Deputy Prosecuting Attorney - Lateral



Deputy Prosecuting Attorney - Lateral

Salary

$94,123.53 - $135,039.84 Annually

Location

Various Locations throughout King County, WA

Job Type

Regular, Full time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2022-15230

Department

PAO - Prosecuting Attorneys

Division

Criminal

Opening Date

01/19/2022

Closing Date

2/28/2023 5:00 PM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

U1 : KCPAA-PAO

Summary

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office 

The Criminal Division of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is seeking highly motivated attorneys to join our office as Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys - Lateral. These are excellent opportunities for experienced attorneys to join our General Crimes Unit, Violent & Economic Crimes Unit, and Involuntary Treatment Act Unit, with additional rotation opportunities depending on experience and performance. If you seek enriching, meaningful work and a chance to serve your community while working as part of a dynamic team, this opportunity may be for you.
 
About the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
The Criminal Division is the largest of four divisions and is organized into several specialized units.  See the Criminal Division Overview for more information. We are guided by our core values of Integrity, Compassion, Professionalism, and Leadership.
 
Our mission is to do Justice:
  • We exercise the power given to us by the people with fairness and humility.
  • We serve our diverse community, support victims and families, and hold individuals accountable.
  • We develop innovative and collaborative solutions for King County and the State of Washington.
To learn more about the PAO, please visit our website.
 
We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce that reflects the community that we serve. It is essential to our mission that we create and maintain an office that is diverse and inclusive. All PAO employees are expected to participate in PAO equity work and attend equity trainings and discussions. PAO employees are expected to comply with equity and social justice principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.    
 
This is an open and continuous recruitment that will be used to fill multiple positions over the next few months.   The post will remain up until open positions have been filled.
 

Job Duties

Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys (DPAs) cover work at courthouses in Seattle, Kent and Redmond.  All deputies are expected to be able to work at any of those locations.  
  
Attorneys hired into these roles are primarily assigned to work in the following units:

  • General Crimes Unit - The General Crimes Unit (GCU) handles felony trials and files charges in a variety of cases, such as Assault 3, Felony Harassment, Burglaries, Car Theft, Unlawful Firearm Possession, Escape, and Narcotics Deliveries. The goal of this unit is for every DPA to become proficient in filing, improve trial skills, and become familiar with all aspects of felony practice.  GCU is located in the King County Courthouse in Seattle.

  • Violent & Economic Crimes Unit - Cases handled by the Violent & Economic Crimes Unit (VECU) cover a wide range of crimes in South King County. From simple thefts to assaults and drive by shootings, the cases in VECU cover a variety of crimes and seriousness levels. VECU is located in the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
  • Involuntary Treatment Act Unit - The Involuntary Treatment Act Unit (ITA) handles involuntary mental health treatment commitment cases. Working as part of the ITA Unit involves representing local psychiatric hospitals and working closely with mental health professionals to conduct civil mental health commitment trials and hearings. ITA Court is located in the Ninth & Jefferson Building, across the street from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
As our office continues working to address the criminal case backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate ample opportunity to rotate into other units as business needs evolve.

The courts are currently allowing virtual appearances for some calendars due to COVID-19, but in-person appearances will be necessary for hearings as well as for jury trials. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.  Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

  • Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills.
  • Strong work ethic and commitment to working effectively in a team environment.
  • Strong commitment to Equity and Social Justice issues, including working on personal cultural competency.
  • Passion and willingness to learn trial skills.
  • Must be Washington State Bar qualified.
Special Requirements:
  • Member in good standing with the Washington State Bar.
  • Able to work at any of our three locations (Seattle, Kent, Redmond).
  • Must submit to a criminal history check.
  • U.S. Citizenship (per RCW 36.27 and 29A.04 and Article VI of the WA Constitution)
Salary:
$94,123.53  - $135,039.84 Annually (depending on experience)
Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys also enjoy King County’s robust benefits package and are represented by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Association.
 
Application Process:
 1.  Fully complete King County application**
 2.  Attach Cover Letter addressed to the Hiring Committee
 3.  Attach Resume
 4.  Answer supplemental questions
**Applications or supplemental questionnaires that state “see my resume” or that are blank are considered incomplete and will not be considered competitive.
 
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Hazel Johnson (she/her)
Deputy Director of Human Resources
Hazel.johnson@kingcounty.gov

Supplemental Information

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

The Prosecuting Attorney's Office is dedicated to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being.  Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
  • Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
  • Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
  • 12 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite gyms and activity centers
  • Employee giving program
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
  • Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.  If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.  Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
 
NOTE:  Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
 
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01
Are you licensed to practice law in Washington State?
  • Yes
  • No
02
What is your WSBA number?
03
Are you able to work in Seattle, Kent, and Redmond?
  • Yes
  • No
04
How many years of experience working as an attorney do you have?
  • 0-2 years
  • 2-4 years
  • 4+ years
05
Are there specific areas of law that interest you?
  • Domestic violence
  • Economic crime
  • Violent crime
  • Sexual assault
  • Progressive prosecution
  • Mental health
  • All areas
06
Why do you want to be a prosecutor?
07
How can you contribute to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office's goals of increasing equity and social justice, both within our office and in the communities we serve?
08
Please describe any felony trial experience you may have.

Required Question

Agency
King County
Address
King Street Center
201 South Jackson Street
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Phone
206-477-3404