Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Summary

Answer the call! The U.S. Attorney's Office in South Dakota is proud to represent the United States with integrity, fairness, and an unwavering commitment to justice. As a federal prosecutor, you'll help uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and safeguard the security of our communities and our nation. Join a mission-driven team making a real impact for the people who call South Dakota home.

Duties

• This is an open-continuous announcement for an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of our Rapid City or Pierre offices. First-round consideration will be given to applications submitted by October 30, 2026, 11:59 pm CT. Thereafter, review of applications received from this announcement will be conducted periodically to fill additional positions as they become available within the district. Once all positions have been filled, this announcement may close prior to the advertised close date. Great Faces. Great Places. South Dakota is home to year-round hunting, fishing, and outdoor sports, the rich history and culture of nine Native American tribes, the world's longest cave system, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, historic Deadwood, more shoreline than Florida thanks to the Missouri River and our beautiful lakes, and of course, Mount Rushmore. If beautiful mountain scenery, rolling grasslands, wide open skies, striking landscapes, friendly people, shorter commutes, zero state income tax, and a state consistently ranked in the top 5 for overall personal freedom sounds like your best life-let's connect! The Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Dakota is seeking exceptional, motivated attorneys to prosecute federal crime on behalf of the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys are entrusted with prosecutorial discretion over robust caseloads. Attorneys benefit tremendously from top-tier training and an experienced and dedicated team of colleagues who are experts in the field. There are few moments of professional satisfaction greater than the first time you are able to rise to introduce yourself to a judge in federal court and say: "I represent the United States of America. "Work will be varied, never dull, and includes the prosecution of drug trafficking, child exploitation, violent crime, illegal immigration, firearms offenses, national security, cybercrime, and white-collar fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorneys partner with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to investigate crimes, present criminal cases to a federal grand jury, research and brief legal issues, and represent the United States before the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Candidates should be capable of prosecuting Major Crimes Act violations in Indian Country including murder, child sex abuse, rape, and other violent crimes. The District of South Dakota is home to a dynamic, committed, and energy-filled environment of colleagues who are passionate about achieving justice on behalf of the United States. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress. This position may be extended or made permanent without further competition. More than one applicant may be selected from this announcement. Initial appointments are conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment background adjudication including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. 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

Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 1 year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate superior analytical ability; possess strong research, writing and courtroom skills; exercise fair and sound judgment; follow all Department of Justice and United States Attorney's Office policies; exhibit the ability to work collaboratively in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and law enforcement agencies; demonstrate superior communication skills; handle matters in court persuasively and justly on behalf of the United States of America; be devoted to excellence; and demonstrate a commitment to public service. Applicants with one year or more of criminal prosecutorial experience preferred. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Requirements

Applicant must be a United States Citizen or National. Applicant must have a minimum of one year post JD as a practicing attorney or other relevant experience. Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprints, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Applicant must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable. Applicant must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by the entry on duty date. Applicant must be a member, or be eligible to become a member, of the federal district court bar. Note: The U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota requires that all Assistant U.S. Attorneys be admitted to the State Bar of South Dakota within 12 months from the date of an attorney's oath of office for the position in South Dakota. See Local Rule (Criminal) 44.1(F)(1)(b). Accordingly, if the successful candidate is not a member of the South Dakota Bar, he/she must become a member within one year from entry on duty. Applicant must reside in the district to which he/she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See U.S.C. § 545 for district specific information. Employment will require occasional travel to court at designated sites within and outside the District of South Dakota. Travel is also required for witness interviews, preparation for court hearings, and training, including at the Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree and be a member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by entry on duty 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 the closing date 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 District of South Dakota at 605-357-2305 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 District of South Dakota who can be reached at 605-357-2305 or [email protected]