Assistant United States Attorney (Filter and Special Projects)

The United States Department of Justice; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 80,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio seeks an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division to lead Filter and Special Projects matters, focusing on privilege issues and complex investigations from Cleveland. The role requires defending attorney-client communications and overseeing filter procedures across investigations district-wide.

The AUSA will litigate privilege matters in federal court, advise agents on privilege and evidence-handling, and

Qualifications

• Must have a J.D. Degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
• At least 1 year post-J.D. legal or relevant experience.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Strong legal research and writing skills and the ability to articulate critical case-related issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead attorney for privilege issues and manage privilege-review procedures (filters) in complex investigations.
• Litigate privilege-related matters in federal court as required.
• Coordinate with federal investigative agencies to ensure protection of attorney-client communications.
• Develop and maintain district-wide programs, guidance, and training on handling potentially privileged materials.
• Travel within the district as needed for investigations and court appearances.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Analytical ability

Courtroom experience

Teamwork

Education

J.D. Degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Electronic court filing

Job description

Assistant United States Attorney (Filter and Special Projects)

Hiring Organization

USAO Northern District of Ohio

Hiring Office

Criminal Division

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Job ID

26-OHN-13065393-AUSA-09

Location: 801 W. Superior Ave.

Location: 801 W. Superior Ave.
Suite 400
Cleveland, OH 44113 - United States

Application Deadline:

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

About the Office

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio is seeking a highly skilled and motivated attorney to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division with responsibility for Filter and Special Projects (FSP) matters. This is a unique opportunity to serve in a specialized role at the center of some of the district's most sensitive and complex investigations.

Responsibilities

The AUSA assigned to Filter and Special Projects (FSP) matters will serve as the district's lead attorney for legal-privilege issues, ensuring that investigative teams meet all ethical and legal obligations when handling materials that may implicate attorney-client or other protected communications. The selected AUSA will manage legal-privilege issues, oversee filter procedures, and litigate privilege-related matters arising from complex financial and government fraud, corporate crime, and national security investigations throughout the district. The FSP function supports the Criminal Division in some of the Office's most complex and high-impact matters.

In this role, the AUSA will manage and oversee privilege-review processes, including leading filter teams and coordinating with federal investigative agencies to prevent prosecutors and agents from being exposed to protected communications. The attorney will supervise reviews of potentially privileged materials, ensure compliance with Departmental policies, and implement effective, investigation-specific filter procedures. The AUSA will also advise investigative agents and AUSAs on privilege issues, evidence-handling protocols, and best practices throughout every phase of complex investigations.

The position includes litigating privilege matters in federal court as required. The attorney will develop and maintain district-wide programs, guidance, and training to promote consistent and legally sound handling of potentially privileged materials across the Criminal Division. This role contributes directly to the Office's broader enforcement mission by providing specialized expertise on privilege issues arising in significant and sensitive investigations.

While FSP responsibilities will constitute the primary focus of the position, the AUSA may also handle a limited number of criminal cases, including violent crime, fraud, firearms offenses, immigration crimes, and narcotics violations.

Responsibilities may involve briefing the Court on filter issues and providing advice and support for investigative teams relating to such matters. The selected candidate will be an attorney advisor, who will be fully dedicated to coordinating and engaging in filter reviews. The AUSA will be located in the Cleveland Office of the Northern District of Ohio.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress.

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.

United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications

Applicants should have strong academic credentials, superior legal research and writing skills, quick analytical ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical case-related issues, courtroom experience, good interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with client agencies, support staff and other attorneys, and a demonstrated commitment to public service.

Applicants must possess excellent computer skills. Experience with automated research, electronic court filing, and various word-processing systems, including strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, is required.

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

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

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 $80,138 to $188,031 which includes 22.23% locality pay.

Recruitment incentives may be authorized if this position is determined to be difficult to fill, if supported by the skills of the selected candidate, and subject to the availability of funds.

Number of Positions

1

Travel

The AUSA may be required to travel throughout the Northern District of Ohio to attend court proceedings, interview witnesses, attend meetings, and to participate in training at the Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC.

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

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.