Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal) - Open Continuous

U.S. Department of Justice; Davenport (IA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa seeks an experienced attorney to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in our Criminal Division. This position is located in Davenport, Iowa, part of the Quad Cities region, handling a broad range of complex prosecutions on behalf of the United States.

Responsibilities include cases involving drug trafficking, firearms and other violent crime, child exploitation, immigration, and fraud, across all phases from grand jury

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and active bar membership in any jurisdiction.
• At least two years post-J.D. legal or relevant experience.
• Three years of post-J.D. litigation experience preferred with strong writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Handle a broad range of complex criminal prosecutions on behalf of the United States.
• Manage cases at all phases: grand jury investigations, pre-trial, trials and sentencing, and appeals.
• Collaborate with diverse agencies and maintain high standards of integrity and professionalism.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal) - Open Continuous

Hiring Organization

USAO Southern District of Iowa

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Job ID

27-IAS-13090263-AUSA

Location: 131 East Fourth Street, Suite 310

Location: 131 East Fourth Street, Suite 310
Davenport, IA 52801 - United States

Application Deadline:

Thursday, September 30, 2027

About the Office

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa employs approximately 30 Assistant United States Attorneys. The District's headquarters office is located in Des Moines. The District has staffed branch offices in Davenport and Council Bluffs, which serve the District's eastern and western divisions.
More information about the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in our Criminal Division. This position is located in Davenport, Iowa, one of the largest cities in the state and part of the vibrant Quad Cities region along the Mississippi River. We seek a highly motivated individual who is committed to public service and enjoys handling a broad range of complex criminal prosecutions on behalf of the United States.
Assistant United States Attorneys in the Southern District of Iowa handle a wide variety of complex cases, including offenses involving drug trafficking, firearms and other violent crime, child exploitation, immigration, and fraud. Assistant United States Attorneys handle these criminal cases at all phases of prosecution, including grand jury investigations, pre-trial proceedings, trials and sentencing hearings, and appeals.
Davenport offers an outstanding quality of life with an affordable cost of living, a strong legal community, and access to the cultural, recreational, and economic opportunities of the Quad Cities region. The area features a vibrant downtown, diverse dining and entertainment options, excellent schools, scenic riverfront attractions, and numerous parks and trails. Residents enjoy a family-friendly environment, short commute times, and convenient access to major transportation routes, making Davenport an exceptional place to live, work, and build a career.Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment 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.
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.

Qualifications

Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least two-year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. At least three years of post-J.D. litigation experience is preferred, with extensive research and writing experience.
Preferred qualifications: Possess superior oral and written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills, exhibit good judgment, function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment, and a demonstrated record of integrity. Interested AUSAs or government attorneys must have at least a successful evaluation for the past year. All applicants must be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) and not have received any disciplinary action within the past three years from the date of the application. In addition, applicants must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies, and the ability to lead, motivate, mentor, and evaluate other highly qualified attorneys.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Assessment Process: We will evaluate your application by comparing your description of work experience, level of responsibility, and accomplishments against the requirements of the position. Your qualifications will be assessed in the following competencies:

• Initial Cut-off Date: Applications received by June 30, 2026 will receive first consideration.
• Subsequent Cut-of Dates: Additional reviews will occur every as needed by the agency.
• Duration of Eligibility: Your application will remain active for 3 months from the date of submission. To maintain eligibility after this period, you must re-apply or update your application.

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Required - Your responses to theOnlineOccupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).
• Required - Your resume showing relevant experience and dates of employment (include day/month/year).
• Required, if applicable - To get Veterans' Preference, you must indicate your preference in response to the appropriate question in your assessment questionnaire and you must submit the appropriate supporting documentation. See the "How you will be Evaluated" section for details regarding what is appropriate Veterans' Preference documentation. It is also recommended that you include veterans' preference information in your cover letter or resume.
• Encouraged - A writing sample (5-10 pages).
• Encouraged - Cover Letter.

The Point of Contact for this vacancy announcement is Southern District of Iowa who can be reached at [phone] or [e-mail]@usdoj.gov.

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.

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.

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 $77,974 to $197,100 includes locality pay.

Number of Positions

1

Travel

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation Expenses

None

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.