Assistant United States Attorney (Civil)

Full Job Description

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon is seeking experienced attorneys to serve as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in our Civil Division.

These positions are located in our District's headquarters in Portland, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

We seek motivated individuals who enjoy working on a variety of challenging litigation matters while supported by colleagues of the highest caliber.

This post is continuous with initial review of applications beginning January 28. 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: Applicants should be capable of managing numerous ongoing litigation matters - including juggling court appearances, depositions and deadlines for discovery - in a collegial, supportive manner.

Applicants should have experience appearing in court, arbitrations, and/or depositions. Trial experience is preferred.

Applicants should possess superior research and writing abilities, with the ability to prepare high-quality, persuasive pleadings. Writing is a major aspect of every civil AUSA's portfolio.

Applicants should be experienced with handling litigation from initial case filing through discovery and dispositive motions.

Applicants should possess impeccable judgment and the proven ability to work independently, while also being self-aware enough to know when they need supervisory input with difficult or sensitive issues.

Applicants should value teamwork and collegiality, including by being ready to support their colleagues during litigation emergencies.

Most importantly, everyone who works for the Department of Justice must recognize that their conduct toward opposing counsel, agency counsel, investigators, colleagues, judges and courthouse staff must always be guided by the highest standards of professionalism, legal ethics and kindness.

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

Working for the Department of Justice as an AUSA provides tremendous opportunities to develop litigation skills at an accelerated rate.

Few litigation positions, whether in private practice, government or military service, offer such rich and varied experiences and responsibilities.

Working in the Civil Division, you will be a part of a dedicated team representing the United States and federal agencies in a variety of cases, including employment, tort, medical malpractice, constitutional claims and civil rights, the Freedom of Information Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, the False Claims Act, and financial litigation.

Most of our work involves defending government agencies, but we also handle certain affirmative litigation in which the government is the plaintiff.

We are seeking motivated individuals who enjoy working on a wide variety of challenging litigation matters while supported by colleagues of the highest caliber.

AUSAs are encouraged to grow professionally through the support of mentors and the Department of Justice's world-class training resources, including by periodically attending seminars at the DOJ's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

The complexity of cases assigned will increase as individuals gain valuable experience and confidence. AUSAs in the Civil Division are active at both the trial and appellate levels.

Day-to-day responsibilities include working with government agencies to gather information and evidence, conducting civil investigations of claimed of violations of federal law and applicable Oregon state law, engaging in motion practice and oral argument, taking and defending depositions, preparing and responding to written discovery, negotiating settlements, preparing cases for trial, trying cases, and briefing and arguing appeals.

The AUSAs hired into these positions will litigate a variety of civil defensive cases, as well as affirmative civil enforcement, affirmative civil rights, and bankruptcy cases.

Defensive cases may include medical malpractice, personal injury, and wrongful death claims; employment discrimination; immigration and Bureau of Prisons habeas claims; challenges to agency actions under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA); suits seeking the release of records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); and defending government officials sued in their individual capacities for alleged constitutional violations (Bivens actions).

The primary affirmative civil enforcement area of practice is False Claims Act (Qui Tam) cases and investigations, including whistleblower actions.

Bankruptcy cases include creditor representation in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 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.

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.