SummaryThe United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Florida (SDFL) is seeking attorneys to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in our Criminal, National Security, Civil, Appellate, and Asset Forfeiture Divisions. These positions are in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce, Florida. When applying, please note in your cover letter which division and office location you are interested in.
DutiesHelp
Criminal Division. The Criminal Division investigates and prosecutes federal crimes impacting the South Florida community, from Key West to Fort Pierce, Florida. The Criminal Division is divided into seven sections: Narcotics; Violent Crimes and Special Victims; Economic Crimes & Cyber Fraud; Border and Immigration Enforcement; Public Corruption and Civil Rights; General Crimes; and Collateral Litigation. Each section is dedicated to prosecuting distinct domestic and international criminal violations impacting not only this community, but the safety and security of the country as a whole.
National Security Division. The National Security Division oversees all matters involving terrorism, espionage, foreign malign influence, export control, and other prosecutions of national importance. AUSAs applying to the National Security Division should have previous prosecutorial experience and the ability to obtain the highest security clearance. The matters handled by the National Security Division are among the most significant in the country and have national and international reach. Examples of recent prosecutions include U.S. v. Routh, where the defendant was convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump, and U.S. v Rocha, which involved the conviction of an individual who acted as an agent of the Cuban government for nearly 40 years.
Appellate Division. AUSAs in the Appellate Division represent the USAO in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, preparing briefs and participating in oral arguments before the Court. The Division provides advice and handles all appeals to the Eleventh Circuit from both the civil and criminal cases prosecuted by the Office. In addition to defending the criminal convictions and civil judgments obtained by the Office, the Appellate Division also brings affirmative appeals to the Eleventh Circuit from rulings adverse to the United States, after consultation with the Solicitor General's Office and Criminal or Civil Division of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Asset Forfeiture. AUSAs in the Asset Forfeiture Division are responsible for enforcing criminal and civil asset forfeiture laws to further the mission of the asset forfeiture programs of the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury. This work includes punishing and deterring criminal activity by depriving criminals of property used in or acquired through illegal activities. Asset Forfeiture AUSAs work with Criminal Division AUSAs on forfeiture-related issues in criminal prosecutions and have overall responsibility for all asset forfeiture matters, including financial investigations, seizures, and final disposition of assets. Asset Forfeiture AUSAs also handle civil forfeiture matters, filing and litigating civil forfeiture cases in the district.
Civil Division.The Civil Division, one of the most prominent and high volume federal litigative units in the nation, handles Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) investigations and cases, civil immigration litigation, civil rights litigation, defensive civil litigation on behalf of the United States, its agencies and employees, bankruptcy litigation and affirmative civil financial litigation to collect debts owed the United States as the result of civil and criminal judgments.
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.
RequirementsHelp
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.
- Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a February 2027 bar examination may be considered.
- Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
QualificationsRequired Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a February 2027 bar examination may be considered, subject to the foregoing requirements.
United States citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications:Applicants should possess superior oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the capacity to function in a highly demanding environment with minimal guidance. The successful candidate should have strong academic credentials.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
EducationApplicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a February 2027 bar examination may be considered, subject to the foregoing requirements.
Additional informationSalary 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
$124,649 to $169,776 which includes 24.67% 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.
Recruitment Incentive: Payment of $15,000 recruitment bonus may be approved.
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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: May require travel, both within and outside the district, as needed.
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.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
BenefitsHelp
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
