Assistant United States Attorney - Civil

United States Attorneys' Offices; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Life insurance

Health benefits

Federal Employees Retirement System participation

Job summary

The United States Attorneys' Offices in Springfield, IL, is seeking a qualified attorney. The role focuses primarily on civil defensive litigation in various areas, including personal injury and employment discrimination. Applicants must have a J.D. degree, be an active bar member, and possess at least one year of relevant legal experience.

Salary ranges from $80,000 to $150,000, with additional benefits. This position provides a challenging environment and the opportunity to represent federal agencies in diverse cases.

Qualifications

• Must be a United States Citizen or National.
• J.D. degree and active member of the bar required.
• Minimum of one year of post-J.D. legal experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist primarily with civil defensive litigation.
• Represent the United States in civil lawsuits.
• Conduct legal research and case preparation.

Skills

Legal research and writing

Oral and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Judgment

Analytical ability

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Summary

The Civil Division of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois is seeking an attorney, ideally with at least one year of legal experience, to assist primarily with civil defensive litigation.

Responsibilities

AUSAs in the Civil Division work on a diverse range of defensive matters, including personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other tort actions; employment discrimination actions; immigration matters; prisoner litigation; and actions challenging governmental policies, activities, and decisions. Civil AUSAs also handle affirmative investigations and cases involving fraud, immigration, forfeiture, and other areas. Day-to-day responsibilities include working with client agencies and investigators to gather information, conducting legal research, engaging in motion practice, preparing and answering discovery requests, defending and taking depositions, retaining and working with experts, negotiating settlements, trying cases, and briefing and arguing appeals. The successful candidate will be primarily responsible for representing the United States of America, Federal agencies, and Federal employees in a wide variety of civil defensive litigation, including immigration cases; employment discrimination cases; medical malpractice, premises liability, and other tort litigation; statutory and constitutional challenges to government programs; Administrative Procedure Act cases; FOIA and Privacy Act cases; and Bivens civil‑rights suits. Although this position is primarily focused on civil defensive litigation, the successful candidate may also be assigned affirmative civil cases, including False Claims Act actions involving healthcare fraud and fraud on pandemic‑era programs.

Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre‑employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing; continued employment requires 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.
• You must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have a minimum of one year of post‑J.D. legal or other relevant experience, as well as superior oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, good judgment, and the ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment.

Preferred Qualifications
Strong advocacy skills, academic credentials, superior legal research and writing abilities, quick analytical ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical case‑related issues, good interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with client agencies, support staff, and other attorneys, and sound legal and ethical judgment.

Salary and Benefits

Assistant United States Attorney’s pay is administratively determined in part by the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of pay for Springfield, Peoria, and Urbana is $80,000 to $150,000, which includes 17.06% locality, plus benefits. The range of pay for Moline is $80,000 to $150,000, which includes 18.93% locality, plus benefits.
Other benefits include paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Relocation expenses will not be authorized. Travel, if required, is occasional and not on a regular basis.

Security Requirements

Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre‑employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing; continued employment requires a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

Residency Requirements

Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which they are appointed or within 25 miles thereof.

Selective Service Requirements

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.

EEO Statement

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.