Assistant United States Attorney

This position is located in San Diego, California.

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree The Southern District of California (SDCA) is one of the largest United States Attorney's offices in the country. The office prosecutes federal crimes and defends the interests of the United States Government in civil cases. The SDCA encompasses San Diego and Imperial Counties and includes a branch office located in Imperial, California. This position is located in the Criminal Division, Central Prosecutions Section, Intake, San Diego Office.

The Criminal Division is organized into eight sections: Central Prosecutions Section to include the Imperial County Office, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, Violent Crimes ad Human Trafficking, Major Frauds and Public Corruption, National Security, General Crimes, Appellate, and Asset Recovery. (See the San Diego U.S. Attorney's website www.justice.gov/usao-sdca for a detailed description of each section.) Commensurate with experience and needs of the Office, AUSAs may be assigned to different sections in the U.S. Attorney's Office. New hires are expected to start in the Border Enforcement Section.

The Central Prosecutions Section handles a large volume of reactive cases that arise from policing the 141-mile long border between California and Mexico, six Ports of Entry, and the roughly 70 miles of coastline stretching from the U.S.-Mexico border to the northernmost tip of San Diego County. Cases commonly include illegal entry and reentry, drug importation and alien smuggling prosecutions. This section consists of an Intake Unit, Fast-Track Unit, and Immigration Unit. Central Prosecutions Section attorneys try a large number of cases and often oversee the use of investigative tools like search and tracking warrants, undercover operations and confidential sources. The Office's other sections largely focus on proactive investigations and prosecutions. These sections prosecute a wide variety of sophisticated criminal activity commensurate with San Diego's standing as one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States.

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree and must currently be an active member of a state bar in order to be considered. Proof of an active bar membership is required. One (1) full year of postgraduate legal experience is required.

Preferred Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical ability and an aptitude for accurately articulating the critical issues in a case. Applicants must demonstrate superior oral and writing skills, as well as strong research and interpersonal skills and good judgment. Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies. Applicants must also have demonstrated excellent computer literacy skills, to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic e-mail and word processing systems.

AUSAs receive training by the U.S. Department of Justice and by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Appointment is subject to an FBI background investigation, including credit, arrest, and drug use inquiries.

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