Closing Date: 15th July, 2026
Description:
Summary:The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (USAO-DC) is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. Assistant United States Attorney's (AUSA) assigned to the Criminal Division prosecute a broad range of U.S. Code violations in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Duties:
The USAO-DC is the largest in the country with over 330 AUSAs. The Office is seeking an experienced prosecutor to serve as a Deputy Chief in the National Security Section (NSS). The Deputy Chief assists the Chief in managing one of the most high-profile units in the Department of Justice, supervising Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) conducting complex investigations and prosecutions involving international terrorism, domestic terrorism, hostage-taking and other violent crimes against Americans outside the United States, espionage, economic espionage, malign foreign influence, unlawful retention or disclosure of classified national defense information, enforcement of export controls and sanctions, and cyber offenses targeted at the U.S. government or critical infrastructure and/or perpetrated by those connected to state actors or terrorist organizations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Supervision: Provide direct supervision, legal guidance, and mentorship to a team of experienced AUSAs. This can include reviewing indictments, complaints, plea agreements, case-related memos, search warrant affidavits, motions practice briefing, and trial strategies. Share subject matter expertise within area(s) of responsibility.
- Case Management: Oversee the investigation, charging, and trial of complex national security violations. Keep Office and Department leadership updated concerning significant developments in high profile cases and investigations.
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and maintain section-wide policies regarding issues arising in national security cases and investigations.
- Collaboration: Coordinate with federal law enforcement partners, Main Justice components, the Intelligence Community, other U.S. government components, and foreign partners in investigating and prosecuting complex national security cases and investigations.
- Administration: Assist the Section Chief with managing personnel matters such as attorney evaluations, telework agreements, and leave requests; analyzing workload data to justify staffing needs and other resource requests; responding to data calls from the Department and Office leadership; and ensuring that NSS adheres to Department-wide policies.
May be required to travel occasionally.
Requirements:
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access depending on organizational assignment / duty location.
- Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
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 and prefer 3 years post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.
United States citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications: Substantial experience as a federal prosecutor is strongly preferred, with demonstrated expertise in handling national security investigations and prosecutions. The ideal candidate's work experience will demonstrate the following: a commitment to public service and the rule of law; proven leadership ability; high moral character; sound judgment; a strong work ethic; substantial trial experience; superior communication and advocacy skills; exceptional writing ability; thorough legal and factual analysis; an ability to work well with others; demonstrated ability to mentor attorneys and manage high-stakes prosecutorial teams; and an ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
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 basic pay is $70,442 to $171,487 or $94,350 to $197,100 which includes 33.94% 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.
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Failure to obtain a favorable adjudication from the background investigation process could result in your removal from federal service. Once you have been converted to a permanent position, you will be subject to a two-year probationary period. Failure to successfully perform during this probationary period could result in your removal from federal service.
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.
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.
EEO Statement/Policy: 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. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.
Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.
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.
