Assistant United States Attorney (Appellate)

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 66,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana is seeking an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) for its Appellate Division. The successful candidate will research and draft briefs for the Seventh Circuit, handle oral arguments, and support criminal and civil divisions with strategic legal analysis.

Location options include Fort Wayne, Hammond, or South Bend, with rolling applications. Candidates must have a J.D. and be admitted to the bar, plus relevant appellate experience.

Qualifications

• Requires a J.D. degree and active bar admission (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• At least 1 year post-J.D. legal or relevant experience with strong writing and oral advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Research and draft briefs and motions for filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
• Handle oral arguments in the Seventh Circuit.
• Handle post-conviction Habeas Corpus matters in district courts.
• Review and edit briefs and motions for colleagues; provide legal strategy support.

Skills

Legal analysis

Oral advocacy

Research

Writing

Communication

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Electronic filing

Electronic mail

Word processing

Internet research

Job description

Summary

In all matters, it is our mission to represent the people of the United States in a manner that will instill confidence in the fairness and integrity of our office and the judicial system, and to conduct our work with the highest integrity. We strive to perform our mission in the most efficient and effective manner.

This position can be located in any of our three branch locations: Fort Wayne, Hammond or South Bend.

Applications will be pulled on a rolling basis.

Duties

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana is currently soliciting applications for an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in its Appellate Division.

The successful applicant will be responsible for researching and drafting briefs and motions for filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, handling oral arguments in the Seventh Circuit, handling post-conviction Habeas Corpus (28 U.S.C § 2255) matters in district courts, reviewing and editing briefs and motions for colleagues, participating in moot courts to prepare for oral argument, and providing legal strategy support for AUSAs in the Criminal and Civil Divisions. Briefs will involve a wide variety of constitutional, statutory, and other claims arising under substantive and procedural federal criminal and civil law and primarily respond to defense claims of error in convictions and/or sentences, while at times, the government will file an appeal challenging district court decisions or orders.

The attorney must have a very strong ability to analyze complex legal and factual issues, write, communicate, and advocate 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 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.

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

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 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, which includes significant legal writing and oral advocacy experience that demonstrates strong writing skills, legal practice in federal court or a federal court clerkship, and/or practice in criminal matters or civil matters.
United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Applicants should possess a demonstrated ability and willingness to be self-reliant and motivated in order to: review and distill voluminous records involving complex fact patterns; understand and articulate complex legal doctrines; routinely prepare high-quality and persuasive briefs on strict time deadlines; make persuasive oral arguments; and to assist other attorneys in all divisions. Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical ability and the facility to accurately and precisely articulate 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 have a demonstrated capacity to function, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding environment.

Applicants will be expected to do their own legal research and writing and will be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. Applicants must also demonstrate excellent computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic e‑mail and word processing systems.

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

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree

Additional Information

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 $65,563.00 to $171,475.00 basic + locality HMD- 30.86% and SB/FW 17.06%.

Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; 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.

Travel: Occasional travel required

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.

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.

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.

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 window Learn 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.