Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal)

Summary

Answer the call! The U.S. Attorney's Office in South Dakota is proud to represent the United States with integrity, fairness, and an unwavering commitment to justice. As a federal prosecutor, you'll help uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and safeguard the security of our communities and our nation. Join a mission-driven team making a real impact for the people who call South Dakota home.

Duties

• This is an open-continuous announcement for an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of our Rapid City or Pierre offices. First-round consideration will be given to applications submitted by October 30, 2026, 11:59 pm CT. Thereafter, review of applications received from this announcement will be conducted periodically to fill additional positions as they become available within the district. Once all positions have been filled, this announcement may close prior to the advertised close date. Great Faces. Great Places. South Dakota is home to year-round hunting, fishing, and outdoor sports, the rich history and culture of nine Native American tribes, the world's longest cave system, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, historic Deadwood, more shoreline than Florida thanks to the Missouri River and our beautiful lakes, and of course, Mount Rushmore. If beautiful mountain scenery, rolling grasslands, wide open skies, striking landscapes, friendly people, shorter commutes, zero state income tax, and a state consistently ranked in the top 5 for overall personal freedom sounds like your best life-let's connect! The Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Dakota is seeking exceptional, motivated attorneys to prosecute federal crime on behalf of the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys are entrusted with prosecutorial discretion over robust caseloads. Attorneys benefit tremendously from top-tier training and an experienced and dedicated team of colleagues who are experts in the field. There are few moments of professional satisfaction greater than the first time you are able to rise to introduce yourself to a judge in federal court and say: "I represent the United States of America. "Work will be varied, never dull, and includes the prosecution of drug trafficking, child exploitation, violent crime, illegal immigration, firearms offenses, national security, cybercrime, and white-collar fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorneys partner with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to investigate crimes, present criminal cases to a federal grand jury, research and brief legal issues, and represent the United States before the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Candidates should be capable of prosecuting Major Crimes Act violations in Indian Country including murder, child sex abuse, rape, and other violent crimes. The District of South Dakota is home to a dynamic, committed, and energy-filled environment of colleagues who are passionate about achieving justice on behalf of the United States. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress. This position may be extended or made permanent without further competition. More than one applicant may be selected from this announcement. Initial appointments are conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment background adjudication including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. 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.

Requirements

Applicant must be a United States Citizen or National. Applicant must have a minimum of one year post JD as a practicing attorney or other relevant experience. Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprints, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Applicant must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable. Applicant must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by the entry on duty date. Applicant must be a member, or be eligible to become a member, of the federal district court bar. Note: The U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota requires that all Assistant U.S. Attorneys be admitted to the State Bar of South Dakota within 12 months from the date of an attorney's oath of office for the position in South Dakota. See Local Rule (Criminal) 44.1(F)(1)(b). Accordingly, if the successful candidate is not a member of the South Dakota Bar, he/she must become a member within one year from entry on duty. Applicant must reside in the district to which he/she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See U.S.C. § 545 for district specific information. Employment will require occasional travel to court at designated sites within and outside the District of South Dakota. Travel is also required for witness interviews, preparation for court hearings, and training, including at the Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

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 must demonstrate superior analytical ability; possess strong research, writing and courtroom skills; exercise fair and sound judgment; follow all Department of Justice and United States Attorney's Office policies; exhibit the ability to work collaboratively in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and law enforcement agencies; demonstrate superior communication skills; handle matters in court persuasively and justly on behalf of the United States of America; be devoted to excellence; and demonstrate a commitment to public service. Applicants with one year or more of criminal prosecutorial experience preferred. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree and be a member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by entry on duty date.

Benefits

Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, 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. Benefits: This is a temporary position which offers limited benefits such as paid vacation, sick leave, telework, and holidays.

Required documents

Complete Application Package including: - Required: Responses to the Online Questionnaire (Completed automatically during the application process). - Required: Resume of no more than 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 -Required: Writing Sample, not to exceed 20 pages. -Preferred: 3 Professional References-name, title, company name, phone, and email address. - Required, if applicable: For Veterans' Preference consideration, 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. Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with targeted/severe disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department's Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs. Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates who have lived outside the United States for two or more of the past five years will likely have difficulty being approved for appointments by the Department Security Staff. The two-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and Beginning and ending dates of appointment.