Assistant United States Attorney

Summary Please read entire announcement before applying. This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future vacancies. Applicant lists will be pulled on 1/12/2026 and every thirty days thereafter until the closing date. Applications must be complete at the time when lists are pulled in order to be considered at that time. Announcement will remain open until positions are filled, but no later than August 31, 2026. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Duties The United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY or the Office) is seeking several experienced attorneys to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) in the Office's Civil or Criminal Division, in one of the largest and most prolific USAOs in the nation. These positions are located in Brooklyn, New York and Central Islip, New York. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. The Office is seeking to hire AUSAs to work in the Office's Brooklyn, New York and Central Islip, New York Criminal and Civil Divisions. The Office's Criminal and Civil Divisions have one of the nation's busiest dockets comprised of the most complex and significant criminal and civil cases. Criminal Division Applicants to the Office's Criminal Division will represent the United States as an AUSA in a wide range of criminal cases. Criminal Division AUSAs are responsible for prosecuting a variety of violations of federal laws including with respect to cartels and transnational criminal organizations; violent crime and firearms violations; corporate, securities, healthcare, and investment fraud; counterterrorism, counterintelligence and other national security matters; cyber-enabled crime; human trafficking and civil rights; public corruption; immigration; criminal asset seizure and forfeiture. Criminal Division AUSAs handle all aspects of criminal cases, from investigation through charging, trials, and appeals. In addition, the Office is seeking to hire AUSAs specifically for its Appeals and Asset Recovery Sections within the Criminal Division. Appeals Section AUSAs will be required to research, write, and edit appellate briefs and post-conviction responses and present oral arguments on a variety of complex and novel issues involving the Constitution, statutory construction, evidentiary and procedural matters, and sentencing issues. You will also assist in mooting other AUSAs as they prepare for oral arguments. You will be assigned appeals arising from the Office's trial sections. You will also provide real-time trial and other assistance to the AUSAs in the Criminal Division's other sections. Asset Recovery Section AUSAs are responsible for managing all aspects of both criminal and civil asset forfeiture prosecutions. You have overall responsibility for all matters involving asset forfeiture, including assisting with the investigation, obtaining seizure warrants, preparing and filing pleadings, briefing and arguing motions, and handling all aspects of trial litigation and appeals. The Asset Recovery Section has gained nationwide attention for its unique and complex asset forfeiture matters and expertise in this area. Applicants may apply to work in either the Office's Brooklyn, New York or Central Islip, New York locations. However, all Criminal Division AUSAs begin their tenure in the General Crimes Section in the Office's Brooklyn location, and can be assigned to either location, and to any section within the Criminal Division, based on the needs of the Office. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress, with opportunities to advance to supervisory positions. Civil Division Applicants to the Office's Civil Division will represent the interests of the United States as an AUSA in a host of civil actions in the United States District Court, the United States Bankruptcy Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Division handles a large and diverse docket of affirmative and defensive cases. The affirmative practices include Affirmative Civil Enforcement, Civil Rights, Drug and Listed Chemical Diversion, and Health Care Fraud. Cases in these areas seek monetary and equitable relief on behalf of the government and victims. In defensive litigation, the Civil Division represents the United States, its agencies, officials, and employees in thousands of cases each year. These matters may implicate the Constitution, federal statutes, regulations, policies or programs. Some cases seek declaratory and injunctive relief against the government. Others seek damages, often in the many millions of dollars. A number of cases involve challenges arising under the nation's immigration laws. Civil Division AUSAs handle these cases in all phases including trial, with opportunities to advance to supervisory positions. Applicants may apply to work in either the Office's Brooklyn, New York or Central Islip, New York locations. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a United States Citizen or National to apply for this position. Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/). All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. 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. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents). You must meet all qualifications requirements by the closing date of the announcement. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. J.D. degree and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required. Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 20 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information. Qualifications All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are for an initial 14-month probationary period, after which attorneys may be eligible to become full-time employees with permanent status. If hired, applicants are expected to serve in the Office for at least three years, although AUSAs typically remain in the Office for longer terms. 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. (transcript is required) PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Successful AUSA candidates should have the following attributes: an excellent academic background, significant litigation experience, strong communication and analytical abilities, sound judgment and a sincere and demonstrated commitment to public service. Candidates should have prior legal work experience, such as work in a judicial clerkship, law firm, non-profit organization or other state or federal government office. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here. Education Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (transcript is required) ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Translated transcripts are required. For further information, click here. Additional 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 for AD 21 to AD 29 is $87,133 to $195,200 which includes locality pay of 37.95%. locality pay. 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. * * * This and other vacancy 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. Travel: May require travel, both within and outside the district, as needed. Type of Position: All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14 month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation. 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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances. Political Appointees (Current and 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. 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 20 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. EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.