Assistant United States Attorney

United States Attorneys' Offices; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Holidays

Life insurance

Health benefits

Federal retirement system

Job summary

The United States Attorney's Office - Southern District of California seeks a Criminal Assistant United States Attorney in San Diego, CA. The office prosecutes federal crimes and defends U.S. government interests in civil cases, serving San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Ideal candidates will have a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar, and possess strong analytical, oral and writing abilities, with excellent research, communication, and courtroom skills.

Qualifications

• Candidates must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• United States citizenship is required.
• At least 1 year post‑J.D. legal or other relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute federal crimes and defend the interests of the United States in civil cases.
• Work within the General Crimes, Organized Crimes, and Special Prosecution divisions.
• Engage in investigations and trial preparation using a range of tools and sources.
• As you progress, assignments will become more complex and responsibilities will expand.

Skills

Analytical ability

Oral communication

Written communication

Research skills

Interpersonal skills

Judgment

Computer literacy

Courtroom skills

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Electronic filing (ECF)

Email systems

Job description

Summary

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca.

This position is located in San Diego, California.

Duties

Overview of the United States Attorney's Office - Southern District of California

The Southern District of California (SDCA) is one of the largest U.S. Attorney's offices in the country with one of the largest caseloads. This office prosecutes federal crimes and defends the interests of the United States government in civil cases. SDCA encompasses San Diego and Imperial Counties and includes a branch office in Imperial, California.

Duties of Criminal Assistant United States Attorneys

The Criminal Division is organized into three sections: General Crimes, Organized Crimes and Special Prosecution. (See the San Diego U.S. Attorney's office website https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/criminal-division for a detailed description of each section). The General Crimes Section is comprised of three units: Intake, Fast Track, and three Trial Teams. Most Criminal AUSAs begin their careers in General Crimes. General Crimes handles a large volume of reactive cases that arise from policing the 141-mile-long border between California and Mexico, six Ports of Entry, and the roughly 70 miles of coastline stretching from the U.S./Mexico border to the northernmost tip of San Diego County. Such cases commonly include illegal entry and reentry, drug importation and smuggling, and alien smuggling. Aside from their reactive cases, prosecutors in the section also handle firearms-related matters, drug distribution, child exploitation, fraud, and other prosecutions. General Crimes prosecutors try a large number of cases and conduct proactive investigations using a wide range of investigative tools and pursue matters involving undercover operations and confidential sources.

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.

Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• J.D. degree and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.
• Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

Qualifications - Required

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 a quick analytical ability and an aptitude for accurately articulating the critical issues in a case. Applicants must demonstrate superior oral and writing skills, as well as strong research and interpersonal skills and good judgment. Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies. Applicants must also have demonstrated excellent computer literacy skills, to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic e-mail and word processing systems. AUSAs receive training by the U.S. Department of Justice and by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Appointment is subject to an FBI background investigation, including credit, arrest, and drug use inquiries.

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

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree.

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 is $87,671 to $197,100 per annum which includes a 33.72% locality pay.

Other Benefits

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

The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

May be authorized in accordance with applicable regulations.

Travel

Occasional Travel both within and outside the District as necessary.

Political Appointees (Current and 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.

Mission Statement

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.