Assistant Attorney; Criminal

The U.S. Attorney’s Office represents the Federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States. This includes all criminal prosecutions for violations of Federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers.

These positions are located in Columbia, Charleston, or Greenville.

For more information about the District of South Carolina, visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-sc

The Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office in South Carolina provides a fulfilling and supportive work environment. The Criminal Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) enjoy genuine camaraderie with their colleagues while pursuing rewarding careers, both professionally and personally.

The Criminal Division is comprised of three Sections: the White Collar, Human Trafficking, and Child Exploitation Section; the Major Crimes Section; and the Narcotics and Organized Crimes Section. In the office’s White Collar, Human Trafficking, and Child Exploitation Section, prosecutors handle financial fraud, healthcare fraud, public corruption, human trafficking, and child exploitation investigations and prosecutions. In the Major Crimes Section, prosecutors handle violent crime, firearms offenses, and immigration offenses.

In the Narcotics and Organized Crimes Section, prosecutors handle investigations and prosecutions of criminal organizations, including gang prosecutions and narcotics trafficking. Prosecutors in this Section also focus on cases from the Homeland Security Task Force, a multi‑agency effort led by the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and HSI to combat transnational criminal organizations.

In prosecuting federal crimes, AUSAs work with a broad range of federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Postal Inspection Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and others.

Due to the range and complexity of the work, Criminal AUSAs are expected to demonstrate initiative and the ability to independently manage all phases of a criminal case, from investigation to post‑conviction litigation. Our AUSAs are required to possess interpersonal skills conducive to working with a variety of federal and state law enforcement agents, defense attorneys, judges and court staff; oral and written communication skills for presenting cases to the grand jury, representing the government in court hearings, trying cases, writing trial and appellate briefs;

and superior character and judgment in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion and the discharge of their duties.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your 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.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• J.D. degree and active membership in the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction are required.
• You must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district‑specific information.
• 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.