Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Alpine, Texas, Austin, Texas, Del Rio, Texas, El Paso, Texas, Midland, Texas, San Antonio, Texas

Salary Range: $63795 - $197100 Per Year

Job Summary: Our mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. We strive to build a stronger office through recruitment efforts and by promoting professional development. We seek to further build on the legacy of excellence built by those who have come before us.

Major Duties:

• Working out of offices in San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Del Rio, Waco, Midland, and Alpine, Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Criminal Division prosecute a wide variety of federal crimes. Individuals chosen to be AUSAs in our office will investigate and prosecute an assortment of cases with a particular focus on those cases involving illegal immigration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms trafficking, human smuggling, and transnational organized crime, including Mexican drug cartels. The qualified applicant would be expected to (a) assist federal law enforcement agents in structuring and implementing criminal investigative plans and strategies; and (b) litigate cases of varying degrees of complexity from start to finish. Appellate AUSAs working out of Austin, San Antonio and El Paso will represent the United States in cases before the Fifth Circuit and will handle all aspects of affirmative and defensive appeals from criminal cases arising in the District. Responsibilities will include appellate briefs and oral arguments on constitutional, statutory, evidentiary, and procedural matters. AUSAs will also review draft briefs written by fellow AUSAs and participate in moot courts. Aside from appellate litigation, AUSAs in this division will advise the U.S. Attorney and fellow AUSAs on developments in the law and significant legal issues; handle specialized litigation in federal district court; and consult with the Solicitor General's Office and the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice regarding appeals, petitions for rehearing en banc, and litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court. 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. Preferred Qualifications: Hiring preferences include strong academics, outstanding organizational skills, superior legal writing and research ability, demonstrated analytical ability, good judgment and courtroom skills, and a commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service. 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 04/13/2026 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 Western District of Texas at 2103847273 or email at Christine.Martinez@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.

Application Deadline: 2026-04-13