Assistant United States Attorney - Appellate Division

Summary In all matters, it is our mission to represent the people of the United States in a manner that will instill confidence in the fairness and integrity of our office and the judicial system and to conduct our work with the highest integrity. We strive to perform our mission in the most efficient and effective manner. This position is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Learn more about this agency Duties The Appellate Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma offers a unique, challenging, and rewarding experience for a highly motivated, experienced attorney interested in criminal appellate and trial advocacy. This United States Attorney's Office serves as the chief federal law enforcement office in the Northern District of Oklahoma and, in that capacity, pursues justice, ensures public safety, and enforces federal laws on behalf of the citizens of the Northern District. The Northern District encompasses 11 counties in the northeastern corner of the state, including Tulsa County, the second most populous county in the state of Oklahoma. After the 2020 Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, most of the Northern District qualifies as Indian Country; therefore, in addition to its typical federal criminal jurisdiction, the Northern District USAO is responsible for prosecuting major crimes committed by or against members of federally recognized Indian tribes, and for coordinating among state, federal, and tribal law enforcement authorities. Responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment 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. Requirements 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. Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a July 2026 bar examination may be considered. Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information. Qualifications Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) prior to their entry on duty date. United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Ideal candidates will have three or more years of post-J.D. experience, including criminal prosecution experience. An appellate or district court clerkship, an outstanding academic record, and prior AUSA experience are preferred but not required. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to identify, articulate, and analyze critical legal issues quickly and accurately. They should also exhibit outstanding oral and written advocacy, good judgment, superior communication and courtroom skills, and the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with our attorneys, support staff, and opposing counsel. Applicants must demonstrate a capacity to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment, while conducting their own legal research and independently preparing and filing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. This position also requires excellent computer literacy, including electronic legal research, electronic court filing, e-mail, and word-processing systems. Ideal candidates will also have experience arguing before trial and appellate courts, as well as a strong background in issues commonly arising in federal criminal cases and collateral proceedings, such as constitutional challenges arising under the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments, 28 U.S.C. § 2255; applicable rules of evidence and criminal procedure; sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines; and U.S. Supreme Court and Tenth Circuit precedent in these areas. Appellate AUSAs are expected to have superior organizational and public presentation abilities, to be motivated by a strong commitment to public service, and to contribute to the training and professional development of other AUSAs. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. Education Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree by Enter on Duty (EOD) date. 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 basic pay range is $76,748 to $197,100, includinglocality pay. (The filling of this position is subject to the availability of funds.) As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. 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: 1-5 nights of travel required per month. 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): Political Appointees (Current or 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 pre-employment 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. EEO Statement/Policy: 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. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline. Expand Hide  additional information 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.