Assistant City Prosecutor | Criminal Division

City of Seattle•Suite 2050 Seattle, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Seattle City Attorney’s Office, with over 200 attorneys and professional staff, is a large legal office committed to making Seattle a safe, healthy, empowered, and thriving community. The office aims to address historical injustices within the court system with self-examination and to pursue justice with integrity, creativity, and fairness. They believe in transparency, innovation, and collaboration with community partners to achieve outcomes that promote equity, accountability, and healing. The Criminal Division is seeking one or more Assistant City Prosecutors to manage a dynamic caseload and develop trial skills. This division represents the City in prosecuting misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and traffic infractions in Seattle Municipal Court, covering offenses such as driving under the influence, domestic violence, theft, assault, property damage, and trespassing. Prosecutors rotate through units for reviewing incident reports, filing cases, trials, and domestic violence cases. There are also opportunities to work in therapeutic courts like Mental Health Court and Veterans Treatment Court. All prosecutors contribute to policy formulation and implementation to promote racial and social justice equity, including developing alternatives to incarceration.

Requirements

Membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, OR the ability to obtain membership within 30 days of an offer of employment, OR being a Rule 9 Licensed Legal Intern awaiting Washington State Bar Examination results.
Continued employment for Rule 9 candidates is contingent on passing the Washington State Bar Examination and becoming a member in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association within six months of beginning employment.
Thorough knowledge of the rules of evidence and criminal procedure.
Effective legal research and writing.
Persuasive advocacy skills, including techniques to present the prosecution's case as a narrative storyline.
Ability to quickly address a wide variety of legal issues.
Creativity in developing different solutions to problems.
Flexibility to respond to competing demands.

Nice To Haves

Individuals selected to fill this position may be eligible to receive Language Premium Pay (SMC 4.20.360), which provides a $200.00 monthly stipend to qualified bilingual employees who are properly evaluated and assigned to provide direct communication in-language, interpretation, or translation services to the public on behalf of the City of Seattle.

Responsibilities

Represents the City Attorney in prosecuting misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal offenses and probation violations.
Learns prosecutorial techniques and strategies.
Meets competing deadlines and develops trial skills in a fast-paced, high-volume work environment.
Reviews citations, arrest sheets, and other law enforcement documents; gathers facts and data; conducts factual and legal analysis to determine whether charges should be filed.
Drafts complaints, briefs, motions, memoranda of law, and other legal documents.
Manages assigned cases in accordance with standard protocols and procedures.
Confers with witnesses and crime victims.
Negotiates plea agreements with defense counsel within established guidelines.
Develops trial and prosecution strategy for supervisor approval.
Coordinates with members of the Seattle Police Department and members of other law enforcement agencies, and other involved parties to establish and verify the basis for prosecution or dismissal.
Represents the City of Seattle at arraignments, hearings, and trials.
Compiles records and other information.
Identifies witnesses for subpoena.
Brings cases before the court and argues facts of the case in relation to points of law, case law, and legal precedent.
Interviews and cross-examines witnesses.
Assists city prosecutors in preparing complex misdemeanor arraignments, motions, pleas, and hearings.
Adheres to a high degree of professional ethics and integrity.