Summary We seek only the best. DOJ prosecutes criminals who violate federal law. It keeps our Nation safe from violent gangs, drug traffickers, terrorists, sexual predators, fraudsters, and many others who engage in criminal activity. And it safeguards the civil rights of all Americans in accordance with the Constitution. This challenging work is suited only for attorneys dedicated to serving their country through the high-level practice of law. If that mission is for you, we encourage you to apply. Responsibilities The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana is currently soliciting applications for positions as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in its Criminal Division. Criminal AUSAs work closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to investigate federal crimes. They prosecute such crimes through every stage of litigation, from charging, discovery, and motions practice to trial, sentencing, and post-conviction challenges. And they develop broader initiatives to disrupt and deter criminal activity throughout the district. The open positions are located in Hammond and South Bend, Indiana. However, if circumstances warrant, we are open to discussing the possibility of a position located in Fort Wayne, 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. Requirements Conditions of Employment To be eligible for this position, you must meet the following requirements: U.S. Citizenship: You must be a United States Citizen or National. 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 for additional information. 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. Licensure Requirement: You must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction). You will be required to maintain an active bar membership in "good standing" in order to retain employment. 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 specific information. All initial attorney positions to the Department of Justice are made on a 14-month (temporary) basis. (See Qualifications Section of this announcement). IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT INFORMATION: This is an open continuous announcement that is intended to continually solicit applications in order to fill immediate and future vacancies. Applicants should timely submit their applications by the deadlines listed below for consideration. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by the earliest feasible deadline. Applicant lists will be pulled on the dates below. September 11, 2025 October 9, 2025 November 6, 2025 Additional application reviews will be conducted every 30 days after November 6, 2025 until the vacancies are filled or closing of this announcement whichever comes first. Applicants will remain on file for 6 months. You must apply online and submit a complete application by the closing date/or pull date of your application submission in order to be considered for this position (See Required Documents Section of this announcement). All applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date/or pull date of the application submission to this announcement (See Qualifications Section of this announcement). As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. 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) one year of post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include at least three or more years of post-J.D. legal experience or other significant relevant experience. Applicants should possess a strong work ethic, litigation experience, good judgment, and excellent ability in legal research, analysis, writing, communication, and advocacy. Applicants should be able to work well both independently and on a team, including when under pressure, and they should be able to work effectively with staff, attorneys, law enforcement officers, and others. Applicants must be dedicated to justice, excellence, and public service. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Education 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. Equal Employment Opportunity: 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. 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 $63,163.00 to $165,209.00 plus locality pay. To view the current Administratively Determined Pay Scale, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao/career-center/salary-information/administratively-determined-pay-plan-charts Locality Pay: This form of pay is added to basic pay and is determined based on the location of the assigned duty station. For Hammond, Indiana, this is set at a rate of 30.86%. For South Bend and Fort Wayne, Indiana, this is set at a rate of 17.06%. Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, 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. Incentive Pay: May be considered for superiorly qualified applicants and in accordance with 5 CFR Part 575. Relocation Expenses: Permanent Change in Station (PCS) 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. Type of Position: All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14 month (temporary) basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation. 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.
