Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Closing Date: 17th February, 2026

Description:

Summary:
The US Attorney's Office, South Dakota's mission is to impartially enforce and uphold the laws of the United States. We are committed to improving public safety, protecting the financial interests of the nation, and ensuring equal justice for all.

The district's main office is located in Sioux Falls with two branch offices located in Pierre and Rapid City. This position is located in Pierre, SD.

More information about the U.S. Attorney's Office can be found at: http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/

Duties:
Job Description: The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota is seeking an experienced attorney to fill an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) position in the Criminal Division. AUSAs in the Criminal Division advise federal law enforcement agents on criminal investigations, present criminal cases to the grand jury, prepare and argue a broad range of motions, try criminal cases before the United States District Court, conduct research, and write briefs and present oral arguments to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Candidates should be capable of handling significant and complex criminal prosecutions involving Major Crimes Act violations in Indian Country such as murder, child sex abuse, rape, and more. Candidates should also be capable of handling cases involving a variety of violations of federal laws related to firearms, narcotics, white collar fraud, child pornography, and immigration crimes.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

• Applicant must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprints, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• Applicant must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• Applicant must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least one year of post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.
• Applicant must be a member, or be eligible to become a member, of the federal district court bar.
• Note: The U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota requires that all Assistant U.S. Attorneys be admitted to the State Bar of South Dakota within 12 months from the date of an attorney's oath of office for the position in South Dakota. See Local Rule (Criminal) 44.1(F)(1)(b). Accordingly, if the successful candidate is not a member of the South Dakota Bar, he/she must become a member within one year from entry on duty.
• Applicant must reside in the district to which he/she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
• Applicant must be capable of traveling on occasion.
• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 1* year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.

United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:
Applicants must demonstrate superior analytical ability; possess strong research, writing and courtroom skills; exercise fair and sound judgment; follow all Department of Justice and United States Attorney's Office policies; exhibit the ability to work collaboratively in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and law enforcement agencies; demonstrate superior communication skills; handle matters in court persuasively and justly on behalf of the United States of America; be devoted to excellence; and demonstrate a commitment to public service.

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

Education:
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree

Additional Information:
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 $76,748 to $197,100, inclusive of locality pay.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies (http://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/attorneys-vacancies) and Volunteer Legal Internships (http://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/volunteer-internship-opportunities). The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.

Travel: Employment will require occasional travel to court at designated sites within and outside the District of South Dakota. Travel is also required for witness interviews, preparation for court hearings, and training, including at the Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC.

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.

Political Appointees (Current and Former): Political Appointees (Current or Former): 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 or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

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.

EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits: