Assistant United States Attorney

About the role

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey seeks attorneys to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Criminal or Civil Divisions in Newark, Trenton, and Camden. AUSAs handle a broad range of matters advancing the criminal and civil legal interests of the federal government.

Position may be stationed in any of the three offices in the District of New Jersey (Newark, Trenton, or Camden), and you should indicate a preference in your cover letter.

What you will do

• The Criminal Division investigates and prosecutes violations of federal criminal law throughout New Jersey, working to protect communities, uphold public safety, and enforce federal statutes.
• The Division handles a wide range of criminal matters, including narcotics trafficking, organized crime and gang activity, economic and financial fraud, cybercrime, public corruption, health care fraud, money laundering, and offenses involving transnational criminal organizations.
• The Civil Division represents the United States, its agencies, and federal employees in a broad range of civil litigation and affirmative enforcement matters.
• The Division primarily defends the government in federal court actions involving immigration, tort claims, employment discrimination, constitutional and civil rights claims, real property disputes, environmental matters, commercial litigation, challenges to agency actions, and other civil lawsuits.
• Civil Division attorneys manage all phases of litigation, including case assessment, discovery, motion practice, alternative dispute resolution, hearings, trials, and appeals.
• In addition to defensive litigation, the Division handles affirmative enforcement matters such as actions under the False Claims Act, civil rights enforcement cases, and collection, foreclosure, and bankruptcy proceedings.
• The Division also represents the United States in specialized federal litigation, including habeas corpus petitions and other post-conviction matters.
• Depending on operational needs, attorneys may handle motions involving compassionate release, sentence reductions, early termination of supervised release, and other federal litigation matters.
• Civil Division attorneys regularly coordinate with components of the Department of Justice and federal agencies on matters of national significance and provide legal counsel and representation to advance and protect the interests of the United States.
• The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey is seeking attorneys, including attorneys with 1 to 3 years of legal experience, to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Criminal and Civil Divisions to support priority litigation needs within the Office.
• In the near term, these AUSAs will work primarily in the Civil Division representing the United States, its agencies, and employees in matters including habeas corpus petitions fi led by illegal aliens and related post-conviction litigation.
• Additional responsibilities may include matters involving compassionate release, sentence reductions, and other federal litigation, as operational needs require.
• These positions offer attorneys the opportunity to gain substantial federal litigation experience and, over time, transition into broader assignments within the Civil or Criminal Divisions consistent with the Office's evolving needs.
• The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey is seeking to fill Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) positions to staff a newly formed Special Programs Unit, which will focus on a mix of criminal and civil programs.
• The selected AUSAs will begin their work primarily in the Civil Division to represent the United States, its agencies, and employees with respect to petitions for habeas corpus filed by illegal aliens.
• In addition, the selected AUSAs may represent the United States in matters including, but not limited to, motions for post-conviction release fi led under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, motions for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c), motions for early termination of supervised release under 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e), and motions for reduction of sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c) and the U.S. Sentencing Commission's Amendment 821.
• This is an open continuous announcement that is intended to solicit applications in order to fill immediate and future vacancies.
• Applications will be reviewed and referred as vacancies occur and will only remain active until December 31, 2026.
• Applicants will be notified when their applications have been reviewed/referred for further consideration.
• Hiring will occur on a rolling basis.
• 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.
• 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.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D.

Degree

How you will be evaluated

Evaluation Method: Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet all job requirements. An attorney interview panel will then review all qualified applicants and make recommendations for invitation to interview. You will be notified if selected for an interview.

The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference.

Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, *** for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).

Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Documents you must provide

• You must provide a complete Application Package which includes: - Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process). - Required: Your resume cannot exceed two pages - you will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages - see USAJOBS for formatting requirements.
• Include relevant employment history as outlined below for each job: Official position title (if Federal, include series/grade), Employer name and contact information, Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year), Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and A list of duties performed and accomplishments.
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
• Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
• You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. - Required: Cover letter. - Required: Writing sample. - 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.
• Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements.
• Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority.
• Individuals with targeted/severe disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department's Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position.
• Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment.
• Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation.
• Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, ***).
• Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations.
• However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements.
• Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement.
• Candidates who have lived outside the United States for two or more of the past five years will likely have difficulty being approved for appointments by the Department Security Staff.
• The two-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive.
• Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement.
• Current or Former Political Appointees: 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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

What to expect next

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation, to include a credit and tax checks, and a drug test by urinalysis. We expect to make a final job offer within 120 days after the closing date of the announcement.

Additional information

Salary Information: An 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 $65,563 to $171,787 and $84,570 to $197,100 which includes 28.99% locality pay for Camden NJ or 37.95% locality pay for Newark/Trenton NJ.

Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.