Assistant United States Attorney (Money Laundering and Asset Recovery)

Summary

The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan seeks a highly motivated litigator to work as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Unit of the Criminal Division. This position is located in Detroit, Michigan. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This is a term appointment not-to-exceed 09/30/2029. This position may be made permanent without further competition.

Duties

• The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan seeks a highly motivated litigator to work as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Unit of the Criminal Division. While the Criminal Division handles a wide range of cases, this position is focused on pursuing civil and criminal forfeiture of property acquired through or used in criminal activity. The primary goals of the unit are to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gains and to recover assets that may be used to compensate victims when authorized under federal law. The effective use of both civil and criminal forfeiture is an essential component of the Department of Justice's efforts to disrupt criminal conduct and dismantle criminal organizations. Asset Recovery AUSAs are responsible for managing all forfeiture-related aspects of federal criminal prosecutions and civil forfeiture litigation. Day-to-day responsibilities include, but are not limited to, working with law enforcement agencies on criminal investigations, obtaining seizure warrants, preparing and filing pleadings, researching and briefing legal issues, drafting motions or motion responses, representing the United States in Court, and handling all aspects of civil forfeiture cases including conducting depositions and other civil discovery. Cases range from offenses involving cybercrime; complex fraud and/or corruption in government, health care, or corporate activities; drug trafficking and smuggling; elder abuse; national security and border security; and money laundering. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress. More experienced AUSAs may lead money laundering investigations, bring appropriate criminal charges, and resolve or try those criminal cases. The AUSA will also serve as a resource to other Criminal Division AUSAs on bringing money laundering charges, conducting financial investigations, and analyzing forfeiture issues. 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, AND be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), AND have at least 2 year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. Proof of active bar membership is required. United States citizenship is required. For additional information regarding citizenship, refer to the "Suitability and Citizenship" requirements in the "Required Documents" section below. Preferred Qualifications: The attorney must have a very strong ability to analyze complex legal and factual issues, write clearly and persuasively, possess a strong work ethic, exhibit good organizational skills, exercise fair and sound judgment, pay careful attention to facts and details, work well both independently and on a team, be ready and willing to volunteer to help other attorneys, be able to negotiate fairly and effectively with opposing counsel, handle matters in court persuasively on behalf of the United States of America, and be devoted to justice, excellence, and representing the public. Hiring for AUSA positions within the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) is highly competitive. The USAO seeks a complement of lawyers with a wide range of exceptional skills and experience, unified by keen intelligence and sincere commitment to public interest. Litigation experience, superior academic record, excellent writing skills, impeccable character, demonstrated interest in public service, courtroom presence, and the ability to work with and relate to a wide variety of people are all considered. Most attorneys hired have several years of experience, although highly qualified recent graduates with some experience in practice or as a judicial clerk are also considered. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree

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 10/02/2026 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 Michigan at 313-226-0208 or email at [email protected], prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.