Assistant United States Attorney (Defense Litigation)

Attorneys selected for these positions will serve as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Civil Division, Defense Litigation Unit of the Sacramento and Fresno Offices. The selected applicant(s) will collaborate with other criminal and civil Assistant U.S. Attorneys and will be supported by a staff of paralegals, investigators, auditors, and other professionals.

About the location

Applicants may be considered for positions in either the Sacramento or Fresno office.

• Sacramento is located in the heart of California, offering a wide range of cultural activities, professional sports, and outdoor recreation such as salmon fishing, river rafting, and boating. It is 90 miles northeast of San Francisco and approximately 90 miles west of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
• Fresno is one of the fastest-growing cities in California, centrally located near major tourist areas, including Yosemite National Park and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks. It is situated in the fertile San Joaquin Valley, a major agricultural region.

Responsibilities

• Defend the United States, federal agencies, and federal employees in lawsuits, including:
  • Employment-discrimination actions
  • Medical malpractice, personal injury, and other tort actions
  • Administrative Procedure Act cases
  • Challenges to land management decisions under the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental statutes
  • Social Security, Medicare, and other federal programs
  • “Bivens” civil rights actions
• Handle immigration matters as needed.
• Collaborate with other Assistant U.S. Attorneys and professional staff.
• Responsibilities will increase in complexity as training and experience progress.

Requirements

• United States citizenship is required.
• J.D. degree (or equivalent) and active membership in the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• At least one year of post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.
• Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof (28 U.S.C. 545).
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit, tax checks, and drug testing.
• Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify registration with the Selective Service System or exemption under Selective Service Law.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Active membership in good standing of the bar (any jurisdiction).
• Demonstrated quick analytical ability and facility to articulate critical issues in a case.
• Superior oral and writing skills, strong research and interpersonal skills, and good judgment.
• Excellent communication and courtroom skills.
• Ability to work professionally with attorneys, paralegals, support staff, and client agencies.
• Capacity to function in a highly demanding environment.
• Ability to conduct legal research and writing independently and prepare day-to-day correspondence and pleadings.
• Excellent computer literacy, including experience with automated legal research, electronic court filing, and email/word processing systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least three to five years of experience litigating cases with substantial responsibility for discovery, trial, and appeals.
• Experience litigating civil cases in federal court, including managing cases, handling written discovery and document production, writing and arguing motions, and examining witnesses in depositions and court proceedings.
• Demonstrated ability to handle complex cases from the initial investigative stage through trial.

Pay

Assistant United States Attorney’s pay is administratively determined based on years of professional attorney experience. The recruiting range of basic pay for AD-21 through AD-29 is as follows:

• Sacramento: $85,075 to $197,100 (includes 29.76% locality pay).
• Fresno: $77,135 to $180,986 (includes 17.65% locality pay).

Benefits

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

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

Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Additional Information

• Travel will occasionally be required.
• Applicants must comply with professional conduct rules regarding conflicts of interest.
• Employment offers to current or former political appointees require authorization from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).