Assistant United States Attorney (Civil)

Duties

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is seeking two Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) to serve in the Civil Division. Civil AUSAs represent the United States, its agencies, and its employees in federal court and are committed to justice, excellence, fairness, and service to the public. AUSAs handle all phases of civil litigation and investigations, including legal research, discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, trial, and appeal. The positions require the ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively, analyze complex legal and factual issues, work effectively both independently and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and manage a varied caseload with integrity on behalf of the United States.

Position 1: Assistant United States Attorney - Bankruptcy Litigation

The attorney selected for this position will be primarily responsible for litigation before federal bankruptcy courts in the district. This litigation generally involves representation of federal agency creditors in Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 proceedings under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and in adversary proceedings. Creditor agencies include the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Education. The Bankruptcy AUSA is assigned cases to litigate from inception to completion as the sole attorney representing those federal agencies in bankruptcy court, to preserve said agencies' claims to payment from the bankruptcy estate. Job duties may include conducting legal research, drafting legal memoranda, preparing and answering discovery, taking and defending depositions or examinations, representing the United States in judicial proceedings.

The AUSA may also be assigned other civil defensive or affirmative cases as the need arises. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Position 2: Assistant United States Attorney - General Civil Litigation

The attorney selected for this position will be responsible for a wide variety of civil matters, including, but not limited to, defensive litigation (such as personal injury, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, and challenges to agency action), constitutional claims against federal employees, and/or affirmative civil enforcement (including healthcare fraud, procurement fraud, financial fraud, pharmaceutical diversion, and violations of civil rights statutes). The selected candidate will also defend immigration cases, including cases brought by detainees challenging their continued detention and cases challenging the government's denial of immigration benefits applications.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

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.

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.

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.
• Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a July 2026 bar examination may be considered.
• 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 (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date. Law school graduates and current law students taking a July 2026 bar examination may be considered, subject to the foregoing requirements.

United States citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.