Department of Justice

Assistant United States Attorney

Chattanooga, Tennessee, Greeneville, Tennessee Full time

Assistant United States Attorney

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Chattanooga, Tennessee, Greeneville, Tennessee

Salary Range: $82459 - $197100 Per Year

Job Summary: The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee is comprised of 55 attorneys located in three staffed offices: Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Greeneville. The Eastern District of Tennessee enjoys a challenging mix of cases, a friendly and talented staff, and excellent agency relationships.

Major Duties:

  • The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee is seeking applications from experienced attorneys with a strong background in criminal prosecution for an Assistant United States Attorney vacancy in the Criminal Division. This position is focused on the promotion of public safety in the Eastern District of Tennessee. The incumbent will be responsible for prosecuting and leading federal investigation into a wide array of criminal activity, including crimes against children, violent crimes, and human trafficking. The incumbent may also be called upon to prosecute matters involving organized crime, official corruption, narcotrafficking, fraud, money laundering, and criminal immigration offenses. Duties include independently researching legal issues, drafting high-quality briefs, providing superior oral advocacy on behalf of the United States, and forging strong partnerships with law enforcement to identify and disrupt criminal activities within the District and beyond. The incumbent will be expected to handle all stages of criminal litigation, including regular appearances before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Applicants should have courtroom experience arguing motions and conducting trials, possess outstanding analytical abilities, and be able to articulate critical legal issues clearly and succinctly both in written pleadings and in court. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. This position is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Greeneville, Tennessee. 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 from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar (any U. S. jurisdiction) and have at least three (3) years post-J.D. legal experience and exceptional computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic email and word processing systems. Preferred qualifications: Applicants should possess superior communication and courtroom skills, exhibit exceptional research and writing ability, perform thorough legal and factual analyses, demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, exercise good judgment, and function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment. Applicants should exhibit the ability to work in a professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies. United States citizenship is required. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 03/30/2026 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 Eastern District of Tennessee at 865-225-1717 or email at Julie.Patterson@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying. The Point of Contact for this vacancy announcement is Eastern District of Tennessee who can be reached at 865-225-1717 or Julie.Patterson@usdoj.gov

Application Deadline: 2026-03-30