Assistant United States Attorney

The United States Department of Justice; Fort Mitchell (KY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework

Job summary

The United States Department of Justice invites applications for an Assistant United States Attorney in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. The position focuses on prosecuting drug trafficking and immigration cases, including related civil defensive litigation and appeals in the Sixth Circuit. The office emphasizes rigorous ethics, public service, and effective law enforcement within the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Applicants must have a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar, and be a U.S. citizen.

Qualifications

• J.D. Degree and active bar membership in any U.S. jurisdiction.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision in a demanding environment.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute drug trafficking and immigration-related crimes.
• Handle civil defensive litigation related to immigration enforcement.
• Draft appellate briefs and present oral arguments before the Sixth Circuit.
• Progressively handle more complex assignments with training and experience.

Skills

Oral advocacy

Team collaboration

Analytical skills

Computer literacy

Education

J.D. Degree

Tools

Automated litigation support

Job description

Application Deadline:

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

About the Office

Our mission is to enforce vigorously the federal criminal laws of the United States, to effectively represent the interests of the United States in civil litigation, and to meet fully the public safety needs of the community through an efficient, well-coordinated law enforcement effort. In all matters, our responsibilities are to promote the fair and impartial administration of justice, adhering to the highest ethical, professional and performance standards; promote effective partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and the community at large in furtherance of law enforcement; protect the rights of citizens, victims of crime and witnesses; enhance community safety by reducing crime and the fear of crime, through outreach and education; and inspire confidence in the criminal justice system. This position offers an exciting and challenging career opportunity. The Department of Justice has a diverse and talented workforce of over 100,000 men and women and is tasked with ensuring the protection of all Americans, while preserving constitutional freedoms. The position provides an opportunity to be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal law (criminal and civil) and protect life, liberty, and the property of citizens. The USAO for the Eastern District of Kentucky has a staff of approximately 40 attorneys and 38 support personnel. The main office is located in Lexington, with staffed branch offices in Ft. Mitchell and London, Kentucky. Unstaffed offices are located in Ashland and Frankfort, Kentucky. The United States Attorney's Office seeks to maintain the highest standards of excellence in the enforcement of federal laws and the representation of the United States.

Job Description

The Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) selected for this position will be assigned to prosecute the following:

• Drug trafficking, including trafficking of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals, and illegal drug use.
• Immigration matters, including but not limited to:
  • a. gang-related crimes involving aliens;
  • b. child trafficking and smuggling involving aliens within the United States;
  • c. unlawful voting by aliens;
  • d. firearms trafficking and smuggling involving aliens;
  • e. violations of the Alien Registration Act; and
  • f. violations of or fraud relating to Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act.

The prosecution of immigration matters includes civil defensive litigation resulting from and/or related to the Department's efforts to enforce the nation's immigration laws and keep the country safe from crime associated with illegal immigration, including but not limited to, civil immigration habeas matters.

The selected candidate will be fully dedicated to the Criminal Division, and will also handle related appeals, including drafting appellate briefs and presenting oral arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).

United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Successful candidates should have a strong academic background and the demonstrated ability to produce high quality written work. Successful candidates must work effectively with a team and be able to analyze complex financial transactions. Successful candidates should possess strong oral skills, character, and interpersonal skills, and have demonstrated the capacity to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment. Successful candidates must also possess the knowledge and to use computers and computer applications in performing day-to-day work requirements, including the knowledge and and ability to effectively use automated litigation support to acquire, organize, analyze, and present evidence, create databases and manage documents.

You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree.

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 conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

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 basic pay for Forth Mitchell, Kentucky is $79,941 to $187,570, which includes 21.93% locality pay, in accordance with Department regulations.

Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Number of Positions

1

Travel

Occasional travel will be required to attend court proceedings and meetings throughout the Eastern District of Kentucky. Occasional overnight travel to other domestic destinations for training and other purposes.

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses will not be authorized.