Summary If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career in public service, this is the position for you! The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico is hiring civil litigators to work on civil defensive cases, including cases relating to border and immigration issues. https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Responsibilities Overview of the United States Attorney's Office - District of New Mexico With a talented workforce of over 100,000 people, the mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. You will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty and the property of citizens. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico is one of 94 U.S. Attorney's Offices in the nation. But this U.S. Attorney's Office is unique. New Mexico is home to 23 tribes and pueblos, 4 military bases, and 2 national labs. New Mexico is the fifth biggest state of the union in size, shares a border with Mexico, and is a major international and economic corridor. The U.S. Attorney's Office is primarily responsible for enforcing federal law in criminal and civil cases occurring in the District of New Mexico. The U.S. Attorney's Office partners with tribal, state, county, city, and foreign governments to ensure our communities are safe and prosperous. The Office earns the public trust by following the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor. The Office adheres to the highest standards of excellence and ethical behavior, interested not in winning cases but in ensuring justice is done. For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html Duties of Civil Assistant United States Attorneys The attorneys selected to fill these positions will serve in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) working in the Civil Division are responsible for representing the federal government and its agencies in civil ligation in the District of New Mexico. As such, they defend the United States in civil litigation, including in a vast array of cases, such as immigration, administrative, employment, and torts cases, and they provide candid and professional assessments of litigation risks to client agencies. They also bring affirmative civil cases on behalf of the United States to pursue civil penalties and recover wrongfully obtained taxpayer funds. The attorneys selected for the advertised positions will work on a variety of affirmative or civil defensive casework that relates to border and immigration issues. AUSAs in the Civil Division are expected to manage civil cases at all stages of litigation, including through appeal, and to work independently and make strategic litigation decisions. They routinely take depositions, prepare and answer discovery, negotiate fair and just settlements, engage in motions practice, try cases, draft appellate briefs, and argue cases before United States district and appellate judges. Responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. As public servants, AUSAs must work to earn the trust of, and inspire confidence in, the public we serve. It is our mission to treat everyone with fairness, dignity, and compassion, while providing the highest level of legal service to the American people and being responsible stewards of the taxpayers' dollars. The Civil Division seeks to be a force for that which is right, to uphold the rule of law, and to make fairness, equality, and impartiality the hallmarks of its work. Responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. 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. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications The U.S. Attorney's Office is seeking qualified, experienced AUSAs to: Work on affirmative or civil defensive casework that relates to illegal immigration, illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings, and targeting the Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists Partner with federal agencies and law enforcement to manage civil investigations and litigation brought in the federal courts in the District of New Mexico. Advise federal agencies on questions of law and Departmental policy. Research and draft all legal pleadings and be prepared to try cases in federal court. Oversee and coordinate the preparation of litigation assignments for legal support staff. 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* year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Hiring preference will be given to applicants with prior trial experience and those who have demonstrated the ability to handle complex cases from the initial investigative stage through trial. Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical ability and the facility to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues in a case. Applicants must demonstrate superior oral and writing skills, as well as strong research and interpersonal skills, and good judgment. Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff and client agencies. 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. 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. Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized. Relocation Incentives: Relocation 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. Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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 - You may be expected to travel for the position. 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. Political Appointees (Current and 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 five 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.
