What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant United States Attorney (Asset Forfeiture) position at U.S. Department of Justice?
Hiring Organization
United States Attorney's Office (USAO)
Hiring Office
District of New Mexico
Job ID
25-NM-12717957-AUSA
Location:
201 3rd Street NW
Suite 900
Albuquerque, NM 87102 - United States
Application Deadline:
Thursday, April 17, 2025
About the Office
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. These positions are funded for the purpose of working on asset forfeiture matter related to prosecutions of illegal immigration, illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings, and targeting the Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) for the District of New Mexico is one of 94 USAOs in the nation. But our office is unique. New Mexico is home to 23 tribes and pueblos, 4 military bases, and 2 national labs. New Mexico is the fifth biggest state of the union in size, shares a border with Mexico, and is a major international and economic corridor. The USAO is primarily responsible for prosecuting federal crime occurring in the District of New Mexico. The USAO partners with tribal, state, county, city, and foreign governments to ensure our communities are safe and prosperous. The mission of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico is to uphold the rule of law, keep New Mexico and the nation safe, and to protect civil rights. The Office earns the public trust by following the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor. The Office adheres to the highest standards of excellence and ethical behavior, interested not in winning cases but in ensuring justice is done.
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html
Job Description
Please note: This is a term position not-to-exceed March 31, 2028, subject to availability of funds. This position may be extended, or made permanent, without further advertising.
Duties of Assistant United States Attorneys (Asset Forfeiture)
Assistant US Attorneys in the Asset Forfeiture Unit pursue civil and criminal forfeiture of property used in or acquired through criminal activity. The effective use of both civil and criminal forfeiture is an essential component of the Department of Justice's efforts to combat sophisticated criminal actors and organizations including terrorist financers, fraudsters, human traffickers, transnational drug cartels, and cyber criminals. The primary goals of the Asset Forfeiture Program are to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gain and to recover assets that may be used to compensate victims when authorized under federal law. The position currently being filled will focus on asset forfeiture related to prosecution of illegal immigration, illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings, and targeting the Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
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 USAOs, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html
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.
Residency Requirements: Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which he or she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district-specific information.
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.
Qualifications
Please note: This is a term position not-to-exceed March 31, 2028, subject to availability of funds. This position may be extended, or made permanent, without further advertising.
The U.S. Attorney's Office is seeking qualified, experienced AUSAs to:
Partner with federal, state, and local law enforcement to manage criminal investigations and prosecutions brought in the federal courts in the District of New Mexico.
Advise federal agents on questions of law and Departmental policy.
Recommend charging decisions and proposes dispositions with regard to assigned cases.
Research and draft all legal pleadings and be prepared to try cases in federal court.
Investigate and pursue asset forfeiture related to prosecutions.
Oversee and coordinate the preparation of litigation assignments for legal support staff.
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 preference will be given to applicants with prior felony trial experience and those who have demonstrated the ability to prosecute from the initial investigative stage through trial.
Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical ability and the facility to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues in a case.
Applicants must demonstrate superior oral and writing skills, as well as strong research and interpersonal skills, and good judgment.
Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff and client agencies.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of 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 below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/17/2025 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 Azure Dorsey at 505-224-1526 or email at azure.dorsey@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: Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The pay for this position is as follows, including locality pay:
Albuquerque, N.M., Salary is $74,741 to $195,200 which includes a 18.33% locality pay.
United States Attorney's Office (USAO)
Hiring Office
District of New Mexico
Job ID
25-NM-12717957-AUSA
Location:
201 3rd Street NW
Suite 900
Albuquerque, NM 87102 - United States
Application Deadline:
Thursday, April 17, 2025
About the Office
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. These positions are funded for the purpose of working on asset forfeiture matter related to prosecutions of illegal immigration, illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings, and targeting the Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) for the District of New Mexico is one of 94 USAOs in the nation. But our office is unique. New Mexico is home to 23 tribes and pueblos, 4 military bases, and 2 national labs. New Mexico is the fifth biggest state of the union in size, shares a border with Mexico, and is a major international and economic corridor. The USAO is primarily responsible for prosecuting federal crime occurring in the District of New Mexico. The USAO partners with tribal, state, county, city, and foreign governments to ensure our communities are safe and prosperous. The mission of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico is to uphold the rule of law, keep New Mexico and the nation safe, and to protect civil rights. The Office earns the public trust by following the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor. The Office adheres to the highest standards of excellence and ethical behavior, interested not in winning cases but in ensuring justice is done.
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html
Job Description
Please note: This is a term position not-to-exceed March 31, 2028, subject to availability of funds. This position may be extended, or made permanent, without further advertising.
Duties of Assistant United States Attorneys (Asset Forfeiture)
Assistant US Attorneys in the Asset Forfeiture Unit pursue civil and criminal forfeiture of property used in or acquired through criminal activity. The effective use of both civil and criminal forfeiture is an essential component of the Department of Justice's efforts to combat sophisticated criminal actors and organizations including terrorist financers, fraudsters, human traffickers, transnational drug cartels, and cyber criminals. The primary goals of the Asset Forfeiture Program are to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gain and to recover assets that may be used to compensate victims when authorized under federal law. The position currently being filled will focus on asset forfeiture related to prosecution of illegal immigration, illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings, and targeting the Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
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 USAOs, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html
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.
Residency Requirements: Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which he or she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district-specific information.
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.
Qualifications
Please note: This is a term position not-to-exceed March 31, 2028, subject to availability of funds. This position may be extended, or made permanent, without further advertising.
The U.S. Attorney's Office is seeking qualified, experienced AUSAs to:
Partner with federal, state, and local law enforcement to manage criminal investigations and prosecutions brought in the federal courts in the District of New Mexico.
Advise federal agents on questions of law and Departmental policy.
Recommend charging decisions and proposes dispositions with regard to assigned cases.
Research and draft all legal pleadings and be prepared to try cases in federal court.
Investigate and pursue asset forfeiture related to prosecutions.
Oversee and coordinate the preparation of litigation assignments for legal support staff.
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 preference will be given to applicants with prior felony trial experience and those who have demonstrated the ability to prosecute from the initial investigative stage through trial.
Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical ability and the facility to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues in a case.
Applicants must demonstrate superior oral and writing skills, as well as strong research and interpersonal skills, and good judgment.
Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff and client agencies.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of 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 below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/17/2025 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 Azure Dorsey at 505-224-1526 or email at azure.dorsey@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: Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The pay for this position is as follows, including locality pay:
Albuquerque, N.M., Salary is $74,741 to $195,200 which includes a 18.33% locality pay.
Salary : $74,741 - $195,200
