National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys

The National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys is a professional association founded in 1993 to represent the interests of Assistant U.S. Attorneys —front line federal prosecutors and civil attorneys representing the United States in civil litigation. The organization is dedicated to promoting, protecting and serving the common interests of its members. As of 2018, the union-like organization has over 1,500 members.[1]

The association is managed by a board of directors from 17 regions across the country and three at-large directors.[2]

Since its founding, the organization had focused mainly on issues surrounding employment, rather than public policy,[3] but in 2009 the organization urged President Obama to not fire all 93 incumbent U.S. Attorneys, but to keep some of the top performers.[4] In early 2014, NAAUSA opposed U.S. Department of Justice support for legislation that would soften the use of mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences, after conducting an online poll of AUSAs the previous November.[3] As of May 2017, the association was preparing a policy recommendation on asset forfeiture.[5] They have also opposed portions of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.[6]

Process of Becoming an Assistant United States Attorney

In order to become a United States Attorney, you must go through a structured process. This is a very selective process, and it is also very competitive. It is vital that they only select individuals that can show strong litigation skills, the ability to uphold the ethical standards of the Department of Justice, and are committed to public service. In order to be considered for this position, you must be an active member of the United States bar, and you must have a Juris Doctor (J.D) degree from a prestigious law school. Example schools include some of the T-14 law schools such as Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, Duke, NYU, Columbia, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, Cornell, UCLA, and more. Although they look great, a J.D from one of these schools is not required. The J.D degree just has to be from an accredited law school, approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Candidates interested in becoming an AUSA are required to submit an in depth resume, cover letter, and also legal writing samples. The United States Department of Justice will then conduct many, detailed background checks. In this includes a review of the candidate’s criminal record, professional history, and also references. Once you pass background checks, the final step in becoming an AUSA is getting interviewed by a panel of very experienced, classified United States Attorneys.

Once selected, you will receive guidance and training. This training will be focused on different considerations, including case management strategies, and unique responsibilities associated with serving as a federal prosecutor. This allows the necessary knowledge to effectively represent the U.S. in criminal and civil trials.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of Assistant United States Attorney are working with law enforcement agencies to carefully investigate cases, prepare charges, and present evidence effectively in court. They also aide in the prosecution of federal crimes, civil litigation, and they give legal advice to federal agencies. AUSAs serve as trusted advisors to federal agencies, and they will also defend lawsuits against federal agencies as well.

References

  1. ^ NAAUSA. "History". www.naausa.org. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
  2. ^ "Directors & Delegates". NAAUSA.org. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  3. ^ a b Drug Warriors Reject Obama Administration’s Call For Softer Sentences, Saki Knafo and Ryan J. Reilly, Huffingtonpost.com, February 6, 2014. Accessed June 19, 2017
  4. ^ Federal prosecutors urge Obama to retain key incumbent U.S. attorneys, avoid wholesale firing, Julie Kay, The National Law Journal, January 7, 2009. Accessed June 19, 2017
  5. ^ The Federal Prosecutors Backing Jeff Sessions on Mandatory Minimums, Maura Ewing, The Atlantic, May 22, 2017. Accessed June 19, 2017
  6. ^ NAAUSA. "Opposing Portions of the Electronic Communication Privacy Act". www.naausa.org. Retrieved 2018-01-05.

[1][2]

  1. [3][4][5]
  1. ^ "National Association of Former United States Attorneys". Former US Attorneys Association. 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  2. ^ "What Are the T14 Law Schools? Stats + FAQs". juriseducation.com. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  3. ^ "NAAUSA". NAAUSA. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  4. ^ AdminAI (2024-05-07). "Assistant U.S. Attorney Guide: Roles, Duties, and Responsibilities". Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  5. ^ "ABA-Approved Law Schools". www.americanbar.org. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
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