assistant united states attorney

US Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys

Assistant United States Attorney

United States Department of Justice

Hiring Organization
 USAO District of Columbia
 Hiring Office
 Superior Court Division
 Attorney Appointment Type
 Attorney Permanent
 Job ID
 26-DC-12811519-AUSA
 
Location: 
601 D Street NW
 Washington, DC 20530 - United States
 
Application Deadline: 
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
 About the Office
 
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. AUSAs assigned to the Superior Court Division prosecute D.C. Code offenses ranging from misdemeanors to homicides. AUSAs assigned to the Criminal Division prosecute a broad range of U.S. Code violations.
 
Please find more about this announcement at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/847666800
 
Job Description
 
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is accepting applications for attorneys to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Office's Superior Court Division. The Superior Court Division is the largest division in the Office. It has primary responsibility for the prosecution of criminal cases in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and handles the highest volume of felony and misdemeanor cases prosecuted by the Office. Types of cases include, but are not limited to, homicides, sexual assaults, carjackings, kidnappings, robberies, burglaries, domestic violence, and narcotics and weapons possession.
 
AUSAs must possess the qualities necessary to excel in their mission to enforce the criminal laws of the District of Columbia and the United States. These qualities include advocacy and communication skills; superior writing and analytical skills; the ability to manage a high-volume docket; and dedication to duty. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, investigative agencies, witnesses, and crime victims. They must also demonstrate their willingness to meet the high ethical standards expected of prosecutors in their interactions with opposing counsel and the courts.
 
The Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Career Development Program implemented by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia provides new AUSAs with rotational work assignments in different (and progressively more complex) legal program areas of the Office for an approximate four-year duration. Rotations through different areas of litigation provide the new AUSA opportunities to develop skills and competencies that will enhance their ability to contribute to the important mission of the United States Attorney's Office to enforce federal law and administer justice in the United States.
 
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
 
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html
 
Qualifications
 
Required Qualifications: 
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least one year post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience.
 
You must be a United States Citizen or National.
 
Preferred Qualifications: 
Litigation experience and a minimum GPA of 3.0 is preferred. Applicants must possess superior communication and advocacy skills; exhibit exceptional research and writing ability; perform thorough legal and factual analysis; demonstrate an ability to work well with others; exercise good judgment; and function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment.
 
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
 
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.
 
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
 
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. The initial appointment is temporary not-to-exceed 14 months from the effective date. The appointment will be converted to a permanent appointment after receiving a favorable adjudication of a full-field background investigation. Failure to obtain a favorable adjudication from the background investigation process could result in your removal from federal service. Once you have been converted to a permanent position, you will be subject to a two-year probationary period. Failure to successfully perform during this probationary period could result in your removal from federal service.
 
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.Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access depending on organizational assignment / duty location.
 
Type of Position: All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14 month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Temporary appointments may be extended or made permanent without further competition.
 
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access depending on organizational assignment / duty location.
 
Application Process
 
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 09/30/2026 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.)
 
You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
 
<ul>
<li>Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).</li>
<li>Required: A Cover Letter</li>
<li>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:</li>
</ul>
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.
 
<ul>
<li>Required - Unofficial or official law school transcript. (Please do not submit a restricted pdf document with encryption or password security.)</li>
<li>Required - Writing Sample (such as an appellate brief, substantive brief, or memorandum) that reflects your own work and does not exceed a total of 15 pages).</li>
<li>Required, if applicable: To get Veterans' Preference, you must indicate your preference in response to the appropriate question in your assessment questionnaire and you must submit the appropriate supporting documentation. See the "How you will be Evaluated" section for details regarding what is appropriate Veterans' Preference documentation. It is also recommended that you include veterans' preference information in your cover letter or resume.</li>
</ul>
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 US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia at or email at USADC.Staffers@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
 
Salary Information: This is an excepted service attorney appointment under an Administrative Determined pay scale. (See www.justice.gov/usao/career-center/salary-information/administratively-determined-pay-plan-charts). 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 is $84,601 to $195,100 which includes 33.94% locality pay. For additional information on salary and benefits, visit www.justice.gov/legal-careers/attorney-salaries-promotions-and-benefits.
 
