Employment
Attorney Employment Opportunities
The U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan, employs approximately 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys. The majority of the attorney positions are assigned to the Detroit duty station, working in either the Criminal, Civil, or Appellate Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys have come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences before joining the office. The great majority have had experience with a private law firm, a state prosecutor's office, or a public defender office. A smaller number have come from judicial clerkships or a Federal or state agency. More than twenty different law schools are represented among the current group of Assistants. The average length of stay for Assistants is greater than ten years, and this time period is increasing, with a significant portion of the office consisting of career prosecutors.
The office annually receives hundreds of resumes and inquiries about job openings. Because of the relatively low turnover among Assistants, vacancies are not frequent. Nevertheless, applications are evaluated on an ongoing basis. A limited number of applicants are invited for an interview with a committee. Interviews may be subsequently conducted by Criminal, Civil, and/or Appellate Division Chiefs, the First Assistant, Senior Counsel to the United States Attorney, and the United States Attorney. Applicants are evaluated by the Hiring Committee on the basis of such factors as academic performance, trial experience, research and writing ability, oral communication skills, and other legal and community service and experience.
Although there is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
Candidates are expected to make a three-year commitment to the office if hired. For basic consideration, applicants must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of at least one bar (any jurisdiction). Because Assistants occasionally appear in State court, applicants should be willing to make a commitment to secure membership in the Michigan Bar Association within a reasonable period of time after joining the office. Individuals interested in being considered for attorney positions should submit a resume, with cover letter, writing sample(s) and completed questionnaire directly to the following address:
Jonathan Tukel
Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney
U.S. Attorney's Office
211 W. Fort Street
Suite 2001
Detroit, MI 48226
For additional information regarding hiring procedures and current opportunities for attorney positions, please direct E-mail inquiries to:Patti.Turczynski@usdoj.gov
Attorney Employment Opportunities