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Legal Careers

Assistant United States Attorney

Hiring Organization
Criminal Division (CRM)
Hiring Office
Northern District of Alabama
Job ID
22-NDAL-02
Location:
1800 4th Ave North
Birmingham, AL 35203 - United States
Application Deadline:
About the Office

The United States Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Alabama serves the District by representing the interests of the United States in litigation and community affairs related to law enforcement. The Office prosecutes violations of federal criminal law. It also defends the United States in civil law suits and seeks to recover from instances of fraud committed against the United States and take other affirmative civil enforcement action. The Office works with federal, state, and local law enforcement to protect and serve the district. The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama covers 31 of the state's 67 counties, and has a branch office located in Huntsville, Alabama. Our mission is threefold: (1) to prosecute violations of federal criminal law, (2) to prosecute on behalf of or defend the United States in civil actions, and (3) to collect otherwise administratively uncollectible financial judgments on behalf of the United States. Assistant United States Attorneys in this district are charged with demonstrating exceptional competence, unquestionable integrity, and a commitment to serve the citizens of this district as they accomplish the office's mission.

This position is located in the Birmingham office. Birmingham is an area of rolling hills, beautiful lakes, downtown lofts, evening concerts in the park, nationally ranked restaurants, and an amusement and theme park.

Other information about the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Alabama may be found at: http://www.justice.gov/usao/aln/.

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Job Description

The Northern District of Alabama is currently seeking one attorney for an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) opening in our Criminal Division, at our main office in Birmingham, Alabama. Our Criminal Division investigates and prosecutes federal cases arising from a wide array of criminal activity. The AUSA will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal laws. Assistant United States Attorneys in the Criminal Division are responsible for the prosecution of all types of crimes under federal law. The person selected for this position will primarily be responsible for prosecuting violent or drug-related crimes.

Specific case assignments vary depending on the particular needs of the office. The position may also involve some administrative responsibilities.

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

All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

Qualifications

Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least 1 years post-J.D. experience. Applicants are required to be a member of the Alabama Bar or willing to become a member within the first 24 months of employment. The person selected for this position must be fully and exclusively invested in the Northern District of Alabama.

Preferred Qualifications: Ideal qualifications include prosecuting or litigating cases in federal or state court. Applicants should have a demonstrated capacity to function, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding office and courtroom environment; must be willing and able to try jury cases in federal court and demonstrate the motivation and professionalism to become an accomplished trial attorney; should possess analytical ability to quickly identify and to clearly and accurately articulate critical issues in criminal investigations or pending prosecutions; should be able to demonstrate superior oral and writing skills as well as strong legal research skills; should exhibit strong interpersonal skills, good judgment, the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with the court, other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies; should also possess computer literacy skills to include experience in automated research, electronic court filing, electronic e-mail, and word processing systems. Previous jury trial experience is strongly preferred

United States citizenship is required.

Application Process

You must apply via USAJobs.gov by Wednesday, October 18, 2021, via the direct application link below:

Direct Application Link:  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/616603500

You must include a complete application package which includes:

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 showing relevant experience and dates of employment (include day/month/year). (cover letter optional).
  • Required - Writing Sample
  • Required, if applicable - A recent copy of an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), showing title, series, grade, and current salary; and a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
  • 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.

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

Assistant United States Attorneys' pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $55,756 to $145,836 plus locality pay of 16.26%.

Number of Positions
1
Travel
Occasional travel, both within and outside the District, may be required.
Relocation Expenses
Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Department Policies

The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.  Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor.  The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.

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.

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 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. See list of DPOCs.   

Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.

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, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). 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 must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-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. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.

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 include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. 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, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf 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 their 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).

Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof.  See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

 

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.

Updated October 6, 2021