What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal) position at U.S. Department of Justice?
Hiring Organization
USAO District of Maine
Hiring Office
Criminal Division
Job ID
24-ME-001-AUSA
Location:
100 Middle Street
6th Floor, East Tower
Portland, ME 04101 - United States
Application Deadline:
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
About the Office
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine has a position available for an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in our Criminal Division. The District of Maine encompasses the entire state of Maine, which has a population of over 1.3 million. The AUSA vacancy is in our headquarters office, located in Portland, Maine’s largest city. Portland is a vibrant, livable small city located on gorgeous Casco Bay. The city has world-class dining, numerous cultural institutions, and easy access to outdoor adventures. For additional information regarding our office, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me.
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.
Job Description
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maine, with offices in Bangor and Portland, prosecutes all criminal and civil cases brought by the federal government and defends the United States in civil cases in Maine. Criminal AUSAs in the District of Maine improve the quality of life for all Maine residents by prosecuting violent crimes, narcotics trafficking, child exploitation, fraud and other white-collar offenses, firearms offenses, civil rights offenses, human trafficking, terrorism, political corruption and an array of other federal criminal laws. The position of an AUSA provides one with the responsibility and the authority to improve the lives of Americans who live in Maine and across the United States. Working as a federal prosecutor sworn to pursue justice in the name of the United States is deeply satisfying. Many lawyers look back on their days as an AUSA as among the most rewarding of their professional careers.
The office has one opening for an experienced prosecutor to serve as an AUSA in the Criminal Division in our Portland office. The selected AUSA will work with law enforcement agents and others to investigate federal criminal offenses, research and brief legal issues, and represent the United States before grand juries and in hearings and trials. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress. All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis. Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment 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.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar (any jurisdiction). Applicants must have a minimum of three years of post-J.D. experience and demonstrated excellence in trial advocacy and legal writing. United States citizenship is required.
Preferred qualifications: Hiring for AUSA positions is highly competitive. Our ideal candidate will have:
At least five years of experience prosecuting federal crimes;
Demonstrated ability to handle complex cases from the initial investigative stage through trial;
Strong academic credentials and superior legal research and writing skills;
Significant criminal trial experience and excellent courtroom skills;
Incisive analytical ability and an aptitude for accurately and precisely articulating the critical issues in a case;
A demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility and public service;
Impeccable integrity;
Outstanding organizational, time management and interpersonal skills;
The ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff and client agencies;
Excellent computer literacy skills and the ability to handle all aspects of electronic discovery and litigation; and
A strong desire to practice in Maine.
Application Process
Applicants may apply via the following link: USAJOBS - Job Announcement. This position is open until filled. Application packages will only be accepted through USAJOBS.gov and must be received by Monday, August 26, 2024.
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.
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
Assistant United States Attorneys’ pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $88,062 to $191,800 per year, which includes 31.97% locality pay.
USAO District of Maine
Hiring Office
Criminal Division
Job ID
24-ME-001-AUSA
Location:
100 Middle Street
6th Floor, East Tower
Portland, ME 04101 - United States
Application Deadline:
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
About the Office
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine has a position available for an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in our Criminal Division. The District of Maine encompasses the entire state of Maine, which has a population of over 1.3 million. The AUSA vacancy is in our headquarters office, located in Portland, Maine’s largest city. Portland is a vibrant, livable small city located on gorgeous Casco Bay. The city has world-class dining, numerous cultural institutions, and easy access to outdoor adventures. For additional information regarding our office, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me.
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.
Job Description
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maine, with offices in Bangor and Portland, prosecutes all criminal and civil cases brought by the federal government and defends the United States in civil cases in Maine. Criminal AUSAs in the District of Maine improve the quality of life for all Maine residents by prosecuting violent crimes, narcotics trafficking, child exploitation, fraud and other white-collar offenses, firearms offenses, civil rights offenses, human trafficking, terrorism, political corruption and an array of other federal criminal laws. The position of an AUSA provides one with the responsibility and the authority to improve the lives of Americans who live in Maine and across the United States. Working as a federal prosecutor sworn to pursue justice in the name of the United States is deeply satisfying. Many lawyers look back on their days as an AUSA as among the most rewarding of their professional careers.
The office has one opening for an experienced prosecutor to serve as an AUSA in the Criminal Division in our Portland office. The selected AUSA will work with law enforcement agents and others to investigate federal criminal offenses, research and brief legal issues, and represent the United States before grand juries and in hearings and trials. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress. All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis. Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment 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.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar (any jurisdiction). Applicants must have a minimum of three years of post-J.D. experience and demonstrated excellence in trial advocacy and legal writing. United States citizenship is required.
Preferred qualifications: Hiring for AUSA positions is highly competitive. Our ideal candidate will have:
At least five years of experience prosecuting federal crimes;
Demonstrated ability to handle complex cases from the initial investigative stage through trial;
Strong academic credentials and superior legal research and writing skills;
Significant criminal trial experience and excellent courtroom skills;
Incisive analytical ability and an aptitude for accurately and precisely articulating the critical issues in a case;
A demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility and public service;
Impeccable integrity;
Outstanding organizational, time management and interpersonal skills;
The ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff and client agencies;
Excellent computer literacy skills and the ability to handle all aspects of electronic discovery and litigation; and
A strong desire to practice in Maine.
Application Process
Applicants may apply via the following link: USAJOBS - Job Announcement. This position is open until filled. Application packages will only be accepted through USAJOBS.gov and must be received by Monday, August 26, 2024.
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.
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
Assistant United States Attorneys’ pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $88,062 to $191,800 per year, which includes 31.97% locality pay.
Salary : $88,062 - $191,800
