Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Summary

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.

This job is open to

• The public
  
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

All United States Citizens and Nationals

Duties

This position is located in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Middle District of Alabama consists of 23 counties in central and southeastern Alabama. The United States Attorney's office employs approximately 58 individuals, including 25 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs). The United States Attorney, Kevin P. Davidson is currently seeking to hire an outstanding candidate for an AUSA position in the Criminal Division. More information about the office may be found at our website:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/alm

Job Description:

The office is seeking applications for an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) within the Criminal Division.

The successful applicant will be able to work equally well individually and in a team setting and will possess the judgment, skill, and fearlessness necessary to succeed as part of a fast-paced and aggressive prosecution team. Seeking energetic, self-motivated, hard-working, and highly qualified attorneys. Although trial experience is not necessary, applicants must have the desire to routinely appear in court and try criminal cases. The selected applicant will be responsible for prosecuting a variety of criminal cases.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your 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.

Salary Information: Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The recruitment range of pay is $72,553.00 - $191,800.00 (includes locality pay). To view the current Administratively Determined Pay Scale, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao/career-center/salary-information/administratively-determined-pay-plan-charts.

Locality Pay: This form of pay is added to basic pay and is determined based on the location of the assigned duty station. For Montgomery, AL this is set at a rate of 16.82%.

Relocation Expenses: Permanent Change in Station (PCS) Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part:

• Paid vacation
• Sick Leave
• 11 paid holidays
• 12-weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Reasonable Accommodations
• Health Insurance Benefits
• Dental and Vision benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care
• Federal Retirement Pension (Federal Employees Retirement System)
• Thrift Savings Plan (401k) with up to 5% employer matching
• Life Insurance
• Long-term care Insurance

Other Benefits: In addition to the above benefits, we also offer:

• Telework
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Compressed Work Schedules
• Student Loan Forgiveness
• Performance Awards & Bonuses
• Employee Assistance Programs

The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees. For more information visit OPM's site for Federal Employee Compensation Package.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

To be eligible for this position, you must meet the following requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship: You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• 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 for additional information.
• 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.
• Licensure Requirement: You must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction). You will be required to maintain an active bar membership in "good standing" in order to retain employment.
• 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 specific information.

All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis.

You must apply online and submit a complete application by the closing date of this announcement in order to be considered for this position (See Required Documents Section of this announcement).

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement (See Qualifications Section of this announcement).As needed, additional positions may be filled using 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 ONE (1) year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.

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/or appeals in civil or criminal matters. The ideal candidate will have strong legal research and writing skills and experience, civil or criminal, in state or federal courts in cases involving felony prosecution or complex litigation.

Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical ability and the facility 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 e-mail and word processing systems.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree from an accredited law school in the United States or U.S. Territories.

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 criterion, see www.ed.gov.

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

Veterans' Preference: 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 indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference. 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, http://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 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).

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.

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  You must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes the following documents:
  
  
  • Occupational Questionnaire (Required) - This is completed automatically during the "Apply Online" process. Your responses from the online questionnaire will be used to help determine your eligibility to apply, identify any preferences or special considerations for employment, and if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position.
  • Resume (Required) (should not exceed 5 pages) - Must show relevant experience with names/locations of employers, position titles, dates of employment, and duties performed; education history that lists the names/locations of the academic institutions attended, degrees acquired with graduation dates, G.P.A.; and any bar association memberships with dates of admittance and expiration. All dates listed should include at least the month and year (MM/YYYY).
  • Cover Letter (Required) (should not exceed 2 pages) - Should be tailored to the position that you are applying for and clearly summarize any specific qualifications and/or achievements that make you a preferred candidate for the position.
  • Legal Writing Sample (Required) (should not exceed 25 pages) - Must clearly convey your ability to develop and compose a legal document. Examples may include legal briefs, pleadings, original motions, or other legal writings for scholarly publications.
  • Proof of Active Bar Membership (Required) - Any documentation that demonstrates that you are an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) and in good standing at the time of your application.
  • Veterans Preference Documentation (Optional, 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.
  
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  
  To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
  
  The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/08/2024 to receive consideration.
  
  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  
  2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. (It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.)
  
  3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  
  To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
  
  You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. However, should you not be able to apply online, please contact Middle District of Alabama email at Daniel.Krautheim@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  Daniel Krautheim
  
  Email
  
  Daniel.Krautheim@usdoj.gov
  
  Address
  
  Middle District of Alabama
  
  131 Clayton Street
  
  Montgomery, AL 36104
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation, to include a credit and tax checks, and a drug test by urinalysis. We expect to make a final job offer within 120 days after the closing date of the announcement.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes the following documents:

• Occupational Questionnaire (Required) - This is completed automatically during the "Apply Online" process. Your responses from the online questionnaire will be used to help determine your eligibility to apply, identify any preferences or special considerations for employment, and if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position.
• Resume (Required) (should not exceed 5 pages) - Must show relevant experience with names/locations of employers, position titles, dates of employment, and duties performed; education history that lists the names/locations of the academic institutions attended, degrees acquired with graduation dates, G.P.A.; and any bar association memberships with dates of admittance and expiration. All dates listed should include at least the month and year (MM/YYYY).
• Cover Letter (Required) (should not exceed 2 pages) - Should be tailored to the position that you are applying for and clearly summarize any specific qualifications and/or achievements that make you a preferred candidate for the position.
• Legal Writing Sample (Required) (should not exceed 25 pages) - Must clearly convey your ability to develop and compose a legal document. Examples may include legal briefs, pleadings, original motions, or other legal writings for scholarly publications.
• Proof of Active Bar Membership (Required) - Any documentation that demonstrates that you are an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) and in good standing at the time of your application.
• Veterans Preference Documentation (Optional, 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.


If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/08/2024 to receive consideration.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. (It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.)

3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. However, should you not be able to apply online, please contact Middle District of Alabama email at Daniel.Krautheim@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.

Agency contact information

Daniel Krautheim

Email

Daniel.Krautheim@usdoj.gov

Address

Middle District of Alabama

131 Clayton Street

Montgomery, AL 36104

US

Next steps

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation, to include a credit and tax checks, and a drug test by urinalysis. We expect to make a final job offer within 120 days after the closing date of the announcement.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request