Assistant United States Attorney

Closing Date: 24th November, 2026

Description:

Summary:
The job description of an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Missouri is found in the Preamble of the United States Constitution: "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility…(and) promote the general Welfare." As an Appellate AUSA in the Western District of Missouri, you would accomplish these noble objectives by taking on some of the highest-stakes cases in one of the nation's most productive and busiest U.S. Attorney's Offices.

Duties:

• The Western District of Missouri is currently accepting applications for one of more Assistant United States Attorneys to be assigned to the Appellate Division in the Kansas City Office. Kansas City, Missouri is also known as the City of Fountains, Heart of America, Paris of the Plains, and BBQ - and Jazz - Capitals of the World. Or, simply, "KCMO."
• You will never forget the feeling of standing up in federal court for the first time and stating, "My name is _________, and I represent the United States of America." As an Appellate AUSA, you will exercise discretion and responsibility that is unparalleled in any other job a litigator will undertake. AUSAs in the Western District of Missouri are immediately assigned cases and will work with law enforcement agencies to investigate federal crimes, research and brief weighty legal issues, and represent the United States in hearings, trials, and appeals. You will research and write appellate briefs and present oral arguments on a variety of complex and novel issues involving statutory construction, evidentiary and procedural matters, and sentencing and constitutional issues. You will also provide real-time trial assistance and counsel to Criminal Division AUSAs. As an Appellate AUSA, you'll join an elite team of federal prosecutors tackling complex investigations and litigation, defending hard-fought convictions before the Eighth Circuit, testing the limits of your advocacy, and advancing the Department of Justice's mission to enforce and defend the Rule of Law.
• You will work in a well-managed, up-tempo, and energy-filled District, surrounded by colleagues dedicated to justice and the Rule of Law. Your responsibilities will increase - and your assignments will become more complex and challenging - as your skills, training, and experience progress. The work is demanding and the stakes are real. But in return, you will have the opportunity to take ownership of consequential matters, expand the limits of your legal skill set, and serve alongside dedicated professionals in a dynamic environment.
• If you are ready for a legal career defined by mission, impact, and intellectual rigor - not just a job billing hours, measured every 6 minutes - then this is your opportunity to make a difference.
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo
• As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Recruitment incentives may be authorized if this position is determined to be difficult to fill, if supported by the skills of the selected candidate, and subject to the availability of funds.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

• 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.
• 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.
• You must be a United States Citizen or National.

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:

• Hiring for AUSA positions in the Western District of Missouri is highly competitive. We seek a complement of lawyers with a wide range of exceptional skills and experience. Applicants must possess strong academic credentials, strong oral advocacy and legal writing skills - preferably before a federal court of appeals - and sound judgement, with significant litigation experience preferred. But above all, we seek work ethic, interpersonal skills, grit, and a sincere commitment to the mission of doing justice in the Western District of Missouri.
• 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 basic pay is $78,000 to $197,100 which includes locality pay.
• Other Benefits: The primary benefit we offer is the privilege of doing justice on behalf of the citizens of the 66 counties that comprise the Western District of Missouri. The Department of Justice offers additional comprehensive benefits to include in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; 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.
• Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
• This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. 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:

• Occasional travel may be required.
• 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.
• Expand 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:

• How you will be evaluated
• You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
• Evaluation Method: Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet all job requirements. An attorney interview panel will then review all qualified applicants and make recommendations for invitation to interview. You will be notified if selected for an interview.
• The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete.
• Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pd

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