AUSA chances Forum

[kzsky08]

Hi all - can people who would know give me some insight as to my chances for AUSA positions?

I graduated from a T-6, clerked on a circuit court, and have 3-5 years of experience. After clerking, I joined the DOJ through the Honors program, in a main justice component doing criminal work.

My plan was to try that for a couple years and then decide if I wanted to stay there or apply for ausa positions. (I had previously done a summer at a USAO and a school year externship at a main justice component.)

After some time at doj, we had an unexpected family emergency--our baby was born extremely prematurely, long hospital stay, extra support needs, etc, my wife had to leave work early in the pregnancy and stay home with the baby far longer than we anticipated. Because of all of this, I left DOJ for private practice, basically because we needed the money and flexibility.

Several years later, our family situation is resolved (everyone is healthy and doing great), and I now want to apply to AUSA positions. I am looking at a range of big to medium districts.

Can people who have been involved in hiring tell me: do I have good chances? Should I apply to border districts and/or term positions, or should I try only other positions first?

If I have a decent chance, roughly how many applications do you think I'll need to do? (I have heard that even when it works out, it sometimes takes a while.)

If I don't have a decent chance right now, what should I do? Would a district court clerkship help? Some white collar defense work? (Right now I'm doing general commercial litigation and some other stuff that is not white collar.)

Thank you in advance for your help. Leaving DOJ felt really necessary at the time, because of the family stuff, but now I'm getting scared that it will look bad and stop me from getting an ausa position, even though it has been my goal since 1L.

[Anonymous User]

I think your resume would still read well even if you left DOJ, and I think your explanation would convince anyone who is still skeptical. Your only obstacle is finding a vacancy. It’s not exactly easy to get hired right now as an AUSA on account of the hiring freeze. And I don’t think there will be any reprieve from that anytime soon.