Assistant Attorney - Civil

The Civil Division of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois is seeking an attorney, ideally with at least two years of legal experience, to assist primarily with civil defensive litigation. This position is open until filled. First round consideration will be given to applications submitted by January 22, 2026, 11:59 pm, EST. Applicant lists will be reviewed approximately every 30 days.

AUSAs in the Civil Division work on a diverse range of defensive matters, including personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other tort actions; employment discrimination actions; immigration matters; prisoner litigation; and actions challenging governmental policies, activities, and decisions. Civil AUSAs also handle affirmative investigations and cases involving fraud, immigration, forfeiture, and other areas. Day-to-day responsibilities include working with client agencies and investigators to gather information, conducting legal research, engaging in motion practice, preparing and answering discovery requests, defending and taking depositions, retaining and working with experts, negotiating settlements, trying cases, and briefing and arguing appeals.

The successful candidate will be primarily responsible for representing the United States of America, Federal agencies, and Federal employees in a wide variety of civil defensive litigation. The caseload may include defending immigration cases; employment discrimination cases; medical malpractice, premises liability, and other tort litigation; statutory and constitutional challenges to government programs;
Administrative Procedure Act cases; FOIA and Privacy Act cases; and Bivens civil rights suits. Although this position is primarily focused on civil defensive litigation, the successful candidate may also be assigned affirmative civil cases. This area includes False Claims Act actions involving healthcare fraud and fraud on pandemic‑era programs. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress.

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.

Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which they are appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district‑specific information.

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 (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

• 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 member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.
• Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.