Employment
The United State Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey employs more than 250 employees. Positions include Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), a variety of support staff positions, college students, and law students. Selections for positions in the District are made without regard to race, sex, creed, color, national origin, handicap condition, age, or political affiliation. Employment for all positions is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background investigation conducted by the Department of Justice. The investigation process includes a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use, a fingerprint check, and a thorough review of the applicant's background to determine whether there have been any significant problems with unresolved financial indebtedness, failure to file and/or pay income taxes, criminal record, illegal drug use, etc.
Attorney
Positions
Applications for attorney positions are evaluated by the Hiring Committee
on an on-going basis. Candidates selected for AUSA positions are
expected to make a three-year commitment. Applicants for AUSA positions
must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of at least one bar
(any jurisdiction). Individuals interested in AUSA positions should submit
a resume and cover letter to the following address:
Ralph Marra,
Jr.
First Assistant United States Attorney
970 Broad Street
Suite 700
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Support
Positions
Applications for support positions are accepted only when a vacancy occurs.
All vacancy announcements are listed on this website and on www.opm.gov and www.usdoj.gov. Unsolicited applications
are not accepted and are returned to applicants.
The United States Attorney sponsors law student intern programs throughout the year. The positions are unpaid but provide law students with an opportunity to work with Assistant U.S. Attorneys on a variety of matters pending in the Office. During the school year, all three branch offices welcome students who work up to twenty hours per week. During the summer, each office hosts three to fifteen students for ten weeks who work full time with many AUSAs on a variety of criminal and civil matters.
Applications for unpaid law intern positions are accepted from law students who have completed their first semester of law school. Applications are accepted between November and February and should be forwarded to the following address.
United States
Attorney's Office
Human Resources Unit--Law Intern Program
970 Broad Street
Suite 700
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Law students may apply for positions by sending a resume and cover letter. The letter should indicate whether the applicant seeks a position in Newark, Trenton, or Camden. Because all offers are contingent upon Department of Justice background clearance, applicants are encouraged to apply at least four months before they would like to commence work.
BENEFITS
The United States Attorney's Office offers a variety of benefits to its permanent employees, including the following:
Health Insurance: Employees may elect health insurance from a variety of carriers, including fee-for-service plans and health maintenance organization plans. Employees are normally responsible for paying at least one-fourth of the cost of health insurance, and the Federal government pays the remaining cost. Employee contributions for health insurance premiums are made on a pretax basis.
Life Insurance: Employees may elect life insurance benefits. Most employees are automatically covered under basic life insurance, which equals their salary rounded to the next $1,000 plus $2,000. The government pays one-third of the cost of this group term insurance. Employees who elect basic life insurance are also eligible to elect optional insurance at their own expense. Optional life insurance includes additional insurance on the employee's life as well as coverage for the employee's spouse and eligible children.
Retirement: Newly hired employees are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered plan which provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to employees and their dependents. FERS consists of Social Security, an annuity, and a tax deferred savings plan. The tax deferred savings plan allows employees to contribute up to 12 percent of their salaries. The agency automatically contributes an amount equal to 1% of an employee basic pay each pay period, whether the employee contributes or not. The agency matches employees's contributions as follows:
Dollar for
dollar on the first 3% an employee contributes each pay period; and 50
cents on the dollar for the next 2% an employee contributes.
Leave: Federal employees earn 13 days of annual leave during their first three years of Federal service and earn additional annual leave as their tenure with the Federal government increases, up to a maximum of 26 days per year after 15 years of service. Employees also earn 13 days of sick leave each year.
Holidays: Employees are entitled to 10 paid holidays each year.
Transit Subsidy: The transit subsidy program allows employees to be reimbursed for expenses incurred in utilizing public transportation for their daily commute to and from the office.
Training and Tuition Assistance: Through the resources of the Office of Legal Education of the Department of Justice, the agency offers a comprehensive range of courses to assist attorneys and support staff in improving their skills. Most courses are conducted at the National Advocacy Center, a state-of-the-art training facility located in Columbia, South Carolina. Permanent employees are also eligible to receive tuition reimbursement for continuing education seminars and/or college course work that relates to their assigned duties.
Many other benefits offered by the agency that are not listed here are described at http://www.opm.gov.