Closing Date: 2nd June, 2026
Description:
Summary:The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee is comprised of 55 attorneys located in three staffed offices: Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Greeneville. The Eastern District of Tennessee enjoys a challenging mix of cases, a friendly and talented staff, and excellent agency relationships.
Duties:
The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee is seeking applications from attorneys with strong written and oral advocacy skills to join the Appellate Unit. The successful applicant will be expected to research legal issues, write appellate briefs and responses to post-conviction motions, review and edit pleadings drafted by other attorneys and paralegals, argue before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, prepare recommendations regarding adverse decisions, provide legal advice regarding ongoing criminal prosecutions, and complete other duties as assigned.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.
This position is located in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least three (3) years post-J.D. legal experience and exceptional computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic email and word processing systems. Applicants must have significant legal writing experience.
Preferred Qualifications: Applicants should be characterized by sound judgment and succinct, persuasive writing. Applicants should also be adept at legal research; attentive to detail; capable of digesting and synthesizing large quantities of information; and receptive to constructive criticism. Applicants will need strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills and a strong work ethic to manage a significant workload. The ideal applicant will have prior appellate experience or a federal appellate clerkship, as well as an excellent academic record.
United States citizenship is required.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
Upon completion of your trial periodyour employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Education:
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree
Additional Information:
Salary Information: An 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 $82,459 to $197,100 which includes 17.06% 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.
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: Travel to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio, will likely be required. Travel is also required for training at the Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Infrequent travel to other domestic destinations is possible.
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/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.
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:
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.
This position is located in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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.
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.
- You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
- 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.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least three (3) years post-J.D. legal experience and exceptional computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic email and word processing systems. Applicants must have significant legal writing experience.
Preferred Qualifications: Applicants should be characterized by sound judgment and succinct, persuasive writing. Applicants should also be adept at legal research; attentive to detail; capable of digesting and synthesizing large quantities of information; and receptive to constructive criticism. Applicants will need strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills and a strong work ethic to manage a significant workload. The ideal applicant will have prior appellate experience or a federal appellate clerkship, as well as an excellent academic record.
United States citizenship is required.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial periodyour employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Education:
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree
Additional Information:
Salary Information: An 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 $82,459 to $197,100 which includes 17.06% 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.
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: Travel to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio, will likely be required. Travel is also required for training at the Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Infrequent travel to other domestic destinations is possible.
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/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.
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:
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. (https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits?_gl=1*1kdma15*_ga*NjQ0MjQ5MzQ5LjE3MjU1OTI5OTA.*_ga_CLZB1LJ1VZ*czE3Nzg2NTIxODAkbzIyNSRnMCR0MTc3ODY1MjE4MCRqNjAkbDAkaDA.)
Review our benefits (https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits.?_gl=1*1kdma15*_ga*NjQ0MjQ5MzQ5LjE3MjU1OTI5OTA.*_ga_CLZB1LJ1VZ*czE3Nzg2NTIxODAkbzIyNSRnMCR0MTc3ODY1MjE4MCRqNjAkbDAkaDA.)
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well y
Review our benefits (https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits.?_gl=1*1kdma15*_ga*NjQ0MjQ5MzQ5LjE3MjU1OTI5OTA.*_ga_CLZB1LJ1VZ*czE3Nzg2NTIxODAkbzIyNSRnMCR0MTc3ODY1MjE4MCRqNjAkbDAkaDA.)
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well y