Hiring Organization
USAO Northern District of Florida
Hiring Office
Appellate Division
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
26-FLN-12978587-DE
Location:
United States Court House, 111 N Adams St #4
Tallahassee, FL 32301 - United States
Application Deadline:
Monday, June 22, 2026
About the Office
If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career, this is the position for you! 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.
Considered a medium-sized district, the NDFL encompasses 23 of Florida's 67 counties, and currently employs approximately 55 staff members, to include 28 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), with the main office located in Tallahassee and two branch offices in Pensacola and Gainesville.
Positions will be staffed in the Appellate Division in the Tallahassee Office or Pensacola Office. Please be sure to state your location preference in your cover letter.
As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
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.
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html
Job Description
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is seeking an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for its Appellate Division. Appellate AUSAs draft briefs and present oral arguments on constitutional, statutory, evidentiary, and procedural issues in appeals arising out of the Criminal Division. Appellate AUSAs also review briefs drafted by their colleagues and participate in moot courts to prepare AUSAs for oral arguments. In addition, Appellate AUSAs handle post-conviction responses before the district court, such as motions seeking relief from convictions or sentences under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241 and 2255 and 18 U.S.C. § 3582. Appellate AUSAs also assist with complex district court litigation and provide advice to other prosecutors on significant legal issues.
A successful candidate will be an experienced attorney with superb research, writing, and oral advocacy skills. They must also possess a strong work ethic, superior legal acumen, and demonstrate a prosecutor's professional temperament, judgment, and unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and zealously pursuing criminal offenders while respecting the constitutional rights of the accused. Each AUSA is expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standard of professional ethics at all times.
A successful candidate will lead by example, demonstrate initiative, possess a strong ability to work both collaboratively with colleagues and individually, and be willing to assume increasing levels of responsibility within the office.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress.
The NDFL spans 23 counties of the Florida Panhandle, with offices in Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Gainesville. The AUSA vacancy will be filled in the Tallahassee Office or Pensacola Office.
Qualifications
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.
J.D. degree and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.
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, 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.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Application Process
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Evaluation Method: Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet all job requirements. An attorney interview panel will then review all qualified applicants and make recommendations for invitation to interview. You will be notified if selected for an interview.
The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete.
You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).
- Required: Your resume cannot exceed two pages - you will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages - see USAJOBS for formatting requirements . Include relevant employment history as outlined below for each job:
Official position title (if Federal, include series/grade),
Employer name and contact information,
Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year),
Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
A list of duties performed and accomplishments.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
- Required: Cover letter, addressed to John P. Heekin, United States Attorney.
- Required: Writing Sample, not to exceed 15 pages.
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
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 $76,748 to $197,100 which includes 17.06% locality pay.
Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; 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.
As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
