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Posted: December 18, 2025 (27 days ago)

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Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Open Continuous

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys

Department of Justice

Older

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Salary

$84,601 - $195,100

per year

Type

Closes

September 30, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job is for an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, D.C., where you'll prosecute a wide range of crimes, from minor offenses to serious cases like homicides and assaults, serving as both local and federal prosecutors for the nation's capital.

It's ideal for recent law school graduates or early-career lawyers who are passionate about criminal justice, thrive in fast-paced environments, and want hands-on experience through a structured training program that rotates through different types of cases.

The role demands strong teamwork, ethical decision-making, and the ability to handle heavy workloads with little supervision.

Key Requirements

  • J.D. degree from an accredited law school
  • Active membership in good standing of any U.S. state bar
  • U.S. citizenship or nationality
  • Superior oral and written communication skills
  • Exceptional legal research, writing, and analytical abilities
  • Ability to manage a high-volume caseload with minimal supervision
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ethical judgment for working with teams, victims, and courts

Full Job Description

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital.

AUSAs assigned to the Superior Court Division prosecute D.C. Code offenses ranging from misdemeanors to homicides. AUSAs assigned to the Criminal Division prosecute a broad range of U.S.

Code violations.

Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), and be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S.

jurisdiction) You must be a United States Citizen or National. Preferred Qualifications: Litigation experience and a minimum GPA of 3.0 is preferred.

Applicants must possess superior communication and advocacy skills; exhibit exceptional research and writing ability; perform thorough legal and factual analysis; demonstrate an ability to work well with others; exercise good judgment; and function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment.

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

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.

Major Duties:

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is accepting applications for attorneys to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Office's Superior Court Division.

The Superior Court Division is the largest division in the Office.

It has primary responsibility for the prosecution of criminal cases in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and handles the highest volume of felony and misdemeanor cases prosecuted by the Office.

Types of cases include, but are not limited to, homicides, sexual assaults, carjackings, kidnappings, robberies, burglaries, domestic violence, and narcotics and weapons possession.

AUSAs must possess the qualities necessary to excel in their mission to enforce the criminal laws of the District of Columbia and the United States.

These qualities include advocacy and communication skills; superior writing and analytical skills; the ability to manage a high-volume docket; and dedication to duty.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, investigative agencies, witnesses, and crime victims.

They must also demonstrate their willingness to meet the high ethical standards expected of prosecutors in their interactions with opposing counsel and the courts.

The Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Career Development Program implemented by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia provides new AUSAs with rotational work assignments in different (and progressively more complex) legal program areas of the Office for an approximate four-year duration.

Rotations through different areas of litigation provide the new AUSA opportunities to develop skills and competencies that will enhance their ability to contribute to the important mission of the United States Attorney's Office to enforce federal law and administer justice in the United States.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html Travel: Occasional travel may be required.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 12/18/2025 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 12/19/2025

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-DC-12855055-AUSA