Hiring Organization

USAO District of South Dakota

Hiring Office

Sioux Falls

Location

325 S. First Avenue Suite 300 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 United States

Application Deadline

Sunday, August 31, 2025

About the Office

The United States Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota's mission is to impartially enforce and uphold the laws of the United States. We are committed to improving public safety, protecting the financial interests of the nation, and ensuring equal justice for all. 

The district's main office is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with two branch offices located in Pierre and Rapid City. This position is located in Sioux Falls, SD. 

More information about the U.S. Attorney's Office, South Dakota, can be found at: District of South Dakota | District of South Dakota. 

Job Description

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota is seeking an experienced attorney to fill an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) position in the Criminal Division. AUSAs in the Criminal Division advise federal law enforcement agents on criminal investigations, present criminal cases to the grand jury, prepare and argue a broad range of motions, try criminal cases before the United States District Court, conduct research, and write briefs and present oral arguments to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Candidates should be capable of handling cases involving a variety of violations of federal laws related to firearms, narcotics, white collar fraud, child pornography, and immigration crimes. Candidates should also be capable of handling significant and complex criminal prosecutions involving Major Crimes Act violations in Indian Country such as murder, child sex abuse, rape, and more. 

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and expertise progress. 

Qualifications

• Applicant must be a United States Citizen or National. 
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This included fingerprints, 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 Select Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See Selective Service System. 
• Applicant must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least one year of post J.D. legal or other relevant experience. 
• 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)(a). 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.
• Applicant must be capable of traveling on occasion in support of the mission.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Application Process

Please provide a complete application package by the closing date, which includes:

USAJOBS - Job Announcement 

• Required-Completed online application found via the link above.
• Required-Responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire. (This is completed automatically during the online application process.)
• Required-Resume showing relevant experience and dates of employment to include the day/month/year of service.
• Required-Cover letter.
• Required-Writing sample, not to exceed 20 pages.
• Required-List of 3 references, including name, title, email and phone number for each.

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

Assistant United States Attorneys pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional experience. The range of starting pay, including a 17.06% locality payment, is $73,939 to $193,394.  

Number of Positions

1

Travel

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 to the Department of Justice’s

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Department Policies

• Equal Employment Opportunity
  • The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. To learn more, please visit the Federal Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Reasonable Accommodations
  • This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
• 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 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 Legal Careers | Disability Points of Contact.
• Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs
  • Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.
• 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, 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.
• Veterans
  • There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, SF15.pdf  for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
• USAO Residency Requirement 
  • Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof.  See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington DC 20530

Contact the Department

Phone: 202-514-2000

TTY/TDD: 800-877-8339