Assistant United States Attorney - TERM (Civil)
About the Role
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is among the largest and busiest in the nation, spanning 43 counties and 44,000 square miles and representing 8.3 million people from the Houston area to the Mexico border. Employment with the U.S. Attorney's Office is a unique, challenging, and rewarding experience for the highly motivated attorney.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is at the forefront of national efforts to secure the border, stem narcotics trafficking, and deter and punish violent crime, and, as such, practicing in this district offers a fast-paced, challenging, and varied caseload, with frequent courtroom appearances. Although the hiring process is rigorous and highly selective, if selected you will find that being an Assistant United States Attorney is more than just a job, you will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce federal criminal and civil laws that protect the life, liberty and the property of your fellow citizens.
The U.S. Attorney's Office is currently seeking to fill Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) positions in the Civil Division in our Houston, Texas Office. It is an opportunity to litigate a broad range of cases involving significant, complex issues on behalf of the United States in federal court. Working in the Civil Division, you will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce federal civil laws that protect life, liberty, and property. If selected, the individual will be 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. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
This position is located in Brownsville, McAllen, Corpus Christi, or Laredo, TX. This is a temporary appointment not-to-exceed 09/30/2029.
Responsibilities
- Handle land condemnation matters and related cases involving the border with Mexico
- Handle immigration enforcement matters
- Issue warrants
- Defend asylum and passport cases
- Handle general civil litigation matters
- Litigate a broad range of cases involving significant, complex issues on behalf of the United States in federal court
- Frequent courtroom appearances
Qualifications
Required:
- Must be a United States Citizen or National
- Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) by their entry on duty date
- Must be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a July 2026 bar examination may be considered.
- 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.
- Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district-specific information.
- Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (male applicants born after December 31, 1959)
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
- 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
- Courtroom experience, including first-chair jury trials, is preferred
- Computer proficient, capable of doing their own legal research and writing, and self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings
Pay
The salary range for this position (including locality) is $76,748.00 to $197,100.00. The grade is generally determined based on the number of years of professional Attorney experience the applicant possesses. The advertised salary range corresponds to the specified grades (AD 21 to 29).
Schedule
Travel: 1 to 5 nights per month on average.
Benefits
- Paid vacation
- Sick leave
- Holidays
- Telework
- Life insurance
- Health benefits
- Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System