The United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California (USAO) is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the Central District of California. This includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. With an authorized strength of approximately 280 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), the USAO is the second largest in the country. The USAO is divided into four litigating Divisions (Criminal, National Security, Civil, and Tax). The USAO's main offices are in Los Angeles. The USAO's Criminal Division has branch offices in Santa Ana and Riverside.
Job Description:
The office is interviewing for two AUSAs in the Criminal Appeals Section of the Criminal Division. AUSAs in the Criminal Appeals Section supervise or handle all of the Office's matters before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, comprising approximately 300 appellate briefs and 110 oral arguments per year.
These cases involve some of the most challenging legal issues in criminal law, including frequent constitutional issues, affirmative government appeals, appeals involving issues of first impression, and efforts to obtain en banc review. AUSAs in the section have also worked closely with the Solicitor General's Office to determine which cases raise significant legal issues that are worthy of government appeal, en banc rehearing, or Supreme Court review. While AUSAs from the other sections write the briefs for and argue many of their own appeals, AUSAs from the Criminal Appeals Section have editorial control over all of the briefs, hold "moot courts" for all the oral arguments, and both write and argue some of the more significant cases.
These cases involve some of the most challenging legal issues in criminal law, including frequent constitutional issues, affirmative government appeals, appeals involving issues of first impression, and efforts to obtain en banc review. AUSAs in the section have also worked closely with the Solicitor General's Office to determine which cases raise significant legal issues that are worthy of government appeal, en banc rehearing, or Supreme Court review. While AUSAs from the other sections write the briefs for and argue many of their own appeals, AUSAs from the Criminal Appeals Section have editorial control over all of the briefs, hold "moot courts" for all the oral arguments, and both write and argue some of the more significant cases.
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least 3 years post-J.D. experience. If not already an active member of the California bar, any applicant hired will be required to take (prior to their entry on duty date) and subsequently pass the California bar exam. AUSAs must become active members of the California bar and maintain California bar membership.
Preferred qualifications: Hiring for AUSA positions within the USAO is highly competitive. The USAO seeks a diverse complement of lawyers with a wide range of exceptional skills and experience, unified by keen intelligence and sincere commitment to public interest. Litigation experience, superior academic record, excellent writing skills, impeccable character, demonstrated interest in public service, courtroom presence, and the ability to work with and relate to a wide variety of people are all taken into account. Most attorneys hired have several years of experience, although highly qualified recent graduates with some experience in practice or as a judicial clerk are also considered. Ties to the Central District of California will be considered.
All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14 month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
Preferred qualifications: Hiring for AUSA positions within the USAO is highly competitive. The USAO seeks a diverse complement of lawyers with a wide range of exceptional skills and experience, unified by keen intelligence and sincere commitment to public interest. Litigation experience, superior academic record, excellent writing skills, impeccable character, demonstrated interest in public service, courtroom presence, and the ability to work with and relate to a wide variety of people are all taken into account. Most attorneys hired have several years of experience, although highly qualified recent graduates with some experience in practice or as a judicial clerk are also considered. Ties to the Central District of California will be considered.
All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14 month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
Salary:
AUSA pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number years of professional attorney experience. The range of pay is $88,682 to $164,100, including locality pay authorized.
Application Process:
Attorneys seeking a position as an AUSA should complete the PDF application found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/employment/attorneyslawyers and create a second PDF containing a cover letter to the attention of First Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Wilkison, resume, law school transcript, and brief writing sample (preferably 10 pages or less). Please include the cover letter, resume, law school transcript, and writing sample in a single pdf in that order. Please be sure to indicate that you are applying for the Criminal Appeals Section of the Criminal Division and include all jurisdictions in which admitted to practice law. The two PDFs should be e-mailed to USACAC.AUSAHiring@usdoj.gov.
This position is open until filled, but applications will be considered on a rolling basis until March 1, 2019. No telephone calls please.
This position is open until filled, but applications will be considered on a rolling basis until March 1, 2019. No telephone calls please.
Number of Positions:
Hiring is for two AUSAs in the Criminal Appeals Section. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Persons with pending applications with the USAO need not reapply.
Posts
