If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career, this is the position for you! With a diverse and talented workforce of over 100,000 men and women, Justice leads the Nation in ensuring the protection of all Americans while preserving their constitutional freedoms. You can be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty, and the property of citizens.
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 United States Attorney's Office is the chief law enforcement office in the District and is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the Northern District of Indiana. This includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The District has three offices located in Hammond, Fort Wayne, and South Bend. Please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin.
These positions are located in Hammond, Indiana. Hammond is situated perfectly in the Northwest Indiana area; ideally located within a 30-45-minute drive of the great city of Chicago, access to the beaches of beautiful Lake Michigan, and surrounded by family-oriented communities.
This announcement originally closed on 12/6/2021 and was re-opened to solicit additional applications. Applicants who have already applied do not need to re-apply, but may now update their submitted applications and/or supporting documents as needed.
As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
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.
The office is soliciting applications for Assistant United States Attorney (AUSAs) positions within the Criminal Division of the Northern District of Indiana. AUSAs in the Criminal Division are criminal prosecutors who work with law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations and represent the United States with respect to criminal prosecutions of those who commit such offenses.
The successful candidates will be responsible for legal research and writing, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement overseeing investigations, handling cases from charging through plea, trial and disposition, as well as a variety of program responsibilities. Assignments for the Criminal Division may include prosecuting cases in the following areas: drug and firearm crimes, violent crimes, public corruption, fraud, tax offenses, other white-collar crimes, and sex offenses involving minors.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
Telework Eligibility: While these positions have been identified as being eligible for telework, an employee's eligibility to telework will be at the agency's discretion in accordance with established policies.
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a United States Citizen or National.
- 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.
- Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit checks, tax checks, and drug testing.
- All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis. Conversion to a permanent position is subject to a favorable adjudication of a full-field background investigation.
- Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. DOJ employees are required to undergo background re-investigation every 5 years to retain employment.
- J.D. degree and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.
- You must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccine, subject only to such exceptions as required by law.
- If selected, you will be expected to work at the location designated in this vacancy announcement. These are not a remote-work positions.
- 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.
- You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifications
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.
The ideal candidate will have experience, civil or criminal, in state or federal courts in cases involving complex litigation.
Preferred Qualifications:
Ideal qualifications include at least 3+ years of post-J.D. experience litigating cases in federal or state courts, with substantial responsibility for all aspects of discovery, trial and appeals in civil and/or criminal matters. The successful candidate should demonstrate sound legal judgment, strong writing skills and work ethic, and the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with their colleagues, support staff, and client agencies, and program management.
Applicants must demonstrate quick analytical thinking and the ability to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues in a case. Applicants must demonstrate superior oral and, writing skills as well as strong research and interpersonal skills, and good judgment. Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff and client agencies. Applicants must have a demonstrated capacity to function, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding environment.
Applicants will be expected to do their own legal research and writing and will be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. Applicants must also demonstrate excellent computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic e-mail and word processing systems.
Education
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
To be considered for this position, you must apply online at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/622350700
You must provide a complete Application Package by 11:59pm EST of the closing date of this announcement, which includes:
- Required - Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire (completed by clicking "Apply Online").
- Required - Your resume showing relevant experience and dates of employment (include day/month/year). (cover letter optional).
- Required - A legal writing sample (not to exceed 25 pages).
- Required, if applicable - If you are a current/former federal employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent 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 receive 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.
Incomplete or late applications will NOT be considered. All application materials must be submitted via the USAJOBS website by the closing date of the announcement. No hard copy or emailed documents will be accepted.
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.