Assistant United States Attorney (Civil Bankruptcy)
Department: Department of Justice
Location(s): Camden, New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, Trenton, New Jersey
Salary Range: $81474 - $195100 Per Year
Job Summary: The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey is seeking an experienced attorney to serve in the Civil Division handling primarily creditor-side civil bankruptcy matters in all three of the District's vicinages, Newark, Trenton, and Camden. This position will be located in either Camden, Newark or Trenton NJ.
Major Duties:
- Responsibilities will include objecting to bankruptcy plans proposed under chapter 11 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, reviewing (and opposing where necessary) proposed asset sales in bankruptcy, prosecuting motions to dismiss or convert bankruptcy cases from one chapter to another, protecting federal agencies' interest in cash collateral, obtaining determinations regarding the dischargeability of federal debts, and responding to objections to federal agencies' claims. The position will also require defending the following types of lawsuits filed in Bankruptcy Court: (i) complaints to determine the dischargeability of federal debts, (ii) complaints to determine the extent, validity or priority of federal liens, and (iii) complaints to recover pre-bankruptcy payments to federal agencies. Typical agencies represented include the Department of Treasury (including the IRS), the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Education. The candidate must work independently and serve as effective and dedicated advocates for the government's interests, timely and efficiently pursue the just resolution of their assigned cases and make sound and legally supportable decisions. The candidate must possess the foresight and organizational and legal skills needed to manage a diverse caseload that involves both a high volume and complex cases. They must be able to identify the relevant legal and factual issues in their assigned cases, and to develop and implement effective strategies for all proceedings in those cases, including motions practice, discovery, alternative dispute resolution, trial, and appeal. They must be able to work well with their colleagues, supervisors, support staff (including a dedicated Senior Bankruptcy Paralegal), and witnesses. They must have strong legal research skills, be able to produce high-quality written work even under short deadlines and be persuasive oral advocates. Newly hired AUSAs are expected to quickly develop subject matter expertise and possess or rapidly acquire expert-level knowledge of the bankruptcy procedures and other applicable rules and laws. 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: 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.
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 01/30/2026 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 New Jersey at 9736452809 or email at Tameika.Jones@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.
Application Deadline: 2026-01-30