How Do I Become a United States Attorney?

If you would like to protect the interests of American citizens in a court of law, you might be interested in United States attorney careers. In order to become a United States attorney, you will need to graduate from law school and then begin practicing law. It is helpful if you have at least five to seven years of trial experience before you apply for one of these positions, because most of your time will be spent in the courtroom. If you are able to work as a local or state prosecutor first, this experience could also be helpful.

While you are in law school, you may want to become involved in as many activities as possible. This is because these activities have a great deal of merit with people who hired United States attorneys. Some good things to be involved with are student government associations and community service programs; if you are able to assist another attorney by doing pro bono work, this should also be listed on your resume.

After you graduate from law school, look for jobs that will help you become a United States attorney. You may want to clerk for a federal judge, as this could give you exposure to the federal court system and help you network with the right people. If one of these positions is not available, you could join a law firm that specializes in criminal defense in order to help you gain valuable experience.

Once you are confident in your litigation skills, you will be ready to become a United States attorney. The first place to begin is by checking with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in order to find openings in your area. Once you find an open position, read it carefully to make sure you meet all the United States attorney requirements listed there. Some of these requirements might be United States citizenship, a clean criminal background, and litigation experience. You should also be familiar with the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure before beginning United States attorney training.

If your application is approved, you may have to undergo a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In some cases, you may be allowed to work as a United States attorney, but only in a probationary status until the investigation is complete. Due to the fact that the background check normally takes several months, the probationary period for a U.S. attorney is typically anywhere from 12 to 18 months.