What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal Division) position at U.S. Department of Justice?
ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY (CRIMINAL DIVISION)
"I am here on behalf of the United States." As an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the Southern District of Indiana, you will have the privilege to speak these words in federal court as you do the important work of the people you serve and the Constitution you will be sworn to protect and defend. Many have said that it is the best job you can do with a law degree.
We, as federal prosecutors, work to identify, investigate, and prosecute cases, in which, as observed decades ago, "the offense is the most flagrant, the public harm the greatest, and the proof the most certain." In doing so, we maximize our impact on public safety and the rule of law.
As an AUSA, you will be part of the backbone of the Department of Justice, indispensable in carrying out our mission to uphold the law, keep our country and community safe, and uphold our civil rights. AUSAs are entrusted with significant autonomy to use their judgment and professional skill to pursue justice and do the right thing under the law and Department policies.
Criminal Division AUSAs lead the investigation, prosecution, and appeals of a wide variety of important and often complex subject matters, including:
- National Security
- Economic and Cyber Crime
- Public Corruption and Civil Rights
- Violent and Firearms Offenses
- Drug Trafficking
- Human Exploitation
AUSAs routinely lead cases from initial intake and grand jury investigation, through indictment, pretrial litigation, trial, and appeals. We work closely with federal, state, and local investigative agencies to help disrupt the most serious criminal threats facing our communities. And we advocate extensively, in writing and on our feet, before our U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
As an AUSA in the Southern District of Indiana, you will become part of an outstanding team of attorneys and support professionals dedicated to working together in pursuit of our vital mission. We tailor our training, mentorship, and development programs to fit the needs of each attorney as they join our office.
At least one year of legal experience is required, unless you are applying through the Department of Justice's Honors Program. Some investigation, litigation, or trial experience is preferred. Significant writing experience is also preferred.
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.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
We are recruiting for 6 Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) who will be assigned to the Indianapolis, Indiana office and 1 Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) who will be assigned to the Evansville, Indiana office as part of the Criminal Division. This position will be responsible for one or more of the following: handling national security-related matters, including the prosecution of those involved in acts of international and domestic terrorism; prosecution of financial, firearm, child exploitation, cyber, and immigration crimes; and/or prosecution of violent crimes and drug crimes.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
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.
Preferred Qualifications:
Candidates should demonstrate sound legal judgment, possess strong writing skills and work ethic, and the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with their colleagues, support staff, and client agencies. Candidates should also possess a strong committment to justice and public service. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future AUSA vacancies as needed. Positions are open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The filling of positions is subject to the availability of funds
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to USAINS.Applicant@usdoj.gov. Please do not include a writing sample at the initial stage of the hiring process. Please indicate which location is preferred in the subject line and include the job announcement number.
For questions about this vacancy or the hiring process, please contact our Human Resources Officer, Kristen Greenwood, at Kristen.Greenwood@usdoj.gov.
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.
Updated May 10, 2023
Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice.
Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position.
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
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.
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.
Salary : $59,319 - $155,155
