Assistant United States Attorney (Civil)

Full Job Description

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa employs approximately 30 Assistant United States Attorneys. The District's headquarters office is located in Des Moines.

The District has staffed branch offices in Davenport and Council Bluffs, which serve the District's eastern and western divisions.

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 cannot exceed two pages - you will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages - see USAJOBS for formatting requirements.

Include relevant employment history as outlined below for each job: Official position title (if Federal, include series/grade), Employer name and contact information, Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year), Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and A list of duties performed and accomplishments.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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 your veterans' preference information in your cover letter or resume.

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 consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least one-year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.

At least three years of post-J.D. litigation experience is preferred, with extensive research and writing experience.

Preferred qualifications: Possess superior oral and written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills, exhibit good judgment, function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment, and a demonstrated record of integrity.

Interested AUSAs or government attorneys must have at least a successful evaluation for the past year.

All applicants must be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) and not have received any disciplinary action within the past three years from the date of the application.

In addition, applicants must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies, and the ability to lead, motivate, mentor, and evaluate other highly qualified attorneys.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate by experience, knowledge, or training, that they have an understanding of basic leadership and managerial skills.

Ideal qualifications include at least three years of litigation experience in the role of lead counsel, with experience arguing motions and conducting federal jury trials, as well as prior experience supervising other litigation attorneys.

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

Assistant United States Attorneys in the Southern District of Iowa handle a wide variety of complex cases involving representation of the United States in all phases of pretrial, trial and appellate matters concerning civil litigation, including defensive matters involving the Federal Tort Claims Act, employment discrimination statutes, commercial litigation, and affirmative matters involving fraud, debt collection, real estate foreclosures, and bankruptcy, as well as representing federal agencies on appeals of administrative determinations.

This vacancy is for two positions in the Civil Division in Des Moines.

One position is for a general civil litigation attorney, and the other position will focus on both affirmative and defensive immigration-related civil litigation.

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.