What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant United States Attorney (Civil) position at U.S. Department of Justice?
Hiring Organization
USAO Southern District of Iowa
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
26-IAS-12836153-DE
Location:
210 Walnut St, Suite 455
Des Moines, IA 50309 - United States
Application Deadline:
Sunday, December 7, 2025
About the Office
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa is located in Des Moines, Iowa. The office employees approximately 30 Assistant United States Attorneys, and 26 support staff. The office's criminal and civil divisions handle a wide variety of matters. Employment at the United States Attorney's Office offers a unique and challenging experience for the highly motivated attorney, including an opportunity to work on significant, complex and visible cases being litigated.
Job Description
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa is currently accepting applications for a Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney to serve in the Civil Division as the Civil Chief. The Civil Chief will be responsible for supervising attorneys and support staff who participate in affirmative and defensive litigation on behalf of the United States, as well as personally handling civil matters. The Civil Division also is responsible for representing the United States in bankruptcy proceedings, financial litigation, and asset forfeiture matters. The office is seeking an experienced civil litigator who has a strong background in federal and/or state litigation, including trial experience. Prior management experience, preferably in a United States Attorney's Office or other government office, is preferred.
The successful candidate will be hired as an Assistant United States Attorney and will serve as a Supervisory AUSA under a temporary promotion at the discretion of the United States Attorney. Promotions to Supervisory AUSA positions are made on a temporary basis. At the end of the temporary promotion, the Supervisory AUSA may be returned to a non-supervisory AUSA within the USAO or extended.
Qualifications
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint and credit checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis pending 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.
Training: Those AUSAs selected for a supervisory position for the first time will be required to attend the Justice Leadership Institute or a Legal Issues for Managers Seminar.
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least one-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.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate by experience, knowledge, or training, that they have an understanding of basic leadership and managerial skills. Ideal qualifications include at least three years of litigation experience in the role of lead counsel, with experience arguing motions and conducting federal jury trials, as well as prior experience supervising other litigation attorneys.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Appointment type: Although the AUSA position is permanent, all Supervisory AUSA appointments are temporary, at-will positions
Internet Sites: More information about the Southern District of Iowa may be found at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia. This and other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/attvacancies.html.
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 family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
Application Process
Please apply to the USAJobs advertisement here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/850198900
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.
Required - A writing sample (5-10 pages).
Required - 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 family member who is representing clients or adjudicating 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.
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 family member who is representing clients or adjudicating 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
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 $74539 to $194,963.00, which includes locality pay. Similarly, the pay for a Supervisory AUSA is based on the same pay scale and on the specific supervisory position.
USAO Southern District of Iowa
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
26-IAS-12836153-DE
Location:
210 Walnut St, Suite 455
Des Moines, IA 50309 - United States
Application Deadline:
Sunday, December 7, 2025
About the Office
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa is located in Des Moines, Iowa. The office employees approximately 30 Assistant United States Attorneys, and 26 support staff. The office's criminal and civil divisions handle a wide variety of matters. Employment at the United States Attorney's Office offers a unique and challenging experience for the highly motivated attorney, including an opportunity to work on significant, complex and visible cases being litigated.
Job Description
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa is currently accepting applications for a Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney to serve in the Civil Division as the Civil Chief. The Civil Chief will be responsible for supervising attorneys and support staff who participate in affirmative and defensive litigation on behalf of the United States, as well as personally handling civil matters. The Civil Division also is responsible for representing the United States in bankruptcy proceedings, financial litigation, and asset forfeiture matters. The office is seeking an experienced civil litigator who has a strong background in federal and/or state litigation, including trial experience. Prior management experience, preferably in a United States Attorney's Office or other government office, is preferred.
The successful candidate will be hired as an Assistant United States Attorney and will serve as a Supervisory AUSA under a temporary promotion at the discretion of the United States Attorney. Promotions to Supervisory AUSA positions are made on a temporary basis. At the end of the temporary promotion, the Supervisory AUSA may be returned to a non-supervisory AUSA within the USAO or extended.
Qualifications
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint and credit checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis pending 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.
Training: Those AUSAs selected for a supervisory position for the first time will be required to attend the Justice Leadership Institute or a Legal Issues for Managers Seminar.
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least one-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.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate by experience, knowledge, or training, that they have an understanding of basic leadership and managerial skills. Ideal qualifications include at least three years of litigation experience in the role of lead counsel, with experience arguing motions and conducting federal jury trials, as well as prior experience supervising other litigation attorneys.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Appointment type: Although the AUSA position is permanent, all Supervisory AUSA appointments are temporary, at-will positions
Internet Sites: More information about the Southern District of Iowa may be found at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia. This and other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/attvacancies.html.
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 family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
Application Process
Please apply to the USAJobs advertisement here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/850198900
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.
Required - A writing sample (5-10 pages).
Required - 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 family member who is representing clients or adjudicating 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.
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 family member who is representing clients or adjudicating 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
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 $74539 to $194,963.00, which includes locality pay. Similarly, the pay for a Supervisory AUSA is based on the same pay scale and on the specific supervisory position.
Salary : $74,539 - $194,963
