Assistant U.S. Attorney (Civil) - Open Continuous

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa employs approximately 30 Assistant United States Attorneys. The District's headquarters office is located in Des Moines. The District has staffed branch offices in Davenport and Council Bluffs, which serve the District's eastern and western divisions.

More information about the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa can be found at:https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa is seeking two experienced attorneys to serve as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in our Civil Division. These positions are located in Des Moines, Iowa, the state's capital city and the center of one of the Midwest's fastest-growing metropolitan areas. We seek motivated individuals who enjoy handling a broad range of complex cases on behalf of the United States. These matters include defense of claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act, employment discrimination statutes, and commercial litigation. The position also involves affirmative litigation involving fraud, debt collection, real estate foreclosures, bankruptcy, and appeals of administrative determinations involving federal agencies.

Des Moines offers the unique combination of a thriving legal and business community with an outstanding quality of life and affordable cost of living. The metro area is known for its vibrant downtown, nationally recognized restaurants, excellent schools, and welcoming community atmosphere. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy extensive bike trails, nearby lakes and parks, and easy access to recreation throughout central Iowa. Des Moines is also home to a growing arts and cultural scene, professional sports, live music venues, and year-round community events, while still offering short commute times and a family-friendly environment that makes it an exceptional place to live and work. With easy access to major interstates and an international airport, Des Moines combines the advantages of a larger city with the convenience and affordability of a smaller market, making it an outstanding place to live, work, and build a career.

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.

Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least two-year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. At least three years of post-J.D. litigation experience is preferred, with extensive research and writing experience.

Preferred qualifications: Possess superior oral and written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills, exhibit good judgment, function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment, and a demonstrated record of integrity. Interested AUSAs or government attorneys must have at least a successful evaluation for the past year. All applicants must be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) and not have received any disciplinary action within the past three years from the date of the application. In addition, applicants must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies, and the ability to lead, motivate, mentor, and evaluate other highly qualified attorneys.

You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• 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.
• J.D. degree and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.

Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

Assessment Process: We will evaluate your application by comparing your description of work experience, level of responsibility, and accomplishments against the requirements of the position. Your qualifications will be assessed in the following competencies:

Please apply to the USAJobs advertisement here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/888743400

• Initial Cut-off Date: Applications received by November 5, 2026 will receive first consideration.
• Subsequent Cut-of Dates: Additional reviews will occur every as needed by the agency.
• Duration of Eligibility: Your application will remain active for 3 months from the date of submission. To maintain eligibility after this period, you must re-apply or update your application.

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Required - Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).
• Required - Your resume showing relevant experience and dates of employment (include day/month/year).
• Required, if applicable - To get Veterans' Preference, you must indicate your preference in response to the appropriate question in your assessment questionnaire and you must submit the appropriate supporting documentation. See the "How you will be Evaluated" section for details regarding what is appropriate Veterans' Preference documentation. It is also recommended that you include veterans' preference information in your cover letter or resume.
• Encouraged - A writing sample (5-10 pages).
• Encouraged - Cover Letter.

The Point of Contact for this vacancy announcement is Southern District of Iowa who can be reached at (515) 473-9300 or david.harris2@usdoj.gov@usdoj.gov.
Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a famly member who is representing clients oradjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Salary Information: Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $77,371 to $197,100 includes locality pay.

Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

A recruitment or relocation incentive may be considered as appropriate based on qualifications.