Assistant United States Attorney

Summary

Please read entire announcement before applying. This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future vacancies. Applicant lists will be pulled on 1/12/2026 and every thirty days thereafter until the closing date. Applications must be complete at the time when lists are pulled in order to be considered at that time. Announcement will remain open until positions are filled, but no later than August 31, 2026. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Duties

The United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY or the Office) is seeking several experienced attorneys to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) in the Office's Civil or Criminal Division, in one of the largest and most prolific USAOs in the nation. These positions are located in Brooklyn, New York and Central Islip, New York. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. The Office is seeking to hire AUSAs to work in the Office's Brooklyn, New York and Central Islip, New York Criminal and Civil Divisions. The Office's Criminal and Civil Divisions have one of the nation's busiest dockets comprised of the most complex and significant criminal and civil cases. Criminal Division Applicants to the Office's Criminal Division will represent the United States as an AUSA in a wide range of criminal cases. Criminal Division AUSAs are responsible for prosecuting a variety of violations of federal laws including with respect to cartels and transnational criminal organizations; violent crime and firearms violations; corporate, securities, healthcare, and investment fraud; counterterrorism, counterintelligence and other national security matters; cyber-enabled crime; human trafficking and civil rights; public corruption; immigration; criminal asset seizure and forfeiture. Criminal Division AUSAs handle all aspects of criminal cases, from investigation through charging, trials, and appeals. In addition, the Office is seeking to hire AUSAs specifically for its Appeals and Asset Recovery Sections within the Criminal Division. Appeals Section AUSAs will be required to research, write, and edit appellate briefs and post-conviction responses and present oral arguments on a variety of complex and novel issues involving the Constitution, statutory construction, evidentiary and procedural matters, and sentencing issues. You will also assist in mooting other AUSAs as they prepare for oral arguments. You will be assigned appeals arising from the Office's trial sections. You will also provide real-time trial and other assistance to the AUSAs in the Criminal Division's other sections. Asset Recovery Section AUSAs are responsible for managing all aspects of both criminal and civil asset forfeiture prosecutions. You have overall responsibility for all matters involving asset forfeiture, including assisting with the investigation, obtaining seizure warrants, preparing and filing pleadings, briefing and arguing motions, and handling all aspects of trial litigation and appeals. The Asset Recovery Section has gained nationwide attention for its unique and complex asset forfeiture matters and expertise in this area. Applicants may apply to work in either the Office's Brooklyn, New York or Central Islip, New York locations. However, all Criminal Division AUSAs begin their tenure in the General Crimes Section in the Office's Brooklyn location, and can be assigned to either location, and to any section within the Criminal Division, based on the needs of the Office. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress, with opportunities to advance to supervisory positions. Civil Division Applicants to the Office's Civil Division will represent the interests of the United States as an AUSA in a host of civil actions in the United States District Court, the United States Bankruptcy Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Division handles a large and diverse docket of affirmative and defensive cases. The affirmative practices include Affirmative Civil Enforcement, Civil Rights, Drug and Listed Chemical Diversion, and Health Care Fraud. Cases in these areas seek monetary and equitable relief on behalf of the government and victims. In defensive litigation, the Civil Division represents the United States, its agencies, officials, and employees in thousands of cases each year. These matters may implicate the Constitution, federal statutes, regulations, policies or programs. Some cases seek declaratory and injunctive relief against the government. Others seek damages, often in the many millions of dollars. A number of cases involve challenges arising under the nation's immigration laws. Civil Division AUSAs handle these cases in all phases including trial, with opportunities to advance to supervisory positions. Applicants may apply to work in either the Office's Brooklyn, New York or Central Islip, New York locations.

Qualifications

All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are for an initial 14-month probationary period, after which attorneys may be eligible to become full-time employees with permanent status. If hired, applicants are expected to serve in the Office for at least three years, although AUSAs typically remain in the Office for longer terms. 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. (transcript is required) PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Successful AUSA candidates should have the following attributes: an excellent academic background, significant litigation experience, strong communication and analytical abilities, sound judgment and a sincere and demonstrated commitment to public service. Candidates should have prior legal work experience, such as work in a judicial clerkship, law firm, non-profit organization or other state or federal government office. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (transcript is required that confirms degree and date earned). ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Translated transcripts are required. For further information, click here.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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 10 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. Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., Links embedded in your resume will not be opened.). Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12848155

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: Your resume showing relevant experience and dates of employment (for full consideration you must include day/month/year). Two Page Resume Limit: Your resume cannot exceed two pages. You will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages - USAJOBS for formatting requirements. Required: A cover letter addressed to Executive United States Attorney Judy Philips Required: Writing sample Required: Proof of active bar membership Required: Two letters of recommendation (Can be submitted to SAG-E-Appeals@opm.gov) Required, if you meet qualifications based on education: An unofficial transcript showing law school education. (Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript will be required prior to your first day.) and foreign education evaluation documentation, if applicable, as described under the "Education" section of this vacancy announcement. 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. For general questions about this vacancy announcement, please contact Executive Specialist Korin Foy at 718-254-6065 or korin.foy@usdoj.gov. For document submission, please submit to SAG-E-Appeals@opm.gov. Any documentation submitted to Korin Foy will not be accepted. 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 targeted/severe 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 who have lived outside the United States for two or more of the past five years will likely have difficulty being approved for appointments by the Department Security Staff. The two-year period is cumulative, not necessarily ...

All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are for an initial 14-month probationary period, after which attorneys may be eligible to become full-time employees with permanent status. If hired, applicants are expected to serve in the Office for at least three years, although AUSAs typically remain in the Office for longer terms. 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. (transcript is required) PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Successful AUSA candidates should have the following attributes: an excellent academic background, significant litigation experience, strong communication and analytical abilities, sound judgment and a sincere and demonstrated commitment to public service. Candidates should have prior legal work experience, such as work in a judicial clerkship, law firm, non-profit organization or other state or federal government office. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.