Assistant United States Attorney (Civil) Open Continuous
This announcement will be open until positions are filled. However, first round consideration will be given to applications submitted by May 12, 2026, 11:59 pm, Eastern Standard Time. Applicant lists will be reviewed approximately every 30 days. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico is hiring civil litigators to work on civil defensive cases, including cases relating to border and immigration issues. The positions advertised are located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Duties of Civil Assistant United States Attorneys The attorneys selected to fill these positions will serve in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) working in the Civil Division are responsible for representing the federal government and its agencies in civil ligation in the District of New Mexico. As such, they defend the United States in civil litigation, including in a vast array of cases, such as immigration, administrative, employment, and torts cases, and they provide candid and professional assessments of litigation risks to client agencies. They also bring affirmative civil cases on behalf of the United States to pursue civil penalties and recover wrongfully obtained taxpayer funds. AUSAs in the Civil Division are expected to manage civil cases at all stages of litigation, including through appeal, and to work independently and make strategic litigation decisions. They routinely take depositions, prepare and answer discovery, negotiate fair and just settlements, engage in motions practice, try cases, draft appellate briefs, and argue cases before United States district and appellate judges. Responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. As public servants, AUSAs must work to earn the trust of, and inspire confidence in, the public we serve. It is our mission to treat everyone with fairness, dignity, and compassion, while providing the highest level of legal service to the American people and being responsible stewards of the taxpayers' dollars. The Civil Division seeks to be a force for that which is right, to uphold the rule of law, and to make fairness, equality, and impartiality the hallmarks of its work. Responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex as your 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. 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.