Assistant United States Attorney (Appellate)

Assistant United States Attorney (Appellate)

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Charleston, South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, Florence, South Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina

Salary Range: $76748 - $197100 Per Year

Job Summary: The U.S. Attorney's Office represents the Federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States. This includes all criminal prosecutions for violations of Federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. For more information about the District of South Carolina, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc This position will be located in Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, or Florence.

Major Duties:

• The United States Attorney's Office is seeking an experienced and motivated attorney to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the Appellate Division. Assistant United States Attorneys in the Appellate Division brief and argue criminal appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and litigate habeas cases in district and appellate courts. The incumbent will be expected to (a) prepare multiple appellate briefs and habeas responses raising complex and novel legal issues each month; (b) argue appeals before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; (c) assist other prosecutors in writing appellate briefs and preparation for oral arguments; and (d) provide real-time assistance to criminal and civil trial prosecutors throughout the district and includes district court appearances. The incumbent may also be expected to investigate and prosecute a variety of violations of federal laws including immigration, violent crime, drug trafficking, and fraud. 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.

Qualifications: Hiring for AUSA positions is highly competitive. Ideal candidates must possess a strong work ethic, exhibit good organizational skills, exercise fair and sound judgment, be attentive to facts and details, work well both independently and on a team, have leadership skills, be ready and willing to volunteer to assist other AUSAs, possess excellent negotiation skills, have the ability to analyze complex legal and factual issues, write clearly and persuasively, and effectively represent the Government's interests at hearings and trials before the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 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 must have a strong academic background and excellent research and writing skills. - Preferred candidates will have extensive appellate litigation experience. -Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical ability to accurately and precisely identify and articulate critical issues in a prosecution. - Applicants must possess excellent written and oral communication abilities and courtroom skills. - Applicants must demonstrate superior oral and writing skills as well as strong research and interpersonal skills. - Applicants must demonstrate good judgment. - Applicants must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, law enforcement agents, courthouse staff, and judges. - Applicants must have a demonstrated capacity to work hard and function, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding environment. - Applicants will be expected to do their own legal research and writing and will be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

How to Apply: To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/20/2026 to receive consideration. 1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. (It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.) 3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. However, should you not be able to apply online, please contact District of South Carolina at 803-929-3058 or email at brienna.lykes@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-20