What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal) position at U.S. Department of Justice?
Hiring Organization
USAO District of Oregon
Hiring Office
Criminal Division
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
26-OR-12996058-AUSA-Crim
Location:
405 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401 - United States
Application Deadline:
Monday, July 13, 2026
About the Office
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon is seeking dedicated attorneys to serve as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in our Criminal Division. This position is located in Eugene, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We seek motivated individuals who enjoy working on a variety of challenging litigation matters while supported by colleagues of the highest caliber.
Eugene is TrackTown USA and Home to the University of Oregon Ducks. It is an outdoor town that offers miles of running, hiking, and biking trails, the Willamette River, and easy access to the Oregon Coast (1 hour west), the vineyards in the South Willamette Valley (30 minutes south or west), Cascade mountains, and Central Oregon (2 hours east).
Job Description
Working for the Department of Justice as an AUSA provides tremendous opportunities to develop litigation skills at an accelerated rate. Few litigation positions, whether in private practice, government or military service, offer such rich and varied experiences and responsibilities. Working in the Criminal Division, you will be a part of a dedicated team representing the United States to keep the community safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law. We are seeking motivated individuals who enjoy working on a wide variety of challenging litigation matters while supported by colleagues of the highest caliber. AUSAs are encouraged to grow professionally through the support of mentors and the Department of Justice's world-class training resources, including by periodically attending seminars at the DOJ's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina.
Individuals selected for Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) positions in the Criminal Division will be responsible for the investigation and prosecution of a variety of cases that may include drug trafficking, violent crime, firearms offenses, organized crime, money laundering, child exploitation, terrorism, cyber, fraud, and criminal immigration. Criminal AUSAs spend substantial time reviewing legal process such as search warrants and wiretap applications, making charging decisions, managing discovery, handling detention and suppression hearings, negotiating plea resolutions, and litigating at trial and sentencing. Attorneys in the Criminal Division also handle criminal asset recovery matters including restitution and forfeiture work.
The qualified applicant would be expected to (a) assist federal law enforcement agents in structuring and implementing criminal investigative plans and strategies; (b) make thoughtful charging decisions; and (c) litigate cases of moderate to high complexity from grand jury through trial and appeal.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
United States citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications: Applicants should be capable of managing numerous ongoing litigation matters - including juggling court appearances, grand jury presentations, pleading deadlines, and discovery production - in a collegial, supportive manner. Applicants should have experience appearing in court, arbitrations, and/or depositions. Trial experience is preferred. Applicants should possess superior research and writing abilities, with the ability to prepare high-quality, persuasive pleadings.
Application Process
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 07/13/2026 to receive consideration. Applications will only be accepted through the USAJobs website at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/874754600
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 the Human Resources staff at the U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon at USAOR-HR@usdoj.gov., prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.
You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Employer name and contact information,
Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year),
Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
A list of duties performed and accomplishments.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates who have lived outside the United States for two or more of the past five years will likely have difficulty being approved for appointments by the Department Security Staff. The two-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
Position title;
Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
Agency; and
Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
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
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 pay is $79,667 to $197,100 which includes locality pay.
USAO District of Oregon
Hiring Office
Criminal Division
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
26-OR-12996058-AUSA-Crim
Location:
405 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401 - United States
Application Deadline:
Monday, July 13, 2026
About the Office
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon is seeking dedicated attorneys to serve as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in our Criminal Division. This position is located in Eugene, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We seek motivated individuals who enjoy working on a variety of challenging litigation matters while supported by colleagues of the highest caliber.
Eugene is TrackTown USA and Home to the University of Oregon Ducks. It is an outdoor town that offers miles of running, hiking, and biking trails, the Willamette River, and easy access to the Oregon Coast (1 hour west), the vineyards in the South Willamette Valley (30 minutes south or west), Cascade mountains, and Central Oregon (2 hours east).
Job Description
Working for the Department of Justice as an AUSA provides tremendous opportunities to develop litigation skills at an accelerated rate. Few litigation positions, whether in private practice, government or military service, offer such rich and varied experiences and responsibilities. Working in the Criminal Division, you will be a part of a dedicated team representing the United States to keep the community safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law. We are seeking motivated individuals who enjoy working on a wide variety of challenging litigation matters while supported by colleagues of the highest caliber. AUSAs are encouraged to grow professionally through the support of mentors and the Department of Justice's world-class training resources, including by periodically attending seminars at the DOJ's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina.
Individuals selected for Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) positions in the Criminal Division will be responsible for the investigation and prosecution of a variety of cases that may include drug trafficking, violent crime, firearms offenses, organized crime, money laundering, child exploitation, terrorism, cyber, fraud, and criminal immigration. Criminal AUSAs spend substantial time reviewing legal process such as search warrants and wiretap applications, making charging decisions, managing discovery, handling detention and suppression hearings, negotiating plea resolutions, and litigating at trial and sentencing. Attorneys in the Criminal Division also handle criminal asset recovery matters including restitution and forfeiture work.
The qualified applicant would be expected to (a) assist federal law enforcement agents in structuring and implementing criminal investigative plans and strategies; (b) make thoughtful charging decisions; and (c) litigate cases of moderate to high complexity from grand jury through trial and appeal.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
United States citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications: Applicants should be capable of managing numerous ongoing litigation matters - including juggling court appearances, grand jury presentations, pleading deadlines, and discovery production - in a collegial, supportive manner. Applicants should have experience appearing in court, arbitrations, and/or depositions. Trial experience is preferred. Applicants should possess superior research and writing abilities, with the ability to prepare high-quality, persuasive pleadings.
Application Process
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 07/13/2026 to receive consideration. Applications will only be accepted through the USAJobs website at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/874754600
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 the Human Resources staff at the U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon at USAOR-HR@usdoj.gov., prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.
You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire.
- Required: Your resume cannot exceed two pages - you will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages - see USAJOBS for formatting requirements . Include relevant employment history as outlined below for each job:
Employer name and contact information,
Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year),
Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
A list of duties performed and accomplishments.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
- Required: Cover Letter referencing announcement 26-OR-12996058-AUSA-Crim.
- Required: Writing Sample. Include a sample of your legal writing, such as a portion or all of an appellate brief, memorandum of points and authorities, or opinion letter. The writing sample should be a recent example of your work and demonstrate your ability to analyze legal issues and present that analysis in written form. Please limit your writing sample to 10 pages.
- 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.
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates who have lived outside the United States for two or more of the past five years will likely have difficulty being approved for appointments by the Department Security Staff. The two-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
Position title;
Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
Agency; and
Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
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
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 pay is $79,667 to $197,100 which includes locality pay.
Benefits:
Vacation & Paid Time Off, Health Insurance, Retirement PlanSalary : $79,667 - $197,100