Assistant United States Attorney (Appeals)

Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will close no later than September 30, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. This announcement has been extended to September 30, 2026. This announcement is to fill many positions. Depending on the need of the office, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Duties

• The Northern District of Illinois, Chicago Office is accepting applications for Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) openings in its Appeals Section, Criminal Division in Chicago, Illinois. The applicant selected will represent the U.S. Government as an AUSA in a wide range of unique and complex criminal appeals. Responsibilities will include working on direct and post-conviction appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit involving the full range of criminal cases that the District prosecutes. Appellate AUSAs draft briefs and present oral arguments on constitutional, statutory, evidentiary, procedural, and sentencing issues in appeals arising from the Criminal Division. Appellate AUSAs also review and edit briefs drafted by their colleagues, and participate in moot courts to prepare AUSAs for oral arguments. In addition, Appellate AUSAs assist with complex district court litigation, monitor developing areas of caselaw, and provide advice to other prosecutors on significant legal issues. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. 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

Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least 2 years of post-J.D. experience. Your application materials should demonstrate excellent academics, significant appellate experience, criminal law experience, strong legal writing skills, and a commitment to public service. Prior federal criminal prosecution experience in NDIL or another District is not required, but candidates with such experience are encouraged and will be given serious consideration. United States citizenship is required.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree

How to apply

Application information for AUSA-NDIL-26-4 is available at the following site: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/job-listing. To apply, please provide a complete application package, which consists of the following 5 items: Item 1 must be submitted through the USAJobs portal AND sent via email, in PDF format, to [email protected]. Resume and cover letter Items 2-5 should ONLY be submitted via email, in PDF format, to [email protected]. PLEASE DO NOT submit items 2-5 through the USAJobs portal. Law school transcript Writing sample written by you within the last year Three letters of professional recommendation from people who are in a position to assess your legal skills AUSA Questionnaire and Personal Statement indicating why you think you would be a good trial lawyer and why you want to work in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois Applicants who fail to follow the steps above will not be considered. Your application package will not be considered complete, and will not be reviewed for consideration, until all 5 items have been received. No telephone calls please. 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 Northern District of Illinois at 312-353-0518 or email at [email protected], prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.