Assistant Attorney; Civil - Border Fence

Summary

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is among the largest and busiest in the nation, spanning 43 counties and 44,000 square miles and representing 8.3 million people from the Houston area to the Mexico border. Employment with the U.S. Attorney's Office is a unique, challenging, and rewarding experience for the highly motivated attorney.

This position is located in Laredo or McAllen, Texas.

First round consideration will be given to applications submitted by December 19, 2025, at 11:59pm EST. Applicant list will be reviewed every 30 days.

If you are looking for a rewarding and challenging career in public service, consider applying to be an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the Southern District of Texas. As an AUSA, you will join the more than 100,000 dedicated public servants of the Department of Justice and further the Department's mission. The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is at the forefront of national efforts to secure the border, stem narcotics trafficking, and deter and punish violent crime, offering a fast‑paced, challenging, and varied caseload with frequent courtroom appearances.

You will work in the Civil Division on land condemnation matters and related cases at the border with Mexico, immigration enforcement matters, issuing warrants, defending asylum and passport cases, and general civil litigation. Responsibilities will increase and civil assignments may become more complex as training and experience progress.

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre‑employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit, and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• 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.
• 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.

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.

Preferred Qualifications: Strong academic credentials, superior legal research and writing skills, quick analytical ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical case‑related issues, high‑volume courtroom experience, outstanding organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with other AUSAs, support staff, and investigative agencies, and a demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.

Courtroom experience, including first‑chair jury trials, is preferred. Successful candidates will be computer proficient, capable of doing their own legal research and writing, and self‑sufficient in preparing day‑to‑day correspondence and pleadings.

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree.

Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of pay for this position includes locality pay: $63,163 to $195,100.

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 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 will not be authorized.

1 to 5 nights per month on average.

All initial attorney appointments to the Department of Justice are made on a 14‑month temporary basis pending favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non‑merit factor.

For more information on the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office, visit: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). and https://.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career very rewarding.