Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Hiring Organization USAO Western District of Texas Attorney Appointment Type Attorney Permanent Location:

Alpine, Del Rio, and Midland, TX -

United States Application Deadline:

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 About the Office If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career, this is the position for you! With a diverse and talented workforce of over 100,000 men and women, Justice leads the Nation in ensuring the protection of all Americans while preserving their constitutional freedoms. You can be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty, and the property of citizens. The Western District of Texas covers 93,000 square miles and approximately 660 miles of U.S. border with Mexico, putting the District on the front lines of the fight against illegal immigration and transnational organized crime. Our mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and to administer and enforce the Nation's laws to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. We strive to build a stronger office through recruitment efforts and maintain the high standards of the office by promoting professional development. We seek to build a legacy of excellence. In all matters, it is our mission to represent the people of the United States in a manner that will instill confidence in the fairness and integrity of our office and the judicial system, and to conduct our work with the highest integrity. We strive to perform our mission in the most efficient and effective manner. Job Description Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Criminal Division prosecute a wide variety of federal crimes. Individuals chosen to be AUSAs in our office will investigate and prosecute an assortment of cases with a particular focus on those cases involving illegal immigration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms trafficking, human smuggling, and transnational organized crime, including Mexican drug cartels. The qualified applicant would be expected to (a) assist federal law enforcement agents in structuring and implementing criminal investigative plans and strategies; and (b) litigate cases of varying degrees of complexity from start to finish. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Qualifications Required Qualifications:

Must have graduated with a J.D. degree from an accredited law school or will graduate with a J.D. degree by June 30, 2026. Class rank required within top 1/3 of law school class. If not already licensed, applicant must (1) have taken a state bar exam and are awaiting results or (2) will take a state bar exam within six months of law school graduation. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership before entering on duty. United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Hiring preferences include strong academics, outstanding organizational skills, superior legal writing and research ability, demonstrated analytical ability, good judgment and courtroom skills, and a commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service. You must meet all qualification requirements before entering on duty. Application Process Applications must be submitted online through the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/861525000 Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 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. 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 conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances. Salary 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 $76,748 to $103,609 which includes 17.06% locality.