Assistant United States Attorney (Civil)

United States Department of Justice; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 86,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

The Northern District of Illinois, Chicago Office, is seeking an Assistant United States Attorney (Civil) to represent the United States in civil litigation across a broad range of matters in Chicago, IL. Responsibilities will expand with training and experience, including defensive and affirmative civil work. Requirements include a J.D.

and active bar membership, U.S. citizenship, and a minimum of 1 year post-J.D. experience (2+ preferred).

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and active bar membership in good standing.
• At least 1 year post-J.D. legal or relevant experience.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Preferred: strong academics, significant litigation, civil law experience, strong writing, public service commitment.

Responsibilities

• Represent the United States in diverse civil litigation.
• Work on defensive and affirmative civil actions in court.
• Grow responsibilities with training and experience.
• Maintain strong legal research and writing ability.

Education

J.D. Degree (or equivalent)

Bar admission (U.S. jurisdiction)

Post-J.D. experience (1 year minimum)

Post-J.D. experience (2+ years preferred)

Job description

Assistant United States Attorney (Civil)

Hiring Organization

USAO Northern District of Illinois

Hiring Office

Chicago, IL

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Job ID

Location: 219 S. Dearborn Street

Location: 219 S. Dearborn Street
5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604 - United States

Application Deadline:

Friday, April 30, 2027

About the Office

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will close no later than April 30, 2027, or until all positions are filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL) has more than 160 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) working in its Criminal and Civil Divisions. NDIL has two offices, one located in Chicago and the other in Rockford. Criminal AUSAs handle a wide variety of cases, including drug trafficking, firearms and other violent crime offenses, immigration offenses, terrorism-related offenses, cyber-crimes, and a variety of fraud, public corruption, and white-collar offenses. Criminal AUSAs represent the United States in grand jury and judicial proceedings in United States District Court and appeals in the United States Court of Appeals. Civil AUSAs handle an array of defensive and affirmative litigation on behalf of the United States, its agencies, and employees before the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals. Defensive litigation includes medical malpractice and other personal injury cases, employment discrimination cases, challenges to agency actions, FOIA, and immigration. Affluent matters include civil rights, environmental, food and drug, along with health care and other civil fraud cases. All AUSAs are responsible for substantial legal research and writing. The dynamic practice in the Office is both challenging and demanding. It represents an extraordinary opportunity and privilege to represent the United States and to participate in all aspects of federal criminal or civil law and practice.

Job Description

The Northern District of Illinois, Chicago Office is accepting applications for an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) opening in its Civil Division in Chicago, Illinois. The applicant selected will represent the United States, its agencies, and its officials as an AUSA in a wide range of defensive and affirmative civil litigation.

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 (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) and have at least 1-year post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience. A minimum of 2-years of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience is required.

United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications: Excellent academics, significant litigation experience, civil law experience, strong legal writing skills, and a demonstrated commitment to public service.

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

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.

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.

Assistant United States Attorneys’ pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $85,796 to $197,100 which includes 30.86% locality pay.

Number of Positions

This announcement is to fill many positions; however, depending on the needs of the office, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Travel

Some. Not on a regular basis.

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

This and othervacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships . The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.