Hiring Organization
USAO Western District of Michigan
Hiring Office
Marquette, MI
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
26-MIW-12990344-AUSA
Location:
1930 US 41 West
Marquette, MI 49855 - United States
Application Deadline:
Wednesday, December 23, 2026
About the Office
The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan is a collegial office that prosecutes federal offenses, defends the interests of the United States and affirmatively pursues claims on behalf of the government, representing the United States in all criminal, civil, and appellate litigation in the Western District of Michigan. Our mission is to 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 the citizens in our District.
The main office is located in Grand Rapids. The district has approximately 41 AUSAs in the Grand Rapids office and 3 AUSAs in the Marquette branch office, in the Upper Peninsula. On the southern shore of Lake Superior, Marquette is a vibrant town of about 20,700 people. Home to Northern Michigan University, Marquette has been named the Best Small Town for Adventure and one of the top ten Best Small Town Cultural Scenes in the country. Court proceedings take place in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Marquette. The district includes 11 federally recognized Indian tribes, which together comprise the largest Native American population in a district east of the Mississippi River.
Job Description
Use your law degree to make a difference! We are seeking a talented attorney to represent the United States in criminal cases as an Assistant United States Attorney. Do justice for your community while honing your trial skills against a talented defense bar before an excellent federal bench. If you are looking for real courtroom experience and decision-making authority over case investigation and trial strategy, this job is for you. We seek only the best because this important work demands the best.
As an AUSA, you will be part of the backbone of the Department of Justice, indispensable in carrying out our mission to uphold the law, and keep our country and community safe. AUSAs are entrusted with significant autonomy to use their judgment and professional skill to pursue justice and do the right thing under the law and Department policies. Criminal Division AUSAs lead the investigation, prosecution, and appeals of a wide variety of important and often complex subject matters, including:
National Security
Economic and Cyber Crime
Domestic Terrorism
Public Corruption and Health Care Fraud
Violent and Firearms Offenses
Drug Trafficking
Human Exploitation
AUSAs routinely lead cases from initial intake and grand jury investigation, through indictment, pretrial litigation, trial, and appeals. We work closely with federal, state, and local investigative agencies to help disrupt the most serious criminal threats facing our communities. And we advocate extensively, in writing and on our feet, before our U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
As an AUSA in the Western District of Michigan, you will become part of an outstanding team of attorneys and support professionals dedicated to working together in pursuit of our vital mission. We tailor our training, mentorship, and development programs to fit the needs of each attorney as they join our office.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
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.
Preferred Qualifications:
Applicants should be able to demonstrate the following qualities:
Ability to work well with client agencies and the public.
Intelligence and aptitude, measured by professional experience/growth potential, academic record, the writing sample and any interview performance.
Commitment to excellence, strong work ethic and drive, as may be demonstrated through successful team work, leadership, obstacles overcome and personal, academic and professional achievement.
Sound judgment and good character.
Balance, both professionally and personally, in terms of interests and abilities.
Desire to work as a Criminal Division AUSA in the Marquette office in the Western District of Michigan.
Prior experience handling victim-centered cases, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and human-trafficking cases, and/or prior experience working with a tribal-justice system.
Willingness to occasionally travel to the federal courthouses in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Kalamazoo for hearings and trials.
Have demonstrated the capacity to function, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding environment.
Ideal candidate will have 5 years of litigation experience but candidates with less experience will be considered.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Application Process
Apply online here .
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: Your response to the Candidate Questionnaire located here.
- Required: Writing sample.
- Required, if applicable: To get Veterans' Preference, you must indicate your preference in response to the appropriate question in your assessment questionnaire and you must submit the appropriate supporting documentation. See the "How you will be Evaluated" section for details regarding what is appropriate Veterans' Preference documentation. It is also recommended that you include veterans' preference information in your cover letter or resume.
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 $76,748.00 to $180,078.00 which includes 17.06% locality pay.
Recruitment and Relocation Incentives available upon approval by Executive Office.
Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes such things as
paid vacation
sick leave
paid federal holidays
life insurance
health benefits
Federal pension program (Federal Employee Retirement System) that vests within 5 years of employment
participation in the Thrift Savings Program with employer matching contributions
potential signing bonus (recruitment incentive)
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness program
