Our mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and to administer and enforce the Nation's laws to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. We strive to build a stronger office through recruitment efforts and maintain the high standards of the office by promoting professional development. We seek to build a legacy of excellence.
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.
The Western District of Texas is a large complex district which includes 68 counties and approximately 93,000 square miles. Offices are located in San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Del Rio, Midland, Waco, and Alpine/Pecos.
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.
This position is in the Appellate Section of the Criminal Division. The AUSA will represent the United States in cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and will handle all aspects of affirmative and defensive appeals from criminal cases arising in the District. Responsibilities will include appellate briefs and oral arguments on constitutional, statutory, evidentiary, and procedural matters. The AUSA will also review draft briefs written by fellow AUSAs and participate in moot courts.
Aside from appellate litigation, the AUSA will advise the U.S. Attorney and fellow AUSAs on developments in the law and significant legal issues; handle specialized litigation in federal district court; and consult with the Solicitor General's Office and the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice regarding appeals, petitions for rehearing en banc, and litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
Required Qualifications
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least one year post-J.D. legal experience (including any judicial clerkships).
United States citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
Hiring for AUSA positions is highly competitive. The U.S. Attorney's Office seeks a diverse complement of lawyers with keen intelligence, a wide range of exceptional skills and experiences, and a sincere commitment to the public interest. Typically, an individual who joins the Appellate Section of a U.S. Attorney's Office has an exceptional academic record, experience as a federal judicial clerk, and significant appellate experience in private practice or government. Experience as a federal judicial clerk at the appellate level or as a federal prosecutor working on appellate matters is highly desirable.
Applicants must demonstrate fair and ethical judgment; superior writing, legal-research, and appellate-advocacy skills; the ability to articulate quickly, accurately, and precisely the critical issues in a case; the ability to distill voluminous factual records into a readily understood narrative; the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with attorneys and support staff; and a demonstrated capacity to succeed with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to do their own legal research and writing and to prepare their own correspondence and court filings. Applicants must also demonstrate excellent computer-literacy skills, including independent facility in legal research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic e-mail and word-processing systems.
Most attorneys hired have several years of experience, although highly qualified recent graduates with some experience in practice or as a judicial clerk are also considered.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Applications must be submitted online through the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/618759100
All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis.
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.