[blindlaw] Northern Texas Uncompensated job posting

Ross Doerr rumpole at roadrunner.com
Tue Sep 18 21:48:29 UTC 2012


Ross note: I see that this posting is for more than one position, and that, if hired, you are not able to accept a job with the U.S. Attorney's office until the 12 month duration of the term has been served.

 

As a concerned member of this list, I try hard to post anything and everything that a lister may be interested in. But these "uncompensated" announcementsseem to be so unrealistic to so many of us, I will stop posting them if the list wants me to stop cluttering up the list with them.

 

Comments?

 

Ross

 

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SPECIAL ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY (Uncompensated)

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Northern District of Texas 

Dallas or Fort Worth, TX

Vacancy Announcement #12-NDTX-SAUSA-D04

 

 

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About the Office: The Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas is the principal federal prosecution authority for the North Texas area, with offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and Amarillo. The Civil Division is charged with defending agencies of the United States, enforcing regulatory agency authority, and recovering funds from violators of U.S. criminal, regulatory, and civil laws. The Criminal Division prosecutes all federal crimes in our jurisdiction, including acts of terrorism, public corruption, white-collar crime, organized crime, gang activities, internet-related crimes, and many other criminal offenses. The Appellate Division represents the United States in cases on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, responds to post-conviction litigation, and keeps the district informed of developments in the law. 

 

Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: One or more positions are available for uncompensated Special Assistant United States Attorneys ("SAUSAs") in the Appellate Division, Dallas or Fort Worth, Texas. Attorneys in the Appellate Division handle all aspects of appeals from criminal cases prosecuted in the District, writing appellate briefs and presenting oral arguments on a variety of complex and novel issues involving the constitution, statutory construction, evidentiary disputes, and procedural matters. Appellate AUSAs also review draft briefs of their fellow AUSAs and participate in moot courts. In addition to defending criminal convictions from appellate challenge, Appellate AUSAs bring affirmative appeals to the Fifth Circuit from adverse district court decisions.

 

Aside from their work in the Fifth Circuit, Appellate AUSAs keep abreast of changes and developments in the law, providing valuable guidance to the U.S. Attorney and fellow AUSAs on significant legal issues. Additionally, the Appellate Division responds to post-conviction matters, such as motions to vacate, set aside, or correct criminal judgments and sentences. Finally, Appellate SAUSAs consult with the Solicitor General's Office and the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice regarding potential government appeals, petitions for rehearing en banc, and U.S. Supreme Court litigation stemming from criminal cases in the District.

 

The uncompensated SAUSAs primary role will be assisting with the Appellate Division's responses to post-conviction matters, such as motions to vacate, set aside, or correct criminal judgments and sentences. The SAUSA may also assist at hearings in post-conviction matters.

 

The initial term of the uncompensated SAUSA appointment is 12 months, but may be extended for an additional time frame. The SAUSA will not be automatically hired by this office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney if a position becomes available, but the SAUSA may apply for any AUSA position in the office, or any office within the Department of Justice, after completing service as a SAUSA.

 

An uncompensated SAUSA may not engage in compensated practice of law outside of the office. Attorneys are not eligible to serve as SAUSAs if they have had an employment offer deferred by a law firm and received a payment for the period of their deferral or if they will receive any payment from a law firm during their unpaid employment with the Department of Justice.

 

As needed, additional uncompensated Special Assistant U.S. Attorney positions may be filled from this vacancy announcement.

 

Qualifications: Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar (any 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 a quick analytical ability and the facility to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues involved with a case. Applicants must demonstrate superior oral advocacy, writing skills, research abilities, interpersonal skills, and judgment, and must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies. 

 

Applicants must have a demonstrated capacity to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment. Applicants will be expected to do their own legal research and writing and will be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. Applicants must also demonstrate excellent computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the internet, electronic court filing, and electronic e-mail and word processing systems.

 

Travel: Occasional travel may be required for district support or training purposes. 

 

Salary Information: This is a one-year appointment without compensation

 

Location: This position is located in Dallas or Fort Worth, Texas.

 

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized.

 

Application Process and Deadline Date: Please email a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and list of references to usatxn-ausa.D02 at usdoj.gov. Applicants not having internet access may mail their application to:

 

Amanda Booth

H.R. Assistant

Burnett Plaza, Suite 1700

801 Cherry St, Unit 4

Fort Worth, TX 76102

 

Please include vacancy announcement #12-NDTX-SAUSA-D04 on your resume and all correspondence. The position is open until filled. The U.S. Attorney's Office will begin interviewing as applications arrive; however, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. No telephone calls please.

 

Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprinting and credit check. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

 

Internet Sites: Northern District of Texas: http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/index.html.

 

This and other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/attvacancies.html

 

Department Policies: Special Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which he or she is appointed. See 28 U.S.C. § 545 for district-specific information.

 

The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, on the basis of personal favoritism, or any non merit factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. 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. 

 

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. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. citizens are 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. 

 

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, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/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 his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

 



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