Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

The United States Department of Justice; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 103,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

The Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal) vacancy in the USAO Northern District of California seeks a qualified attorney to prosecute federal crimes and uphold the interests of the United States in civil and criminal litigation. The role involves collaborating with law enforcement, researching complex legal issues, and representing the United States in hearings, trials, and appeals.

You must hold a J.D., be a member in good standing, and have at least three years of licensed attorney

Qualifications

• Strong academic credentials and exceptional legal writing and research ability.
• Demonstrated analytical ability and good judgment in complex legal matters.
• Commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute federal crimes in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
• Research, brief legal issues, and represent the United States in hearings, trials, and appeals.
• Draft motions, search warrants, and other litigation-related documents.

Skills

Legal writing

Analytical ability

Courtroom skills

Judgment

Education

J.D. Degree

Job description

Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Hiring Organization

USAO Northern District of California

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Job ID

26-NDCA-13053852-ES

Location: 450 Golden Gate Ave

Application Deadline

Monday, November 30, 2026

About the Office

The Northern District of California is one of the largest U.S. Attorney's Offices in the country with 138 attorneys located in the three-staffed offices: San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. The Office prosecutes federal crimes, defends, and pursues the interest of the United States in civil cases. The office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving violations of federal law, civil lawsuits against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution of behalf of victims and taxpayers.

The district stretches from the Monterey Coast to California's northern border with Oregon, and from the Pacific Ocean nearly to Sacramento in the East. Nearly 9 million people live, work, and raise their families in the Northern District of California. The District's main office is in San Francisco with branch offices in Oakland and San Jose, CA.

Job Description

As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division, attorneys will be responsible for prosecuting federal crimes, including offenses involving drug trafficking and smuggling; child exploitation; gang activity and violence; illegal immigration; national security and border security; elder abuse; cybercrime; theft of intellectual property; and financial crimes, complex fraud and/or corruption in government, health care, banking, securities, corporate activities, federal procurement, bankruptcies, and federal taxation. They will also work with law enforcement agencies to investigate such crimes, research and brief legal issues, and represent the United States in hearings, trials, and appeals.

Day-to-day responsibilities include working with law enforcement agencies and others to investigate allegations of criminal conduct, researching legal issues, drafting motions or motion responses, drafting search warrants, appearing before grand juries and in Court, and other litigation related duties.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as an attorney's training and experience progress.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member in good standing of the bar (in any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least three (3) years of experience as a licensed attorney (or post-J.D. judicial clerkships) preparing for, participating in, and/or reviewing formal hearings or trials involving litigation at the federal, state, or local court level.

If you currently represent an opposing party in litigation with the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ"), please refer to Rule 3-310 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct: If you currently represent an opposing party in litigation with the DOJ or represent a client under investigation by the United States, please refer to Rule 1-7 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct and / or the relevant conflict of interest Rules of Professional Conduct in the jurisdiction in which you are licensed to practice. The U.S. Attorney's Office considers California Rule 1-7 to be implicated when an attorney licensed in California applies for a position with the U.S. Attorney's office while also representing a client in litigation opposing the U.S. or knowingly under investigation by the U.S.

If you are a current employee of the DOJ who is under a term of commitment to another office, please include this information in your cover letter along with a statement of whether you have discussed your application with your current employer.

United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications

Hiring preferences include strong academics, outstanding organizational skills, superior legal writing and research ability, demonstrated analytical ability, good judgment and courtroom skills, and a commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility and public service.

You must meet all qualification requirements upon the submission date of your application.

Security Requirements

Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment 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.

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 is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

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.

Resumes must not exceed two pages. Please see the Required Documents section in USA Jobs for more information.

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 Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $103,085 to $197,100 which includes 46.34% locality pay.

Number of Positions

Many

Travel

Occasional travel may be required.

This and othervacancy announcements can be found underAttorney Vacancies andVolunteer 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.