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Entry Level Federal Attorney Jobs in Baton Rouge, LA

Entry Level Federal Attorney information

See Baton Rouge, LA salary details

$59.5K

$132.9K

$196.4K

How much do entry level federal attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level federal attorney in Baton Rouge, LA is $132,923.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,200.00 and $155,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Level Federal Attorney vs Entry Level Public Defender?

AspectEntry Level Federal AttorneyEntry Level Public Defender
Required CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), Bar AdmissionJuris Doctor (JD), Bar Admission
Work EnvironmentFederal agencies, government offices, federal courtsPublic defender offices, local courts
Employer & IndustryFederal government, legal, criminal justicePublic sector, criminal defense

Both roles require a JD and bar admission, working within the criminal justice system. An Entry Level Federal Attorney typically works for federal agencies handling federal cases, while an Entry Level Public Defender works for public defender offices representing indigent clients in criminal cases at the local level. The main difference lies in the jurisdiction and employer setting, but both are entry-level legal roles in criminal law.

What are some typical challenges faced by entry level federal attorneys during their first year on the job?

Entry level federal attorneys often encounter a steep learning curve as they familiarize themselves with complex federal statutes, procedures, and the expectations of their specific agency. Balancing a high volume of casework with ongoing training and adapting to the formalities of federal court can be demanding. Additionally, new attorneys must quickly develop strong research, writing, and oral advocacy skills while collaborating with experienced colleagues and supervisors. Building confidence in making legal decisions and managing time effectively are common challenges, but many agencies offer mentorship and professional development resources to support early career attorneys.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Federal Attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Federal Attorney, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school, strong legal research and writing skills, and successful completion of a state bar exam. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis and knowledge of federal court procedures are typically required. Attention to detail, strong ethical judgment, and effective communication are standout soft skills in this role. These skills are essential for producing high-quality legal work, complying with federal standards, and effectively representing the government’s interests.

What is an entry level federal attorney?

An entry level federal attorney is a licensed lawyer who has recently graduated from law school and works for the federal government, often within agencies like the Department of Justice or other federal departments. These attorneys handle a variety of legal tasks such as researching legal issues, drafting documents, assisting with litigation, and providing legal advice under the supervision of experienced attorneys. Entry level positions are typically filled through programs like the Department of Justice Honors Program or through direct hire into federal agencies. The work provides valuable experience in federal law and public service, and often serves as a stepping stone for a career in government or public interest law.
What are the most commonly searched types of Federal Attorney jobs in Baton Rouge, LA? The most popular types of Federal Attorney jobs in Baton Rouge, LA are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Federal Attorney jobs in Baton Rouge, LA? For Entry Level Federal Attorney jobs in Baton Rouge, LA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Federal Attorney jobs in Baton Rouge, LA look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Federal Attorney jobs in Baton Rouge, LA are:
What cities near Baton Rouge, LA are hiring for Entry Level Federal Attorney jobs? Cities near Baton Rouge, LA with the most Entry Level Federal Attorney job openings:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Federal Attorney job openings in Baton Rouge, LA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% Locum Tenens, 76% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 78% Physical, 7% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $132,923 per year, or $63.9 per hour.

$40K - $65K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Summary
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.
As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 26-LAM-13004174-MS.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing substantive support to the Middle District of Louisiana. Typical work assignments will include:
  • Performs a variety of direct and/or indirect support services for the Administration Division of the USAO staff.
  • Produces a variety of written documents and reports utilizing varied and advanced functions in one or more types of office automation software.
  • Receives telephone calls and visitors, routing them to the appropriate staff.
  • Reads outgoing correspondence for procedural and grammatical accuracy, conformance with general policy, factual correctness, and adequacy of treatment.
  • Prepares travel authorizations or vouchers as needed.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation
  • You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable
  • If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
  • You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications
GS-05: To be eligible at the GS-05 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education OR a Combination of Education and Experience.
Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience: scheduling appointments and conferences creating various correspondence documents such as forms, reports, and memoranda's, preparing travel vouchers, and proofreading written correspondence for accuracy.OREducation: 4 years of education above high school equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
OR
Combination Education and Experience: To qualify based on a combination, college education must be excess of 60 semester hours beyond the second year. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.
GS-6: To be eligible at the GS-6 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level.
Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience: assisting in maintaining property records and conducting inventory; maintaining electronic databases to track information and suspense items; using various software programs to create and draft spreadsheets and graphs.
GS-7: To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level.
Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience: drafting and proofreading position descriptions; providing technical assistance and processing support to the budget department; researching and explaining employees benefits; monitoring contract funds and request amendments for purchase obligations.
To be qualified, you must type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5 minute sample with three or fewer errors. (A typing test may later be required.)
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Education
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional information
Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.
The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.
Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.