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Assistant United States Attorney

Department of Justice
Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
Western District of New York
This job announcement has closed

Summary

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.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny

Positions can be filled in the Rochester and/or Buffalo, NY location(s).

Please read announcement in its entirety.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/24/2025 to 07/10/2025
Salary
$63,163 to - $148,202 per year

Plus Authorized Locality Pay

Pay scale & grade
AD 21
Locations
4 vacancies in the following locations:
Buffalo, NY
Rochester, NY
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel to the Rochester or Buffalo, NY offices; to Columbia, SC for training; and travel throughout the District as required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
29
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
25-NYW-12715506-AUSA
Control number
834113300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All United States Citizens and Nationals

Duties

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Our mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and to administer and enforce the Nation's laws to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. We strive to build a stronger office through recruitment efforts and maintain the high standards of the office by promoting professional development. We seek to build a legacy of excellence.

The District is currently seeking four (4) individuals to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys in the Narcotics and Organized Crime Section, for the purpose of working on investigations and prosecutions relating to illegal immigration, illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings, and targeting the Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). The vacancies could be filled in either the Buffalo, NY office or the Rochester, NY branch office.

Employment with the U.S. Attorney's Office offers a unique and challenging experience for the highly motivated attorney. Working in the Criminal Division, you will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal laws that protect life, liberty and property. The District prosecutes the full range of federal criminal cases.

Assistant United States Attorneys in the Criminal Division are responsible for the investigation and prosecution of cases including drugs, human trafficking, organized crime, terrorism, white collar, immigration, child exploitation, mortgage fraud and general crime. The successful applicant will be responsible for all phases of criminal prosecution to enforce federal laws, including providing guidance to law enforcement officers, initiating criminal charges, conducting grand jury proceedings and felony trials, and handling appeals.

This announcement will remain open until filled.

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.

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 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.

Requirements

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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 (or equivalent) and active member of the bar, in good standing. (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.
  • Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

Qualifications

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Required Qualifications:Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction). The District seeks attorneys who have outstanding legal ability, high moral character, mature judgment, and demonstrated excellence in criminal trials. Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least two (2) years post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.

United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:The ideal candidate will have (1) legal practice and trial experience related to criminal prosecution; (2) quick analytical ability and the facility to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues involved with a case; (3) superior oral, trial, and writing skills, as well as strong research and interpersonal skills; (4) ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with the court, other attorneys, support staff and client agencies; (5) capacity to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding litigative environment; and (6) excellent computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research, electronic court filing, electronic e-mail and word processing systems.

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

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent).

Additional information

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 $63,163.00 - $148,202.00 plus authorized locality pay.

Other 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.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

* * *
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.

Travel: Occasional travel to the Rochester or Buffalo, NY offices; to Columbia, SC for training; and travel throughout the District as required.

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.

Political Appointees (Current and Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

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.

EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

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.

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.

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