Legal Careers
AUSA - Appellate
Kansas City, MO 64106 - United States
If you are seeking a career that is both challenging and meaningful, this position offers an exceptional opportunity. As part of an organization with more than 100,000 dedicated professionals, you will contribute to a mission rooted in upholding the rule of law, protecting civil rights, and ensuring the safety and security of our nation. You will join a committed team responsible for enforcing federal criminal and civil laws that safeguard the life, liberty and the property of all citizens.
The Western District of Missouri encompasses 66 of Missouri’s 114 counties and has a population of approximately 3.25 million people. Included in the district are the metropolitan areas of Kansas City, St. Joseph, Columbia, Jefferson City, Springfield, and Joplin. The district has three offices: Kansas City, Springfield, and Jefferson City.
The job description of an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Missouri is found in the Preamble of the United States Constitution: "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility…(and) promote the general Welfare." As an Appellate AUSA in the Western District of Missouri, you would accomplish these noble objectives by taking on some of the highest-stakes cases in one of the nation's most productive and busiest U.S. Attorney's Offices. This position is located in Kansas City, Missouri, also known as the City of Fountains, Heart of America, Paris of the Plains, and BBQ - and Jazz - Capitals of the World. Or, simply, "KCMO."
As an Appellate AUSA, you will exercise discretion and responsibility that is unparalleled in any other job a litigator will undertake. AUSAs in the Western District of Missouri are immediately assigned cases and will work with law enforcement agencies to investigate federal crimes, research and brief weighty legal issues, and represent the United States in hearings, trials, and appeals. You will research and write appellate briefs and present oral arguments on a variety of complex and novel issues involving statutory construction, evidentiary and procedural matters, and sentencing and constitutional issues. You will also provide real-time trial assistance and counsel to Criminal Division AUSAs. As an Appellate AUSA, you'll join an elite team of federal prosecutors tackling complex investigations and litigation, defending hard-fought convictions before the Eighth Circuit, testing the limits of your advocacy, and advancing the Department of Justice's mission to enforce and defend the Rule of Law.
You will work in a well-managed, up-tempo, and energy-filled District, surrounded by colleagues dedicated to justice and the Rule of Law. Your responsibilities will increase - and your assignments will become more complex and challenging - as your skills, training, and experience progress. The work is demanding and the stakes are real. But in return, you will have the opportunity to take ownership of consequential matters, expand the limits of your legal skill set, and serve alongside dedicated professionals in a dynamic environment.
If you are ready for a legal career defined by mission, impact, and intellectual rigor - not just a job billing hours, measured every 6 minutes - then this is your opportunity to make a difference. Hiring for AUSA positions in the Western District of Missouri is highly competitive. We seek a complement of lawyers with a wide range of exceptional skills and experience. Applicants must possess strong academic credentials, strong oral advocacy and legal writing skills - preferably before a federal court of appeals - and sound judgement, with significant litigation experience preferred. But above all, we seek work ethic, interpersonal skills, grit, and a sincere commitment to the mission of doing justice in the Western District of Missouri.
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:
Hiring for AUSA positions in the Western District of Missouri is highly competitive. We seek a complement of lawyers with a wide range of exceptional skills and experience. Applicants must possess strong academic credentials, significant litigation experience, strong oral advocacy and legal writing skills, and sound judgement. But above all, we seek work ethic, interpersonal skills, grit, and a sincere commitment to the mission of doing justice in the Western District of Missouri.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
To apply, interested applicants submit a cover letter, resume (not to exceed two pages), and writing sample on USAJOBS:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/892508700
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on November 24th, 2026 to receive consideration.
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.
Salary Information: 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 $78,000 to $197,100 which includes locality pay. Recruitment incentives may be authorized if this position is determined to be difficult to fill, if supported by the skills of the selected candidate, and subject to the availability of funds.
Department Policies
The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and treating employees with fairness, dignity and compassion. We must ensure that no applicant for employment or employee of our Department is denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including pregnancy – or because of age, physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor and that all have the freedom to compete on a fair and level playing field. To learn more, please view the Department’s full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
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://help.usajobs.gov/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.