Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal Division)

Summary

The Eastern District of California is seeking attorneys to serve as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Criminal Division of the Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield Offices. The office represents the Federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States. This includes all 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 in the district.

Duties

• The United States Attorney is seeking attorneys to serve as Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) in the Criminal Division of the Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield Offices. The Criminal Division has the following units: Sacramento Office: White Collar Crime, Special Prosecution, Transnational Organized Crime, Violent Crime & Firearms Trafficking, National Security, and Appellate. Fresno & Bakersfield Offices: White Collar Crime and Narcotics & Violent Crime. Your application will be considered for all AUSA vacancies in the Criminal Division in the location(s) that you indicate in your preferences. You may also indicate in your cover letter a unit preference. Depending on unit assignment, the Assistant U.S. Attorney will be responsible for handling a variety of criminal cases including complex white collar, child exploitation, narcotics and violent crimes, immigration, and appellate. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Additional office location information: Sacramento is located in the heart of California. Sacramento is home to professional ballet and opera theatrecompanies, providing a wide range of cultural activities and events. Professional sports are represented by the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento River Cats, and the Sacramento Republic FC. Bound by two rivers and in close proximity to several lakes, water recreation tops the list for outdoor activities such as salmon fishing, river rafting, and boating. Sacramento is located 90 miles northeast of San Francisco and approximately 90 miles west of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range, providing numerous recreational opportunities for skiing and boating enthusiasts. Fresno is one of the fastest growing cities in California, due in part to its central location to major tourist areas in California. Fresno is located in the middle of the fertile San Joaquin Valley, also known as the Central Valley, which is a major supplier of food and agricultural products for the United States and the world. This area also includes national treasures such as Yosemite National Park and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks. Bakersfield, considered the Southern Gateway to the Central Valley, is the ninth largest city in California and one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. Steeped in music history, the city is the birthplace of the country music genre known worldwide as the Bakersfield Sound. Bakersfield is the seat of Kern County and enjoys a wide variety of entertainment with the Dignity Health Arena theatre and convention center, museums, art galleries, The Bakersfield Condors (ice hockey). Outdoor activities abound to include two lakes, several private and public golf courses and tennis facilities, three auto racing tracks, as well as whitewater rafting. Bakersfield is approximately 110 miles from Los Angeles, providing entertainment and recreational activities of all types. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent) and be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction). United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Ideal qualifications include at least three to five years of experience litigating cases with substantial responsibility for all aspects of discovery, trial, and appeals. 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, paralegals, support staff and client agencies. Applicants must have a demonstrated capacity to function in a highly demanding environment. Applicants will be expected to do their own legal research and writing and will be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. Applicants must also demonstrate excellent computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic e-mail and word processing systems. The ideal candidate will have some experience working with multi-agency task forces; will have experience and familiarity with federal grand jury practice; will have experience with the use of a multitude of investigatory techniques, including electronic surveillance, tracking devices, search warrants, telephone toll record analysis and asset seizure and forfeiture; and will demonstrate the ability to handle complex cases from the initial investigative stage through trial. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent)

How to apply

This is an open continuous announcement that will remain open until filled or September 30, 2026. This is a job opportunity announcement that will be used to fill multiple vacancies in the Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield offices. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applicants will be 06/26/2026. Qualified applicants will be referred to selecting official at 1-week intervals from then. 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.) 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 Eastern District of California at 916-554-2706 or email at [email protected], prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying. The Point of Contact for this vacancy announcement is Eastern District of California who can be reached at 916-554-2706 or [email protected]