ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOB DESCRIPTION

Prosecuting felony crimes demands someone who can move a case from the moment charges are filed all the way through a jury verdict, without losing command of the record. The Assistant District Attorney holds that charge-to-verdict accountability within a county or municipal prosecutor's office, working directly alongside law enforcement, grand juries, and the criminal courts. Getting a charging decision wrong, or missing a suppression issue before trial, can end a prosecution before the defense ever presents its case. In jurisdictions subject to the Rules of Criminal Procedure and state bar oversight, that decisional precision is non-negotiable.

As the Assistant District Attorney, you carry direct responsibility for reviewing criminal allegations, rendering charging decisions, and prosecuting cases through all stages of trial in state Supreme and Criminal Courts. The role operates within a county or municipal District Attorney's office, managing a high-volume docket across felony matters while coordinating with law enforcement, trial preparation staff, and the defense bar.

Career Impact: Prosecuting felony matters, including grand jury presentations and suppression hearings, builds a trial record that distinguishes you in both the public sector and future appellate or judicial appointments.

Business Impact: Charging decisions and trial outcomes in this role directly shape public safety results for the communities served by the District Attorney's Office.

Growth Opportunity: Sustained exposure to long-term criminal investigations and bench and jury trials accelerates the path to Senior Assistant District Attorney or specialized bureau assignments such as Gangs, Narcotics, or Public Integrity.

• Review criminal allegations and render charging decisions across misdemeanor and felony matters.
• Present cases to the grand jury, including preparation of witnesses and evidentiary submissions.
• Prepare and argue motions, responses, and oral arguments before state Supreme and Criminal Courts.
• Conduct all phases of bench and jury trials, from voir dire through verdict and post-trial motions.
• Coordinate with law enforcement during active investigations and respond to crime scenes when required.
• Draft search warrant applications and grand jury subpoena requests in compliance with criminal procedure rules.
• Supervise trial preparation assistants in producing and managing discovery disclosures to the defense bar.
• Monitor caseload volume and deadlines, ensuring no hearing or filing obligation lapses on an assigned docket.

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school required, or equivalent legal degree.
• 3 or more years of criminal law or litigation experience, with demonstrated trial responsibility.
• Active bar licensure in the relevant state jurisdiction, in good standing with no disciplinary history.
• Working knowledge of criminal procedure, search and seizure law, suppression hearings, and rules of evidence.
• Proven ability to manage a high-volume docket under competing deadlines and on-call obligations.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills, including experience drafting motions, briefs, and legal memoranda.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across law enforcement, court staff, and defense counsel.

• Bench and jury trial experience in state Supreme or Criminal Court strongly preferred.
• Experience conducting long-term, proactive criminal investigations preferred.
• Bilingual proficiency, particularly in Spanish, preferred for jurisdictions with large non-English-speaking populations.
• Prior experience supervising junior attorneys or trial preparation staff preferred.

• Charging decision accuracy rate, measured by case viability at preliminary hearing and indictment stage.
• Grand jury presentation rate, tracking the percentage of submitted matters resulting in a true bill.
• Trial conviction rate across the felony docket, reflecting quality of case preparation and courtroom advocacy.
• Discovery compliance rate, measuring timely and complete disclosure to the defense bar per court order.
• Motion win rate on suppression and evidentiary arguments filed before trial.
• Docket currency, measured by percentage of assigned cases meeting all scheduled hearing and filing deadlines.

• Base Salary Range: $60,000–$95,000 annually, varying by jurisdiction and years of experience
• Bonus: Merit-based step increases common; performance bonuses rare in public sector
• Equity: Not applicable in government employment
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision through government employee plans
• PTO: 10–15 days vacation; additional sick leave and government holidays
• Common Perks: Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, defined-benefit pension, and continuing legal education reimbursement

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Successful completion of a background check, including criminal history review, is a condition of employment for this position. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants and employees with disabilities upon request. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire.

The Assistant District Attorney owns a full-cycle legal workload that spans drafting documents, conducting legal research, and issuing well-founded opinions to clients. Working within a practice governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct, this attorney advises clients on matter status and conducts negotiations to resolve disputes, supporting the firm's delivery of quality representation.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain membership in the state bar and complete all required Continuing Legal Education requirements annually.
• Follow ethical requirements as set forth by the Rules of Professional Conduct and comply with all requirements of the professional liability insurer.
• Draft all necessary documents to provide legal representation to clients and route them through appropriate office procedures to produce final documents.
• Perform necessary legal research using all available resources, including libraries and computer data systems.
• Formulate and issue well-founded legal opinions to clients.
• Conduct negotiations, when appropriate, to resolve matters on behalf of clients.
• Advise and communicate regularly with clients regarding the status of their matters.

