ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY (Asset Forfeiture)

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana is seeking to fill an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) position within the Civil Division. If you are interested in upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights, we encourage you to apply. Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree from an accredited law school in the United States or U.S. Territories. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criterion, see www.ed.gov . Department of Justice Policies Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with

Disabilities :

The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department's Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs .

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.

Suitability and Citizenship :

It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions. Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates who have lived outside the United States for two or more of the past five years will likely have difficulty being approved for appointments by the Department Security Staff. The two-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana is currently soliciting applications for Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) to serve in the Financial Litigation Program (FLP) and Asset Forfeiture Section of the Civil Division. The successful candidate will be responsible for collecting money owed to the United States and victims of crime, including, restitution, overpayments, bankruptcy debts, environment fines, judgments, and other civil penalties. The attorney will also represent the United States and its agencies in mortgage foreclosure and civil asset forfeiture actions. The successful candidate may also handle general civil defensive and affirmative matters, such as tort, immigration, and civil rights cases. Day-to-day responsibilities include working with client agencies to gather information, preparing and answering complaints, conducting debtor examinations, defending and taking depositions, negotiating settlements, trying cases, and briefing and arguing appeals. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. The open position could be located in Hammond, Fort Wayne, or South Bend, Indiana.

Location Information:

Hammond, Indiana is located in Northwest Indiana. Minutes away from Chicago, Northwest Indiana offers low-cost, high-quality living and highly competitive salaries at the Chicago locality rate. The proximity of Chicago also offers a strong legal community, art and cultural institutions, world-class entertainment, and dining. The area boasts a variety of living options - from urban living and suburbs to small towns and rural communities. Northwest Indiana is also home to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Park and the Indiana Dunes State Park - both offering trails, camping and beaches along Lake Michigan. For more information about the area, visit www.nwiforum.org South Bend is located in the heart of the Great Lakes region between Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, and Indianapolis. The home of the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School, South Bend has a flourishing legal community and provides unique experiences through sports, arts and cultural heritage events, vibrant downtown riverfront communities, and extensive outdoor recreation and shopping venues, all just 90 miles east of Chicago. For more information about the area, visit www.visitsouthbend.com . Fort Wayne is the second-largest city in the state of Indiana, and the hub of Northeast Indiana. Northeast Indiana is in the middle of it all, located just three hours or less by car from Midwest cities including Chicago, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis - but with its own unique vibe and easygoing lifestyle. Fort Wayne consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the U.S. and boasts some of the nation's lowest cost of living. The Northeast Indiana region fits all kinds of lifestyles for those who want to stay busy in Fort Wayne's vibrant downtown, relax in the laid-back small communities, or seek outdoor adventure in the northern lake counties. For more information about the area, visit www.neindiana.com and www.visitfortwayne.com . To learn more about the state of Indiana, visit www.visitindiana.com .

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) one year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years post-J.D. experience, which includes civil experience, legal writing and oral advocacy experience, legal practice in federal court (or a federal court clerkship), and/or experience handling settlement negotiations. Applicants should have a strong work ethic, excellent research and writing skills, as well as strong oral advocacy skills to represent the DOJ in a variety of contexts including, but not limited to, court hearings, depositions/interviews, and settlement conferences., Applicants should exhibit attention to detail, and exercise sound judgment and show integrity and honesty in following Department of Justice and United States Attorney's Office policies. Applicants will be expected to do their own legal research and writing and will be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. Applicants must also demonstrate excellent computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and e-mail and word processing systems. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.