Assistant United States Attorney

Assistant United States Attorney

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Seattle, Washington, Tacoma, Washington

Salary Range: $83104 - $195100 Per Year

Job Summary: The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington is currently seeking an appellate attorney with at least one (1) year of post-J.D. experience. This announcement is for one (1) available vacancy. The duty location will be made at the time of selection, either Seattle, WA or Tacoma, WA. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Major Duties:

• The United States Attorney is seeking an experienced appellate lawyer to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA). The AUSA's main responsibility will be briefing and arguing direct criminal appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The AUSA may also handle civil appeals, will litigate habeas cases in district court and the court of appeals, and will assist trial prosecutors throughout the district including handling district court briefing and hearings on emerging legal issues. Although the practice will be primarily appellate, the AUSA may also be called upon in certain cases to join a trial team and assist in trying cases in the district court. The district's appellate caseload is extremely heavy; the AUSA can expect to be responsible for a variety of matters at any one time. 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 one (1) year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Ideal qualifications include at least three (3) years of post-J.D. litigation experience and passion for appellate work. Interest and experience in federal criminal law is also preferred. Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical ability and an ability to synthesize a wide range of data, help direct an investigation and have the ability to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues in a case. Applicants must demonstrate superior oral and writing skills, strong research and interpersonal skills, and good judgment. Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills, and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff and client agencies. Applicants must have a demonstrated capacity to function, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding environment and in the highest ethical manner. Applicants will be expected to do their own legal research and writing, and will be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. Applicants also must demonstrate excellent computer literacy skills to include experience with Internet research, electronic court filing, electronic mail and data management, word processing, and video-conferencing systems. 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 01/02/2026 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 Washington at 2065534200 or email at mara.montes@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 Western District of Washington who can be reached at 2065534200 or mara.montes@usdoj.gov

Application Deadline: 2026-01-02