Required Qualifications

• Doctor of Jurisprudence degree required.
• L.L.M. in Taxation or CPA preferred.
• 3–6 years of relevant experience required.
• Excellent writing, analytical, and legal research skills required.
• Strong writing skills and keen attention to detail required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.
• Must be outgoing, collegial, and collaborative.
• Must be responsive to clients and partners and willing to accept project responsibility.

Embedded within a litigation practice, the Assistant District Attorney delivers legal support to trial-assist attorneys while managing a caseload of 50–60 active matters under strict deadlines. Working closely with litigation paralegals, expert witnesses, and opposing counsel, this attorney enables effective case resolution through depositions, hearings, and court appearances.

Core Functions

• Provide legal support to clients and trial-assist attorneys.
• Maintain client relationships.
• Prepare legal reports and documents, including research.
• Interact with expert witnesses, including conferences, drafting of expert reports, and affidavits.
• Prepare for and attend depositions, mediations, hearings, and court appearances.
• Work closely with litigation paralegals.
• Manage 50–60 cases with competing priorities and adherence to strict deadlines.
• Work flexibly and independently.

Qualifications & Experience

• 2–4 years of litigation experience required.
• Superior writing skills and oral advocacy skills required.
• Strong analytical and communication skills required.
• Strong interpersonal skills required.
• Self-starter driven by long-term career goals.
• Ability to thrive in a high-paced environment requiring exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities.
• Takes initiative and welcomes challenges.

Reporting to bureau leadership, the Assistant District Attorney prosecutes felony crimes within the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, conducting grand jury presentations, trials, and long-term investigations of criminal networks operating in city jail facilities. Partnering with the Gangs/Narcotics, Special Investigations, Public Integrity, and Crime Strategies Bureaus, this attorney enables the dismantling of organized criminal activity through intelligence analysis, search warrant applications, and collaborative enforcement efforts.

Primary Duties

• Review criminal allegations and render charging decisions.
• Interview witnesses and prepare them for testimony.
• Present criminal matters to the grand jury.
• Supervise trial preparation assistants in providing discovery to the defense bar.
• Prepare and present motions, responses, and oral arguments to the courts.
• Conduct all facets of trials in state Supreme and Criminal Courts.
• Analyze law enforcement intelligence regarding internal and external criminal activity.
• Identify criminal networks that promote crime and operate within jail facilities.
• Conduct long-term investigations of identified criminal networks.
• Staff court parts and visit jail facilities when necessary to take statements and conduct interviews.
• Draft search warrant applications as needed.

Skills & Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree required.
• 3+ years of trial experience or the equivalent required.
• Bench and jury trial experience, including working knowledge of criminal procedure, search and seizure law, suppression hearings, and rules of evidence required.
• Experience conducting long-term, proactive investigations required.
• Excellent computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel required.
• Spanish proficiency preferred.
• Excellent presentation and organizational skills required.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information required.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and strong ethics required.
• Ability to analytically solve issues or problems from inception through conclusion required.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced work environment and handle a high volume of cases and investigations required.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with others required.
• Ability to work nights, holidays, and weekends required.
• Excellent people skills and demeanor required.

Sitting at the intersection of juvenile justice and child welfare, the Assistant District Attorney leads legal representation for Denver Department of Human Services social workers and administrators in Dependency and Neglect and Juvenile Delinquency proceedings across state trial and appellate courts. Operating across Denver Juvenile Court, the Colorado Court of Appeals, and the Colorado Supreme Court, this attorney shapes treatment and placement decisions for families and youth through multidisciplinary collaboration and legal advocacy.

Duties

• Prepare increasingly complex cases for trial and represent the city in those proceedings.
• Conduct or assist with legal research.
• Provide legal advice to city agencies, including rules of evidence and rules of procedure.
• Represent city agencies concerning administrative remedies and initiatives and interpret policy, ordinances and charter requirements.
• Draft and prepare memoranda, motions, briefs, and pleadings to be filed in judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings.
• Assist attorneys working in specialized areas with research and related activities.
• Provide agencies with formal legal opinions on matters involving lesser complexity and specialization.
• Negotiate and prepare contracts, ordinances, leases, deeds, licenses, and other legal documents.
• Attend collaborative, multi-disciplinary meetings to guide decisions for the treatment and placement of families, children, and youth.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree required.
• An undergraduate degree or minor in Social Work, Juvenile Justice, Sociology, or Political Science preferred.
• A background working with neighborhood or restorative justice programs preferred.
• Two years of experience as an attorney at law required.
• Experience handling Dependency and Neglect cases preferred.
• Experience or knowledge in juvenile law preferred.
• Appellate experience preferred.
• Mediation experience and/or a mediation certificate preferred.
• Experience in youth programs preferred.
• Experience with programs connected to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention preferred.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills required.
• A strong commitment to public service preferred.

