Department of Justice

Assistant United States Attorney

Richland, Washington, Spokane, Washington, Yakima, Washington Full time

Assistant United States Attorney

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Richland, Washington, Spokane, Washington, Yakima, Washington

Salary Range: $79667 - $197100 Per Year

Job Summary: The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington is seeking dedicated attorneys to serve as Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) in our Criminal Division. You will be assigned to prosecute general crimes, focusing on organized crime, material support to terrorism, violent crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and firearm related offenses. AUSAs handle cases from investigations through trial and sentencing with integrity and efficiency.

Major Duties:

  • Working for the Department of Justice as an AUSA provides tremendous opportunities to develop litigation skills at an accelerated rate. Few litigation positions, whether in private practice, government, or military service, offer such rich and varied experiences and responsibilities. Working in the Criminal Division, you will be a part of a dedicated team representing the United States, and your job will be to do the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons, every time. AUSAs work hard to keep the community safe, uphold victim's rights, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law. We are seeking motivated individuals who enjoy working on a wide variety of challenging litigation matters while supported by colleagues and law enforcement officers of the highest caliber. AUSAs are encouraged to grow professionally through the support of mentors and the Department of Justice's world-class training resources, including by periodically attending seminars at the DOJ's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina. The person who fills this AUSA position will be part of a dedicated team assisting in the enforcement and prosecution of federal criminal laws. The primary assignment will include the investigation and prosecution of a wide range of criminal matters that may include drug trafficking, violent crime, firearms offenses, organized crime, money laundering, child exploitation, terrorism, fraud, criminal immigration, and public corruption. Criminal AUSAs spend substantial time reviewing legal process, such as search warrants, assisting federal law enforcement agents in structuring and implementing criminal investigative plans and strategies; making thoughtful charging decisions; managing discovery, handling detention and suppression hearings, negotiating plea resolutions, and litigating at trial and sentencing. Collateral duties will be assigned, as needed, including program leadership, training, outreach, and other division priorities. The District also has significant Indian Country cases arising from the four federally designated Tribal reservations within the District, offering unique opportunities to prosecute serious federal crimes. These cases often involve serious violent crimes, such as homicides, serious assaults, child exploitation, domestic violence, sexual abuse, as well as cold cases involving missing and murdered indigenous people. Prosecuting these cases has a tremendous impact on public safety within each of the four Tribal nations in Eastern Washington. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as an AUSA is trained and gains experience. As needed, additional vacancies may be filled using this announcement. 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: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable. Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar in any jurisdiction. Applicants must be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia. Bar membership documents must be submitted to show active status. Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information. Applicants should demonstrate a quick analytical ability and the capacity to accurately articulate critical issues in a case. Superior oral and writing skills, along with strong research and interpersonal skills, are essential. Applicants should also exhibit good judgment. Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and demonstrate the ability to work professionally with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies. A demonstrated ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment 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 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 Washington at 509-835-6334 or email at Henry.Strozier@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 Washington who can be reached at 509-835-6334 or Henry.Strozier@usdoj.gov

Application Deadline: 2026-03-30