Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) - Open Continuous

About the role

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. On the local side, AUSAs assigned to the Superior Court Division prosecute cases ranging from misdemeanors to homicides.

On the federal side, AUSAs assigned to the Criminal Division prosecute federal crimes. The Civil Division further defends the United States in civil suits brought in the District of Columbia.

What you will do

• The D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force is the largest collaboration of law enforcement and National Guard in modern history.
• The task force - which is comprised over 3,100 people from 28 agencies, is well on its way to making D.C. the safest city in America.
• In less than a year, the Task Force has executed over 12,000 criminal arrests, seized over 1,300 illegal firearms, and cleared over 1,800 criminals arrest warrants.
• These arrets have produced significant cases for prosecution across D.C. superior and federal court - including homicides, narcotics investigations, weapons offense, and sex offenses.
• The U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia ("USADC") is committed to ensuring justice in the influx of case produced from the groundbreaking work of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.
• To that end, the office is seeking Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to be detailed to the Office to help keep D.C. Safe and Beautiful.
• The U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C. has recurring openings in its Superior Court Division for Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs).
• All federal and local government attorneys are eligible.
• We offer our standard, shortened, and split programs starting in January, April, July, and October.
• STANDARD DETAIL The first option is our standard detail.
• The upcoming dates for these details are: July 13, 2026 through February 5, 2027 October 4, 2026 through April 30, 2027 January 11, 2027 through August 6, 2027 The detail begins with the same three-week Basic Training course that our newly hired AUSAs attend.
• The course is a blend of intense academic classes (e.g., evidence, discovery), trial skills, and hands-on experience, including evidence workshops and mock trials that are critiqued by AUSAs with years of trial experience.
• At the conclusion of Basic Training, SAUSAs are assigned to either our Misdemeanor Section or our Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Section in the Superior Court Division.
• While in the Superior Court Division, SAUSAs will handle their own caseloads; draft and argue motions; handle plea negotiations; conduct plea hearings; meet with and prepare victims and witnesses; first-chair bench trials; advocate at sentencings; etc. Most days include court appearances.
• There is no difference between a regular AUSA and a SAUSA in terms of duties, responsibilities, and training.
• Because the U.S. Attorney's Office also serves as the local prosecutor for the District of Columbia, we prosecute thousands of cases each year.
• Our misdemeanor-level caseloads include simple assaults; threats; possession of prohibited weapons; drug possession; assaults on police officers; theft; destruction of property; child abuse; credit card fraud; etc. We do not handle traffic; DUI; or juvenile cases.
• Second Half of the Standard Detail: During the second half of the standard detail, the SAUSA will be given more advanced litigation opportunities while in their assigned Misdemeanor or DV Section, to include the opportunity to handle a jury trial.
• SHORTENED DETAIL The second option is a shorter detail in the Superior Court Division.
• The upcoming dates for the shortened detail are: July 13, 2026 through November 6, 2026 October 4, 2026 through February 5, 2027 January 11, 2027 through April 30, 2027 This program begins the same way as the standard detail with our Basic Training program followed by assignments to either our Misdemeanor Section or our Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Section.
• While SAUSAs in the shortened detail will receive the same training and handle the same types of cases as the SAUSAs in the standard detail, the more advanced litigation opportunities are not part of this program.
• SPLIT DETAIL The third option is a split detail.
• After completing the shortened detail in the Superior Court Division, attorneys with the requisite security clearance are eligible to be considered for a transfer to our Criminal, Civil, Appellate, or Special Proceedings Division for six months .
• This requires advance agreement between the USAO-DC and the SAUSA's agency, as well as the appropriate USAO-DC Division Chief's approval of the transfer.
• Finally, the start and end dates for the standard and shortened details are based on the start dates of our Basic Training programs to ensure smooth case transitions with incoming and outgoing AUSAs and SAUSAS.
• The USAO-DC provides SAUSAs with laptops, iPhones, and a USAO email address upon onboarding.
• Please encourage any interested applicants to reach out with questions.
• The potential SAUSA may also come to the Office to "shadow" for a morning.
• A resume; written supervisory approval; a joint Memorandum of Understanding; and verification of security clearance will be required.
• This is a non-reimbursable detail; the SAUSA's agency will continue to pay the SAUSA's salary and benefits.
• Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

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.

This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future vacancies. Applicant lists will be pulled on May 1, 2026 and the first of every month until the closing date. Positions are open until filled, but no later than September 30, 2026.

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 his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Documents you must provide

• Required - Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire (online).
• Required - Your resume showing relevant experience and dates of employment (include day/month/year).
• The resume can be no more than two pages.
• Required - A cover letter.
• Required - Law School Transcript (unofficial is acceptable for the application package).
• Required - Writing sample (such as an appellate brief, substantive brief or memorandum) that reflects your own work and does not exceed a total of 10 pages.
• Required: Written Supervisory Approval letter 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 under the "Qualifications and Evaluations" Tab above 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.
• The Point of Contact for this vacancy announcement is US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia who can be reached at or *** 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: None - This is a uncompensated position. Employee benefits for this position will be limited. Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Travel: No travel is required. This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia~ For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit *** As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

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.

Note: Employees of the Department of Justice, including Uncompensated Special Assistant United States Attorneys, may not engage in the compensated practice of law outside the office.

Attorneys are not eligible to serve as Uncompensated Special Assistant United States Attorneys if they have had an employment offer deferred by a law firm and received a payment for the period of their deferral with the expectation of future employment with the law firm, or if they will receive any payment from a law firm during their unpaid employment with the Department of Justice.

In addition, contractors, including employees of contractors who do business with the Department of Justice, and who also are attorneys, are not eligible to serve as Uncompensated Special Assistant United States Attorneys.