USAO, Financial Litigation Unit Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody know anything about this unit? I just noticed a position for one of these spots in my city.

I've read job description but does anybody have personal or anecdotal experience/insight about what this job entails? day to day? Exit ops? I'm a mid-level atty (who isn't going to make partner) thinking about my next move.

[Anonymous User]

Based on my own experience, the FLU people are responsible for forfeiture and restitution stuff. They’re solid enough positions and some people love digging into the forfeiture stuff - it can get interesting/complex with larger organized crime stuff - but it’s sort of the collections side of AUSA work. You wouldn’t be running criminal/civil cases/investigations exactly, and I’m not sure what the exit options would be (I haven’t known anyone to exit).

[Anonymous User]

Thank you. What sort of backgrounds do typical FLU attorneys have? Do they often have prior experience in debt collection or is it similar to criminal AUSA backgrounds where theres just a mix of civil/white collar associates and state prosecutors?

[Anonymous User]

The ones I know are from either local civil practice or county prosecution.

[Anonymous User]

The ones I know are from either local civil practice or county prosecution.

Thanks again. I know most USAO positions all generally prefer people with actual trial experience. Is this the same? or is there some different hiring criteria for this position?

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed for a FLU position accidentally--at the time I didn't realize that not all criminal AUSAs were the same. I found out it was a FLU position during the interview. I gathered from the interview that (1) the position involved a fair amount of travel within the district; (2) it was not considered to be 'prestigious' or 'intellectual' work; and (3) many people who started in FLU in this district used it as a stepping stone to other AUSA positions in the district. I suspect it would be pretty boring work in most districts, and for the most part, not transferable experience. But I do know from my biglaw work a few attorneys that specialize in forfeiture matters, and I'd speculate that FLU experience could be helpful for that. FWIW, they were willing to interview me despite my being a junior associate with no trial experience (I did not get an offer).