Department of Justice

Assistant United States Attorney - Appellate Division

Tulsa, Oklahoma Full time

Assistant United States Attorney - Appellate Division

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Tulsa, Oklahoma

Salary Range: $76748 - $197100 Per Year

Job Summary: In all matters, it is our mission to represent the people of the United States in a manner that will instill confidence in the fairness and integrity of our office and the judicial system and to conduct our work with the highest integrity. We strive to perform our mission in the most efficient and effective manner. This position is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Major Duties:

  • The Appellate Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma offers a unique, challenging, and rewarding experience for a highly motivated, experienced attorney interested in criminal appellate and trial advocacy. This United States Attorney's Office serves as the chief federal law enforcement office in the Northern District of Oklahoma and, in that capacity, pursues justice, ensures public safety, and enforces federal laws on behalf of the citizens of the Northern District. The Northern District encompasses 11 counties in the northeastern corner of the state, including Tulsa County, the second most populous county in the state of Oklahoma. After the 2020 Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, most of the Northern District qualifies as Indian Country; therefore, in addition to its typical federal criminal jurisdiction, the Northern District USAO is responsible for prosecuting major crimes committed by or against members of federally recognized Indian tribes, and for coordinating among state, federal, and tribal law enforcement authorities. As a result, our Appellate AUSAs participate in criminal prosecutions from indictment through appeal, for a broad variety of crimes in Indian Country ranging from embezzlement to first-degree murder. The duties of this Appellate AUSA position will include conducting complex legal research projects, drafting federal appellate briefs defending serious convictions and sentences, and arguing frequently before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment 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: Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 1 year of post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Ideal candidates will have one or more years of post-J.D. experience, including criminal prosecution experience. An appellate or district court clerkship, an outstanding academic record, and prior AUSA experience are preferred but not required. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to identify, articulate, and analyze critical legal issues quickly and accurately. They should also exhibit outstanding oral and written advocacy, good judgment, superior communication and courtroom skills, and the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with our attorneys, support staff, and opposing counsel. Applicants must demonstrate a capacity to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment, while conducting their own legal research and independently preparing and filing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. This position also requires excellent computer literacy, including electronic legal research, electronic court filing, e-mail, and word-processing systems. Ideal candidates will also have experience arguing before trial and appellate courts, as well as a strong background in issues commonly arising in federal criminal cases and collateral proceedings, such as constitutional challenges arising under the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments, 28 U.S.C. § 2255; The Federal Rules of Evidence and Criminal and Appellate Procedure; sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines; and U.S. Supreme Court and Tenth Circuit precedent in these areas. Appellate AUSAs are expected to have superior organizational and public presentation abilities, to be motivated by a strong commitment to public service, and to contribute to the training and professional development of other AUSAs. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. Applications received by May 15, 2026, will receive first consideration. Applicants will then be reviewed on a rolling basis. (The filling of this position is subject to the availability of funds.)

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 06/01/2026 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 Northern District of Oklahoma at 918-382-2772 or email at Wynette.Irving@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.

Application Deadline: 2026-06-01