Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Summary

Our mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. We strive to build a stronger office through recruitment efforts and by promoting professional development. We seek to further build on the legacy of excellence built by those who have come before us.

Duties

• Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Criminal Division prosecute a wide variety of federal crimes. Individuals chosen to be AUSAs in our office will investigate and prosecute an assortment of cases with a particular focus on those cases involving illegal immigration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms trafficking, human smuggling, and transnational organized crime, including Mexican drug cartels. The qualified applicant would be expected to (a) assist federal law enforcement agents in structuring and implementing criminal investigative plans and strategies; and (b) litigate cases of varying degrees of complexity from start to finish. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. 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

THIS IS AN ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION FOR RECENT GRADUATES. Required Qualifications: Must have graduated with a J.D. degree from an accredited law school within the last 8 months OR be scheduled to graduate from an accredited law school on or before June 1, 2027. Class rank required within top 1/3 of law school class. If not already licensed, applicant must (1) have taken a state bar exam and are awaiting results or (2) will take a state bar exam within eight months of law school graduation.* Assistant United States Attorney's applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. *Alternately, applicants who are chosen for an AUSA position, but have yet to pass the bar exam may apply to the office's Law Clerk announcement where only a J.D. degree is required by entry on duty date. The applicant will then work in the District as a Law Clerk while awaiting bar results. Active membership of the bar (any jurisdiction) will be required within 14 months of entry on duty date. Please note your interest in a Law Clerk position within your application's Cover Letter United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Hiring preferences also include strong academics, outstanding organizational skills, superior legal writing and research ability, demonstrated analytical ability, good judgment and courtroom skills, and a commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree by Enter on Duty (EOD) date.

How to apply

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 09/08/2026 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 Western District of Texas at 2103847273 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 Western District of Texas who can be reached at 2103847273 or [email protected] 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 targeted/severe 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. See list of DPOCs.