Hiring Organization

US Attorney’s Office- District of South Dakota

Hiring Office

Pierre, SD

Job ID

26-SD-12875868-AUSA

Location:

225 South Pierre Street

Pierre, SD 57501 - United States

Application Deadline:

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

About the Office

The United States Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota’s mission is to impartially enforce and uphold the laws of the United States. We are committed to improving public safety, protecting the financial interests of the nation, and ensuring equal justice for all.

The district’s main office is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with two branch offices located in Pierre and Rapid City. This position is located in Pierre, SD.

More information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, South Dakota, can be found at:  http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/

Job Description

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota is seeking an experienced attorney to fill an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) position in the Criminal Division. AUSAs in the Criminal Division advise federal law enforcement agents on criminal investigations, present criminal cases to the grand jury, prepare and argue a broad range of motions, try criminal cases before the United States District Court, conduct research, and write briefs and present oral arguments to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Candidates should be capable of handling significant and complex criminal prosecutions involving Major Crimes Act violations in Indian Country such as murder, child sex abuse, rape, and more. Candidates should also be capable of handling cases involving a variety of violations of federal laws related to firearms, narcotics, white collar fraud, child pornography, and immigration crimes.
Responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex as training and expertise progress.

Qualifications

• Applicant must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprints, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• Applicant must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• Applicant must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least one year of post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.
• Applicant must be a member, or be eligible to become a member, of the federal district court bar.
  • Note: The U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota requires that all Assistant U.S. Attorneys be admitted to the State Bar of South Dakota within 12 months from the date of an attorney’s oath of office for the position in South Dakota. See Local Rule (Criminal) 44.1(F)(1)(b). Accordingly, if the successful candidate is not a member of the South Dakota Bar, he/she must become a member within one year from entry on duty.
• Applicant must reside in the district to which he/she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See U.S.C. § 545 for district specific information.
• Applicant must be capable of traveling on occasion.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Preferred Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate superior analytical ability; possess strong research, writing and courtroom skills; exercise fair and sound judgment; follow all Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Office policies; exhibit the ability to work collaboratively in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and law enforcement agencies; demonstrate superior communication skills; handle matters in court persuasively and justly on behalf of the United States of America; be devoted to excellence; and demonstrate a commitment to public service.

Application Process

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 02/17/2026 to receive consideration. Please use the link below to get started:

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/855897900

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. (It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.)

3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account, or your application will be incomplete.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. However, should you not be able to apply online, please contact District of South Dakota at 605-357-2305 or email at KAILENE.FREY@USDOJ.GOV, prior to the closing date of this announcement to request an alternate method of applying.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Salary

Assistant United States Attorneys pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional experience. The range of starting pay, including a 17.06% locality payment, is $76,748 to $197,100.

Number of Positions

1

Travel

Employment will require occasional travel to court at designated sites within and outside the District of South Dakota. Travel is also required for witness interviews, preparation for court hearings, and training, including at the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC.

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.