Assistant United States Attorney
Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
Posted: January 22, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
Department of Justice
Location
Tucson, Arizona
Salary
$78,204 - $183,493
per year
Type
Full Time
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This job is for an Assistant United States Attorney focused on handling appeals in federal courts, where you'll write briefs, argue cases, and advise on legal matters for the government in areas like border crimes, violent offenses, fraud, and civil disputes.
It's based in Tucson, Arizona, and involves representing the U.S. in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and sometimes district courts.
A good fit would be a lawyer with strong writing skills, attention to detail, and some experience in federal appeals who enjoys diving into diverse legal topics.
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. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
This position will be located in Tucson, AZ. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona is comprised of approximately 180 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) spread across offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Flagstaff.
Because of its size and location, the District of Arizona is home to a large and diverse array of criminal and civil litigation involving the United States.
For instance, in addition to prosecuting crimes related to the district's 375-mile border with Mexico, such as immigration, drug and firearms trafficking, human smuggling, and transnational organized crime, the office also handles one of the most robust violent crime practices in the country as well as a wide spectrum of financial frauds and national security offenses.
The district is also home to a robust docket of civil cases involving the United States, including affirmative civil enforcement, defensive torts, habeas suits, and many others.
Commensurately, the district generates a substantial number of appeals involving a wide variety of civil and criminal issues.
AUSAs hired into the Appellate Division in the District of Arizona will have the immediate opportunity to represent the United States in these program areas, both in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and in select litigation in the United States District Court.
Appeals AUSAs will brief and argue cases, assist their colleagues in protecting the trial court record, and advise the office on matters with appellate implications, among other appeals-related duties.
Ideal candidates will have outstanding research and writing skills, be comfortable with regularly learning new areas of law, demonstrate strong attention to detail, and have prior experience with federal appellate 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.
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