A key member of the District Attorney's prosecution team, the Assistant District Attorney builds the Commonwealth's criminal cases from preliminary hearings through trial and appellate proceedings, including responding to crime scenes and unattended death scenes throughout the county. Collaborating with local law enforcement, defense attorneys, and court personnel, this attorney supports the full arc of case preparation, management, and resolution as assigned.

Functions

• Prepare for and handle preliminary hearings, pretrial hearings, trials, and all other hearings requiring a representative from the Commonwealth.
• Prepare and file briefs, motions, and other legal documents with the court, as well as appellate courts when assigned.
• Communicate with local law enforcement during business and non-business hours.
• Respond to crime scenes and unattended death scenes throughout the county when required.
• Communicate with defense attorneys.
• Perform any other case preparation, management, and resolution functions as assigned.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required.
• Prior criminal law experience preferred.
• Must keep up to date with the ever-changing status of the law, including new statutory enactments, revisions, and case law through extensive continuing education and training.
• Must be on call when requested to respond to questions from law enforcement personnel and/or to attend crime scenes and assist with investigations.
• Ability to work effectively with members of government and the public required.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines required.
• Possession of a valid Pennsylvania driver's license required.

Effective management of high-volume immigration caseloads, including consular processing and a full range of immigration applications, depends on the Assistant District Attorney, who explains legal strategies to clients, prepares legal briefs, and motivates paralegals to meet productivity goals. Based within a collaborative Immigration Team and reporting directly to the Supervising Attorney and/or Managing Attorney, this attorney drives successful outcomes for clients navigating consular interviews and complex immigration proceedings.

Accountabilities

• Explain immigration concepts and present strategies to clients.
• Manage a high-volume caseload and motivate paralegals to reach productivity goals.
• Review a variety of immigration applications, including I-130, I-601A, I-601, I-212, I-824, I-129F, and DS-260.
• Prepare clients for consular interviews.
• Meet with potential clients for strategic immigration consultations.
• Provide legal analysis to clients to determine possible options.
• Prepare and submit legal briefs for a variety of immigration matters.
• Maintain courteous and professional communications with firm staff.
• Attend periodic training.

Technical Qualifications

• 1–4 years of experience with Consular Processing immigration required.
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills required.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work under pressure, and manage a caseload required.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Must be a team player who is open to helping, strategizing, and working collaboratively.
• Valid driver's license, access to an automobile, insurance, and willingness to drive to off-site locations required.

As the Assistant District Attorney, this role delivers direct support to crime victims by securing their rights, providing referrals to service organizations, and accompanying them through court proceedings, enabling informed and supported participation in the criminal justice process. The Victim Services unit relies on this work to ensure victims receive compensation assistance, emotional support, and connection to counseling resources throughout the life of their cases.

Activities

• Ensure that victims understand the criminal justice system, the status of cases, and the location of the court.
• Provide emotional support and helpful information to victims.
• Provide information for referrals and case status updates.
• Identify service organizations that offer assistance, explain expenses that can be reimbursed to victims, and assist in completing crime victims' compensation applications.
• Secure victims' rights, refer to other agencies, and contact employers and/or creditors on behalf of victims.
• Provide a list of counseling referrals to victims.
• Accompany and consult with victims during court proceedings.
• Participate in activities and duties related to emergency management during a local state of disaster as directed by appropriate county managers.

Position Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED, along with specialized training in a related field, required.
• Three years of job-related experience required.
• Knowledge of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Family Code required.
• Strong verbal, written, and advocacy skills required.
• Strong computer skills with a minimum typing speed of 35 WPM required.
• Great interpersonal skills and the ability to deal effectively with the public, other employees, and elected officials required.
• Ability to complete assigned projects and communicate appropriately with crime victims required.

Assistant District Attorney manages the full charging and case management workflow, from ensuring correct plea enhancements and bond recommendations to presenting matters before the Magistrate and reviewing subordinate attorneys' work product. The work directly supports the integrity of criminal court proceedings and the development of junior legal staff within the District Attorney's office.

Operational Focus

• Ensure cases are pleaded and enhanced correctly.
• Prepare and complete MOEPs when necessary.
• Review and ensure all bond recommendations are correct before presentation to the Magistrate.
• Manage the file when it goes before the Magistrate.
• Review the work product of subordinate attorneys and provide feedback, direction, and instruction.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Doctor of Jurisprudence degree required.
• Three years of experience practicing criminal law required.
• Proficient in writing search and arrest warrants and drafting grand jury subpoena requests required.
• Working knowledge of the criminal court system required.
• Proficient in Microsoft software programs required.
• Ability to review subordinates' work product for accuracy and completion required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required.