The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota serves the entire state of Minnesota, with offices located in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
This position is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Office's team of federal prosecutors prosecutes cases on behalf of the United States and places a high priority on assembling a diverse team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) with varied backgrounds, experiences, and skills. On a daily basis, Criminal Division AUSAs are required to make impactful strategic decisions in cases involving violent crime, complex frauds, human trafficking, national security, and many other matters in collaboration with their colleagues and their law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney's Office believes that its team of federal prosecutors make better, fairer, and more just decisions when its judgments are the product of a vigorous dialogue among a collaborative and diverse group of their 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
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 United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota seeks motivated and prosecution-minded attorneys to join our office in two priority areas: 1) Indian Country; and 2) Violent Crime.
We are expanding our Indian Country team, which prosecutes crimes on behalf of Minnesota’s eleven federally recognized tribes, including on the Red Lake, Bois Forte, White Earth, and Mille Lacs reservations. The work includes sexual assault, homicide, narcotics, and child abuse prosecutions. The team will also have a focus on investigating and prosecuting cases involving missing and murdered indigenous persons. Attorneys joining this team will be part of a passionate, committed group serving Indian Country in our state, and will work with Tribal, federal, and state law enforcement and victim advocates. Due to the location of the Tribes, travel throughout the state is required in this position.
The Office is also expanding its team of attorneys working on violent crime and gang cases. Prosecutors assigned to this section will investigate and prosecute cases involving firearms, carjacking, bank robbery, complex criminal organizations, and other violent crimes.
While this announcement seeks attorneys interested in two focused criminal division areas, individuals hired as AUSAS are assigned to sections with the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s discretion. The Office also an active open and continuous job announcement (23-MN-11856298-AUSA-CRM ) that generally seeks attorneys interested in joining our Criminal Division in any of its sections. Applicants may apply to both announcements if interested in both.
AUSAs in the Office's Criminal Division serve the goal of doing justice by fairly enforcing the criminal laws of the United States. Criminal AUSAs must exercise reasoned judgment in making criminal charging decisions, coordinating federal criminal investigations with the Office's law enforcement partners, and litigating and trying complex cases in federal court. Candidates must be capable of handling significant and complex criminal prosecutions. This responsibility regularly entails working with voluminous discovery and mastering challenging legal concepts. Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical ability, high quality legal writing and research skills, effective communication and advocacy skills, and a strong commitment to public service.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress.
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.
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. sec. 545 for district-specific information.
Selective Service: 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.
Conditions of Employment
- 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 and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.
- Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. sec. 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.
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.
United States citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
Ideal candidates will have two or more of the following:
- Current or prior experience as an AUSA or in another prosecutorial role,
- Experience with Indian Country law,
- Experience prosecuting complex and long-term investigations, including of criminal street gangs,
- Experience litigating cases in federal or state courts, with responsibility for investigation, discovery, and trial,
- 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
Additional information
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.
Type of Position
All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14 month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
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.
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.
Diversity Statement
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Evaluation Method
Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet all job requirements. An attorney interview panel will then review all qualified applicants and make recommendations for invitation to interview. You will be notified if selected for an interview.
The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Required Documents
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 - Cover letter to include a statement as to why you are applying to be an AUSA, and if you have a preference to serve as an Indian Country or Violent Crime prosecutor, please indicate.
- Required - Your resume showing relevant experience and dates of employment (include month/year).
- Required - Transcript from Law School in which your J.D. was awarded.
- Required - A writing sample, not to exceed ten (10) pages, preferably a legal brief filed in court or an excerpt.
- Required – A list of at least three (3) professional references with contact information. Letters of recommendation may be included and will be requested later in the recruitment process.
- 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.
Applications are being accepted via USAJobs at: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/728435000
The point of contact for this vacancy announcement is Rasheda Devaney, Human Resources Officer, who can be reached at 612-272-8264 or Rasheda.Devaney@usdoj.gov.
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.