Legal Careers
Assistant United States Attorney (Civil)
Concord, NH 03301 - United States
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire is located in Concord, NH. The office has approximately 24 AUSA's, as well as approximately 29 support staff. The office's criminal and civil divisions handle a wide variety of matters. Employment at the USAO offers a unique and challenging experience for the highly motivated attorney, including an opportunity to work on significant, complex and visible cases being litigated.
The U. S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire is currently accepting applications for a Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney to serve in the Civil Division as the Civil Chief. The Civil Chief will be responsible for supervising attorneys and support staff who participate in affirmative and defensive litigation on behalf of the United States, as well as personally handling civil matters. The Civil Division also is responsible for representing the United States in bankruptcy proceedings, financial litigation, and asset forfeiture matters. The office is seeking an experienced civil litigator who has a strong background in federal and/or state litigation, including trial experience. Prior management experience, preferably in a United States Attorney’s Office or other government office, is preferred.
The successful candidate will be hired as an Assistant United States Attorney and will serve as a Supervisory AUSA under a temporary promotion at the discretion of the United States Attorney. Promotions to Supervisory AUSA positions are made on a temporary basis. At the end of the temporary promotion, the Supervisory AUSA may be returned to a non-supervisory AUSA within the USAO or extended.
All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Temporary appointments, may or may not, be made permanent without further competition.
Information regarding the U.S Attorney’s Office, District of New Hampshire, can be found at District of New Hampshire | District of New Hampshire.
As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
Training: Those AUSAs selected for a supervisory position for the first time will be required to attend the Justice Leadership Institute or a Legal Issues for Managers Seminar.
Appointment type: Although the AUSA position is permanent, all Supervisory AUSA appointments are temporary, at-will positions.
Required qualifications:
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent, , be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 1 year of post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience. A minimum of 3 years post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or othr relevant experience is required.
Preferred qualifications: Possess superior oral and written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills, exhibit good judgment, function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment, and a demonstrated record of integrity. Interested AUSAs or government attorneys must have at least a successful evaluation for the past year. All applicants must be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) and not have received any disciplinary action within the past three years from the date of the application. In addition, applicants must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies, and the ability to lead, motivate, mentor, and evaluate other highly qualified attorneys.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate by experience, knowledge, or training, that they have an understanding of basic leadership and managerial skills. Ideal qualifications include at least three years of litigation experience in the role of lead counsel, with experience arguing motions and conducting federal jury trials, as well as prior experience supervising other litigation attorneys.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
To be considered for a position, applications must be submitted by 11:59pm (EST) on Monday, June 23, 2025. Applications will only be accepted through the USAJobs website at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/838545900
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.
Your complete Application Package should include:
- Your Resume (required) showing relevant experience and dates of employment (including month and year). Please ensure your resume notes month/year of J.D. and bar membership information with month/year.
- Your responses to the occupational questionnaire (required) (online at USAJobs).
- Writing Sample (required) not to exceed 20 pages.
- Cover Letter (optional).
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.
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 is $83,742.00 to $195,200.00 ,which includes 32.58% locality pay. Similarly, the pay for a Supervisory AUSA is based on the same pay scale and on the specific supervisory position
Department Policies
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. To learn more, please visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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.
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.