Assistant United States Attorney, Syracuse

Assistant United States Attorneys

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York seeks experienced attorneys to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Civil Division, including in both the defensive civil litigation and Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) units. Applicants should indicate in their cover letter whether they seek consideration for defensive civil litigation, the ACE unit, or both.Civil Division AUSAs serve as lead counsel in federal litigation from investigation through appeal and receive substantial responsibility from the outset. Attorneys manage their own dockets, appear regularly in federal court, collaborate closely with federal agencies and Department of Justice components, and handle matters of significant national and regional importance.Defensive Civil Litigation: Attorneys in the defensive civil litigation unit represent the United States, its agencies, and federal employees in a broad range of complex federal litigation matters. These matters include negligence actions under the Federal Tort Claims Act, employment discrimination suits, constitutional tort claims against federal officers, Freedom of Information Act litigation, prisoner litigation, civil immigration matters, and related defensive civil actions. Attorneys may also defend constitutional and administrative challenges to federal statutes, regulations, policies, programs, and agency decisions. Attorneys may also represent the United States in bankruptcy proceedings. Civil AUSAs handling defensive litigation manage all phases of their assigned matters, including factual investigation, discovery, depositions, settlement negotiations, mediation, motion practice, trials, and appeals. AUSAs serve as lead counsel in federal court proceedings and work directly with client agencies and agency counsel throughout the litigation process.Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE): Attorneys in the ACE unit investigate and litigate affirmative civil matters on behalf of the United States, with a particular emphasis on False Claims Act cases involving health care fraud, procurement fraud, grant fraud, and other fraud affecting federal programs. The Office maintains an active and sophisticated False Claims Act practice, including matters initiated through qui tam complaints and investigations conducted jointly with federal law enforcement agencies, inspectors general, and agency partners across the government. In addition to False Claims Act matters, ACE AUSAs handle affirmative litigation involving environmental violations and federal civil rights statutes, including matters involving voting rights and discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or disability. Attorneys may also handle matters involving civil violations of the Controlled Substances Act and other enforcement priorities of the Department of Justice and the Office. ACE AUSAs may also represent the United States in bankruptcy proceedings. ACE matters frequently involve parallel criminal, regulatory, and administrative investigations and require close coordination with agents, auditors, investigators, and attorneys from the Department of Justice and other United States Attorneys' Offices. Attorneys are expected to manage investigations strategically, exercise sound judgment, and litigate independently in federal court. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as 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. Selective Service Requirement: 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 . Residency Requirement: 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. Travel Requirement: Employment will require occasional travel to court at one of the designated District sites, namely Albany, Auburn, Binghamton, Malone, Plattsburgh, Syracuse, Utica, and Watertown. Other occasional travel within and/or outside the District may be required.