Assistant United States Attorney

United States Attorneys' Offices; Brownsville (TX); On-site; USD 77,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Holidays

Telework

Life insurance

Health benefits

Federal retirement system

Job summary

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas in Brownsville, TX seeks an Assistant United States Attorney to handle a fast-paced, varied caseload from day one. You will appear in court and work on major cases advancing the Department of Justice's mission to enforce federal law.

Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be a active member of the bar; U.S. citizenship required. Residency within the district or 25 miles is necessary and Selective Service registration may apply.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and active bar status required.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Residency within district or 25 miles is required.
• Selective Service registration as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Handle a fast-paced, varied caseload from day one.
• Appear in courtrooms and lead major cases and investigations.
• Collaborate with DOJ, agencies, and staff to enforce federal law.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Courtroom experience

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Legal research databases

Job description

Summary

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is one of the largest and busiest U.S. Attorney's Offices in the nation, spanning 43 counties and 44,000 square miles and representing 10 million people from the Houston area to the Mexico border. Employment with the U.S. Attorney's Office is a unique, challenging, and rewarding experience for highly motivated attorneys.

This position is located in Brownsville, Texas.

Duties

As an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in SDTX, you won't sit on the sidelines or wait years to cut your teeth leading major cases and investigations. You'll be in courtrooms across one of the busiest, most dynamic districts in the country, carrying a fast-paced, varied caseload from day one. And you'll do it in the furtherance of the Department of Justice's mission to enforce federal law, defend the interests of the United States, and ensure justice is administered impartially for every American. This work is hard, and the hiring process is rigorous. We're looking for prosecutors-both aspiring and experienced-with sound judgment, grit, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. In return, you'll join a team doing some of the most important public service work in the country: protecting the life, liberty, and property of your fellow citizens.

Responsibilities

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.

Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• 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. Law school graduates and current law students taking a July 2026 bar examination may be considered.
• Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

Qualifications

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. Law school graduates and current law students taking a July 2026 bar examination may be considered, subject to the foregoing requirements.

United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications

Strong academic credentials, superior legal research and writing skills, quick analytical ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical case-related issues, high-volume courtroom experience, outstanding organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with other AUSAs, support staff, and investigative agencies, and a demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service. Courtroom experience, including first-chair jury trials, is preferred. Successful candidates will be computer proficient, capable of doing their own legal research and writing, and self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings.

Education

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

Salary Information

Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of pay for this position (including locality) is $76,748.00 to $197,100.00.

Other Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Holidays
• Telework
• Life insurance
• Health benefits
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Travel

1 to 5 nights per month on average.

Political Appointees (Current or Former)

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

EEO Statement/Policy

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

Benefits Overview

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Additional Information

For more information on the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office, visit: http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx

Conflict of Interest

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.