Assistant United States Attorney (Project Safe Neighborhood)

Assistant United States Attorney (Project Safe Neighborhood)

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Chicago, Illinois

Salary Range: $80994 - $197100 Per Year

Job Summary: This announcement is to fill many positions. Depending on the need of the office, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Major Duties:

• The Northern District of Illinois, Chicago Office is accepting applications for Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) openings in its Criminal Division, for a Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) AUSA, in Chicago, Illinois. The applicant selected will represent the U.S. Government as an AUSA focusing on the investigation and prosecution of firearms-related offenses. PSN AUSAs will collaborate with law enforcement partners-especially the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)-to conduct responsive and proactive investigations of firearms offenses, and will be responsible for the full life cycle of these cases, from the initial investigation, through charging, resolution by guilty plea or trial, sentencing, and as appropriate appeal. PSN AUSAs may be considered for transfer to another section in the Criminal Division upon completion of four years of service. 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 jurisdiction), and have at least 2 years of post-J.D. experience. Your application materials should demonstrate excellent academics, significant litigation experience, criminal law experience, strong legal writing skills, and a commitment to public service. Prior federal or state prosecution experience is preferred, and candidates with such experience will be given serious consideration. United States citizenship is required.

How to Apply: Application information for AUSA-NDIL-26-5 is available at the following site: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/job-listing. To apply, please provide a complete application package, which consists of the following 5 items: Item 1 must be submitted through the USAJobs portal AND sent via email, in PDF format, to USAILN.hiring@usdoj.gov. Resume and cover letter Items 2-5 should ONLY be submitted via email, in PDF format, to USAILN.hiring@usdoj.gov. PLEASE DO NOT submit items 2-5 through the USAJobs portal. Law school transcript Writing sample written by you within the last year Three letters of professional recommendation from people who are in a position to assess your legal skills AUSA Questionnaire and Personal Statement indicating why you think you would be a good trial lawyer and why you want to work in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois Applicants who fail to follow the steps above will not be considered. Your application package will not be considered complete, and will not be reviewed for consideration, until all 5 items have been received. No telephone calls please. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/10/2026 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 Northern District of Illinois at 312-353-0518 or email at denise.descamp@usdoj.gov, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-10