Assistant United States Attorney - TERM (Civil)

About the role

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is seeking highly motivated attorneys to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Civil Division. This position offers the opportunity to litigate a broad range of cases involving significant, complex issues on behalf of the United States in federal court, working on land condemnation matters and related cases involving the border with Mexico, as well as immigration enforcement matters, issuing warrants, defending asylum and passport cases, and general civil litigation matters. Practicing in this district offers a fast-paced, challenging, and varied caseload with frequent courtroom appearances.

Responsibilities

• Handle land condemnation matters and related cases involving the border with Mexico
• Manage immigration enforcement matters, including issuing warrants
• Defend asylum and passport cases
• Handle general civil litigation matters
• Represent the United States in federal court on significant, complex civil issues
• Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress

Qualifications

Required:

• Must be a United States Citizen or National
• Possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) by entry on duty date
• Be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a July 2026 bar examination may be considered.
• Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof (see 28 U.S.C. 545)
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication including fingerprint, credit and 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 register with the Selective Service System or be exempt

Preferred:

• Strong academic credentials
• Superior legal research and writing skills
• Quick analytical ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical case-related issues
• High-volume courtroom experience
• First-chair jury trial experience
• Outstanding organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with other AUSAs, support staff, and investigative agencies
• Demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service
• Computer proficiency, capable of doing independent legal research and writing
• Self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings

Pay

Salary is administratively determined based in part on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of pay for this position (including locality) is $76,748.00 to $197,100.00, corresponding to AD grades 21 through 29.

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Holidays
• Telework
• Life insurance
• Health benefits
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System

Schedule

Travel: 1 to 5 nights per month on average. This is a temporary appointment not-to-exceed 09/30/2029. Positions are located in Brownsville, McAllen, Corpus Christi, or Laredo, TX.