• If not already licensed, applicant must (1) have taken a state bar exam and are awaiting results or (2) will take a state bar exam within six months of law school graduation.
• 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 academics.
• Outstanding organizational skills.
• Superior legal writing and research ability.
• Demonstrated analytical ability.
• Good judgment and courtroom skills.
• A commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree by Enter on Duty (EOD) date.

Additional information

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 for each location is $76,748 to $103,609 which includes 17.06% locality.

Your cover letter MUST indicate your preferred location(s) in order of preference. See "Required Documents" section for details.

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The closing date for this announcement may be extended.

Other 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. The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Application Process

To apply, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).
• Your cover letter MUST indicate which specific location(s) you are applying to and rank them in order of preference. If you are unwilling to go to a specific location, do not list it as a location you are applying to. Also include class rank in cover letter.
• Your resume cannot exceed two pages - you will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages - see USAJOBS for formatting requirements. Include relevant employment history as outlined below for each job:
• Official position title (if Federal, include series/grade),
• Employer name and contact information,
• Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year),
• Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
• A list of duties performed and accomplishments.