Assistant U.S. Attorney-Civil

United States Attorney's Office (USAO)
U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Minnesota
Attorney
300 S. 4th St., Ste. 600
Minneapolis, MN 55415
United States
23-MN-11981251-AUSA-CIV
About the Office: 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota serves the entire state of Minnesota, with offices located in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Criminal Division prosecutes a wide range of federal cases including violent crime, crimes committed on Indian Reservations, organized crime, narcotics, fraud and public corruption, national security, and cybercrime. The Civil Division handles a variety of civil cases, including healthcare and procurement fraud, civil rights enforcement, constitutional challenges to statutes and regulations, environmental defense and enforcement, financial litigation, bankruptcy, asset forfeiture, and the defense of employment discrimination and tort claims. Assistant United States Attorneys (“AUSAs”) in both divisions litigate matters in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The U. S. Attorney’s Office places a high priority on assembling a diverse team of AUSAs with varied backgrounds, experiences, and skills. On a daily basis, AUSAs are required to make impactful strategic decisions in cases in collaboration with their colleagues and agency partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office believes that its team makes better, fairer, and more just decisions when its judgment is a product of vigorous dialogue among a collaborative and diverse group of peers.

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.

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers/html.

This position is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota, visit District of Minnesota | District of Minnesota (justice.gov)

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 U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota is accepting applications for AUSA openings in our Civil Division, including a position focused on civil rights enforcement.

The Civil Division handles a wide variety of civil cases, including civil health care and procurement fraud, civil rights enforcement, constitutional challenges to statutes and regulations, environmental defense and enforcement, financial litigation, asset forfeiture, and the defense of employment discrimination and tort claims.

AUSAs in the Civil Division are responsible for representing the federal government and its agencies and employees in civil litigation in the district. These AUSAs conduct pre-trial investigations and handle all aspects of civil litigation, including taking and defending depositions, propounding and answering discovery, engaging in motions practice, trying cases, negotiating settlements, drafting appellate briefs, and arguing cases before appellate court judges. AUSAs are expected to work independently and in teams with other AUSAs and federal government agencies.

The attorney selected to fill the civil rights vacancy will focus on one of the Department's highest priorities. Civil rights enforcement is central to the mission of the Office. Civil-side civil rights enforcement embraces a broad variety of cases arising under the Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, Service Members Civil Relief Act, Voting Rights Act, and an array of several other federal anti-discrimination statutes. Enforcement actions under these statutes seek to end discrimination in housing, lending, education, employment, and public accommodations, as well as protect the rights of servicemembers, protect the right to vote, and ensure compliance with the Constitution in policing an other government institutions. AUSAs who handle civil rights enforcement will handle a full docket of affirmative civil rights matters and will coordinate and participate in significant community outreach events around the district. For many matters, AUSAs will also have the opportunity to work closely with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

For all Civil Division AUSAs, responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis,

We may use this posting to fill other vacant AUSA positions.

Security Requirements

Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment 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.

Qualifications: 

Required Qualifications:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
  • All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on 14-month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

Preferred Qualifications:

Ideal candidates will have experience involving two or more of the following:

  • current or prior experience as an AUSA.
  • experience with affirmative Civil Rights litigation.
  • experience prosecuting complex and long-term investigations.
  • experience litigating cases in federal or state courts, with substantial responsibility for all aspects of investigation, discovery, and trial.
  • Have exceptional written and oral advocacy skills.

Applicants must also demonstrate the following:

  • Desire to work as an AUSA in the District of Minnesota
  • Commitment to excellence, strong work ethic, and drive, which may be demonstrated through successful teamwork, leadership, obstacles overcome, and personal, academic, and professional achievement. Quick analytical ability and the facility to articulate the critical issues accurately and precisely in a case. Excellent communication and courtroom skills, as well as the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and partner law enforcement agencies.
  • Capacity to function, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding environment and be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings.

You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree

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.

Salary: 
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 $74,973 to $183,400, which includes 26.49% locality pay.
Travel: 
1 to 5 nights of travel required per month.
Application Process: 

Applications are being accepted via USAJobs at: 23-MN-11981251-AUSA-CIV.

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.

Application Deadline: 
Friday, June 23, 2023
Relocation Expenses: 
Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
Number of Positions: 
1 or more.
Updated May 26, 2023

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Department Policies

Equal Employment Opportunity:  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.

Reasonable Accommodations:  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.

Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities:  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.   

Suitability and Citizenship:  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.

Veterans:  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).

USAO Residency Requirement:  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.

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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.