How to Become an Assistant U.S. Attorney: Hiring, Experience and Pay
Short answer: There are 93 U.S. Attorneys for 94 federal districts (DOJ), and each office hires its own AUSAs, usually through USAJOBS postings (USAO D.C.). Most hires have several years of experience; strong recent graduates with a clerkship or some practice are also considered (USAO C.D. Cal. posting). A few offices hire new graduates through DOJ Honors: 42 formal USAO positions for 2026-27 (DOJ).
Fast facts
- Basics: J.D., active bar membership in any U.S. jurisdiction, and U.S. citizenship (USAO C.D. Cal.).
- Experience: D.C. requires at least one year after bar admission, and two years of civil litigation for civil jobs (USAO D.C.).
- Residency: live in the district or within 25 miles of it (USAO D.C. posting).
- Local bar: some offices require it; C.D. Cal. hires must pass and keep the California bar (USAO C.D. Cal.).
- Pay: Administratively Determined (AD) scale set by years of experience (DOJ); pay guide.
- Offices post open-continuous announcements. D.C. pulled lists monthly through Sept. 30, 2026 and aims to make offers within 120 days of closing (USAO D.C. posting).
- Typical packet: cover letter, resume (D.C. caps it at two pages), transcript and a writing sample of up to 15 pages (USAO D.C. posting).
- Offices value litigation experience, grades, writing, character, public service and ties to the district (USAO C.D. Cal.).
- Special AUSA details: D.C. takes federal government attorneys for about six months (USAO D.C.). See Special AUSA to AUSA - possible?.
- Clerkship, then a litigation firm, then the USAO: see Timeline for Seeking AUSA Position Post Clerkship and What are best DC law firms to get into USAO SDNY/EDNY.
- DOJ Honors directly into a USAO: see the DOJ Honors guide.
- JAG or state prosecutor experience: see JAG or BigLaw for AUSA job? and the JAG guide.
- Main Justice instead: AUSA to Main DOJ? and AUSA vs DOJ Trial Attorney - Lifestyle, caseload, etc.
- New AUSAs are graded by full years of attorney experience; 5 years and 10 months means AD-25 (DOJ).
- The latest posted AD chart is for 2025: AD-21 (0 to 2 years) $63,163 to $107,376 before locality (DOJ AD chart, 2025).
- A 2026 D.C. posting listed AD-21 at $87,815 to $197,100 (USAO D.C. posting).
DOJ does not rank offices. Offices by size and prestige are debated in What are the top 5 most prestigious USAOs? and How many AUSAs are there in each district?. For moves from a USAO to a firm, talk to BCG Attorney Search.
Discuss on TLS
- AUSA/USAO hiring
- What are the top 5 most prestigious USAOs?
- How many AUSAs are there in each district?
- Timeline for Seeking AUSA Position Post Clerkship
- AUSA hiring timeline
- Special AUSA to AUSA - possible?
- AUSA to Main DOJ?
- AUSA vs DOJ Trial Attorney - Lifestyle, caseload, etc
- AUSA Taking Questions
- AUSA answering questions
Q: Can I become an AUSA right out of law school?
Rarely. Some offices hire through DOJ Honors; most want experience (DOJ) (USAO C.D. Cal.).
Q: Do I need criminal experience?
Not in D.C.; it requires one year of practice after bar admission (USAO D.C.).
Q: Do I have to live in the district?
Yes, or within 25 miles (USAO D.C. posting).
Related guides
- DOJ Honors
- Public defenders
- AD vs GS pay
- Government attorney jobs directory
- Clerkship Directory home
