Assistant United States Attorney (Civil)

Hiring Organization
USAO Southern District of West Virginia
Hiring Office
Civil Division
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
26-WVS-12894360-AUSA

Location:
300 Virginia Street
Suite 4000
Charleston, WV 25301 - United States

Application Deadline:
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
About the Office

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia prosecutes federal criminal offenses and defends the interests of the United States in civil cases. The office seeks to maintain the highest standards of excellence in the enforcement of federal laws and the representation of the United States. The Southern District of West Virginia covers 23 of the state's 55 counties.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv

Job Description

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is currently seeking highly qualified Assistant United States Attorney candidates for the Civil Division to perform the vital public service of representing the interests of the United States. In this role, you will act as primary counsel in judicial proceedings, including hearings, oral arguments, and trials in United States District Court as well as appeals in the United States Court of Appeals.

The Civil Division handles a wide range of litigation. Defensive matters include cases involving the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, Title VII, constitutional torts, and immigration-related habeas corpus claims. Additionally, you will work on Affirmative Civil Enforcement matters to enforce federal law through proactive legal action. These responsibilities require substantial legal research and writing at both the trial and appellate levels.

Successful applicants must demonstrate strong leadership, a dedicated work ethic, and the ability to analyze complex legal and factual issues. We are looking for persuasive writers and skilled negotiators who exercise sound judgment and maintain a sharp focus on detail. Because the needs of the Department of Justice are dynamic, candidates should be prepared to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Qualifications
Conditions of employment
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree and have at least one year of post-J.D. experience.
Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar in any jurisdiction. Additionally, local rules require all Assistant United States Attorneys to become members of the West Virginia State Bar within one year of appointment.
Applicants should demonstrate a quick analytical ability and the capacity to accurately articulate critical issues in a case.
Superior oral and writing skills, along with strong research and interpersonal skills, are essential. Applicants should also exhibit good judgment.
Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and demonstrate the ability to work professionally with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies.
A demonstrated ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment is required.
Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:
The ideal applicant should be self-motivated, possess impeccable integrity, and demonstrate a commitment to professionalism, ethics, justice, and public service.

You must meet all required qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Application Process
Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).
• Required: 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.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/10/2026 to receive consideration.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. (It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.)

3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. However, should you not be able to apply online, please contact Southern District of West Virginia at (304) 340-2388 or email at Alex.Ferguson@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Salary

$79,440 to $193,394 (includes 17.06% locality pay)

Pay scale & grade: AD 21