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.
 
This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.
 
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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
 
Political Appointees (Current and Former): Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA)

Hiring Organization
 United States Attorney's Office (USAO)
 Hiring Office
 USAO Eastern District of Pennsylvania
 Attorney Appointment Type
 Attorney Permanent
 Job ID
 26-PAE-12820161-AUSA
 
Location: 
Philadelphia, PA 19106 - United States
 
Application Deadline: 
Saturday, January 10, 2026
 About the Office
 
The Department of Justice represents the United States in legal disputes, prosecutes federal crimes, and upholds the rule of law. Our mission is to safeguard communities from criminal threats, including violent crime, illicit drug trafficking, illegal immigration, child sexual exploitation, fraud, sex trafficking, and national security violations. The Department of Justice also represents the United States in civil matters.
 
If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career, this is the position for you! With a talented workforce of over 100,000 people, the mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. You will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty and the property of citizens.
 
The United States Attorney's Office is the chief law enforcement agency in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District. This includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers.
 
Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
 
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit https://www.justice.gov/
 
All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
 
The Eastern District of Pennsylvania is responsible for one of the nation's largest districts covering about 4,700 square miles with over 5 million people residing within its nine counties. The district is unique in its diversity, evident not only in its environment but also in its population. From a large metropolitan city to country farm to mountain town, the district represents a microcosm of the nation. Cultures from all parts of the world have migrated to this region and have established themselves as members of a Pennsylvania community.
 
For more information, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa
 
Job Description
 
Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) located in the Criminal Division are responsible for investigating and prosecuting a variety of violations of federal laws, including immigration, violent crime, drug trafficking, fraud, public corruption, and national security offenses.
 
The attorney must have strong analytical reasoning, legal acumen, written and oral advocacy, and work ethic. The attorney must also exhibit good organizational skills, exercise fair and sound judgment, pay careful attention to facts and details, excel in both independent and team settings, negotiate effectively with opposing counsel, handle matters in court persuasively on behalf of the United States of America, and possess a deep commitment to justice and public service.
 
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
 
Qualifications
 
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 1-year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.
 
United States citizenship is required.
 
Preferred Qualifications: Hiring preferences include strong academic records, outstanding organizational skills, superior exceptional legal writing and research ability skills, demonstrated analytical ability, good judgment and courtroom skills, and a commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility and public service.
 
The ideal candidate will have three or more years of post-J.D. experience litigating cases with substantial responsibility for all aspects of discovery and trial.
 
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
 
Application Process
 
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 1/10/2026 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 the Eastern District of Pennsylvania at (215) 86-8921 or email at Stephenie.Sar@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.
 
Required Documents: You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
 
<ul>
<li>Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).</li>
<li>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:</li>
</ul>
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.
 
<ul>
<li>Required: Writing Sample</li>
<li>Required: Proof of Active Bar Membership (any jurisdiction)</li>
<li>Required: for Federal Employees, your most recent SF-50</li>
<li>Required, if applicable: To get Veterans' Preference, you must indicate your preference in response to the appropriate question in your assessment questionnaire and you must submit the appropriate supporting documentation. See the "How you will be Evaluated" section for details regarding what is appropriate Veterans' Preference documentation. It is also recommended that you include veterans' preference information in your cover letter or resume.</li>
</ul>
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
 
Position title;
 Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
 Agency; and
 Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
 
How you will be evaluated: You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
 
Evaluation Method: Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet all job requirements. An attorney interview panel will then review all qualified applicants and make recommendations for invitation to interview. You will be notified if selected for an interview.
 
The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete.
 
Type of Position: All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
 
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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
 
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
 
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
 
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 is $63,136 to $165,209. The total salary range to include the 37.95% Allentown locality pay is $87,096 to $195,100 and the 28.99% Philadelphia locality pay is $81,474 to $195,100.
 
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.

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