Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal - Post Conviction Litigation)

Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal - Post Conviction Litigation)

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Charlotte, North Carolina

Salary Range: $84298 - $197100 Per Year

Job Summary: For more information on the Department of Justice, visit https://www.justice.gov/careers. For more information on the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of North Carolina, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is located in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Major Duties:

• The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina is seeking qualified Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) candidates for the Criminal Division in Charlotte, North Carolina to serve in a role dedicated to post-conviction litigation, particularly supervised release violations. This position will be principally responsible for litigating the alleged violations of conditions of supervised release (SRVs) in federal court, including at contested evidentiary hearings. Criminal defendants sentenced to a term of supervised release - administered by the United States Probation Office - are subject to certain terms and conditions imposed by the court at sentencing. The Probation Office may petition the court alleging a violation of those conditions, including that the defendant committed a new violation of state or federal law, which could result in a revocation of supervised release and imposition of an active period of incarceration. The selected candidate will also be responsible for coordinating appropriate resolution of SRVs with the Probation Office, opposing counsel, the United States District Court, and, where appropriate, local District Attorneys' Offices. Responsibilities may also include litigating motions for compassionate release filed by defendants seeking early termination of prison sentences for extenuating circumstances, as well as habeas corpus petitions filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. However, it is not anticipated that the selected candidate will be actively or regularly involved in pre-indictment criminal investigations, trial litigation, sentencings, or other pre-conviction work. This position offers a unique and challenging experience for a highly motivated team player with the desire to litigate and appear in court extensively. Applicants must be self-starters requiring minimal supervision that demonstrate analytical ability, good judgment, organizational skills, excellent writing, and communication and courtroom skills. In addition, applicants must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with courthouse personnel, other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies. 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 3 years post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: The selected candidate will focus on supervised release violations, which may include new violations of state and federal law, including violent crime, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses, among others. Additionally the selected applicant's responsibilities will include post-conviction litigation involving the full scope of federal offenses, including terrorism, organized crime, money laundering and fraud offenses, and child exploitation crimes. The preferred applicant will be a strong researcher and writer and may be required to submit a writing sample. At least five (5) years of litigation experience is preferred, although we consider applicants with a variety of legal backgrounds. Applicant must have a demonstrated capacity to function with minimal supervision in a highly demanding work environment and a strong desire to practice in North Carolina. The ideal applicant should possess superior communication and courtroom skills, exhibit exceptional research and writing ability, comport themselves with the highest degree of professionalism and ethical standards, and demonstrate strong interpersonal and professional skills. Applicants must also exhibit the ability to work with other attorneys, support staff and client agencies in a professional manner while functioning in a highly demanding work environment. 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 05/01/2026 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 Western District of North Carolina at 7043383163 or email at sheena.cox@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-01