Assistant Prosecutor II

City of Olympia

4d•$123,659 - $150,309•Onsite

About The Position

The Prosecution division is seeking a motivated, dependable, and team-oriented legal professional with strong courtroom advocacy and commitment to public safety and justice to fill a vacant Assistant Prosecutor II position. This position is ideal for an attorney who takes pride in their work, demonstrates sound professional judgment, and is committed to serving the community with integrity, fairness and respect.

Requirements

Thorough knowledge of criminal and traffic law and procedure, especially at the misdemeanor and infraction level.
Thorough knowledge of pretrial, trial and sentencing procedures.
Thorough knowledge of general litigation procedures, including rules of evidence.
Thorough knowledge of alternative sentencing methods.
Thorough knowledge of appropriate criminal investigation methods and procedures.
Thorough knowledge of legal research methodology and procedures.
Thorough knowledge of the requirements of criminal record maintenance and retention.
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, and Excel) and applicable department and organization specific software and ability to learn and become proficient in the use of other specialized software as may be required
Ability to resolve conflicts and gain cooperation among conflicting groups and/or individuals.
Ability to provide effective factual, rational and persuasive presentations in court.
Ability to review, identify, sort, and incorporate essential facts, issues, and information involved in criminal prosecution cases.
Ability to compose clear, concise legal documents.
Ability to effectively prepare and manage criminal cases for prosecution.
Ability to prosecute cases and argue motions in Municipal and District courts.
Ability to apply creative and logical reasoning to legal problems; identify and/or accept alternative solutions; and maintain an open and flexible approach to problem-solving.
Ability to understand complex factual and legal information, draw appropriate conclusions and formulate sound legal decisions.
Ability to communicate complex legal information, concepts and ideas, verbally and in written form, to a variety of audiences in a clear, comprehensive and professional manner.
Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a service-oriented team comprised of professional and support staff.
Ability to perform responsibilities with sensitivity, empathy, understanding and awareness of issues affecting individuals involved in the prosecution of criminal cases.
Ability to use tact, appropriate discretion, and maintain composure and professional demeanor in dealing with issues of a difficult and emotional nature, including confrontational in-person contacts.
Ability to prepare and present training information to various audiences.
Ability to work independently under general supervision, and efficiently organize work schedule and tasks.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those interacted with during work regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service, or diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and five (5) years professional work experience in criminal law.
Current license to practice law in the State of Washington required at the time of hire.
Maintenance of Washington State Bar Association membership is a condition of continued employment.
Successful completion of a criminal history background investigation is required.
A valid Washington State driver’s license may be required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in prosecuting criminal cases preferred
OR a combination of experience, certification, education and training that demonstrates expertise in the related areas.

Responsibilities

Reviews evidence to support the filing of charges including reviewing police reports and 911 calls; speaks to witnesses, victims and law enforcement to determine if enough evidence exists to file criminal charges against an individual.
Represents the City in the prosecution of all criminal violations covered by the Olympia Municipal Code.
Responsible for all aspects of prosecution including investigation, arraignments, pre-trial hearings and motions, bench and/or jury trials, sentencing, review hearings and appeals.
Communicates with defense attorneys to negotiate a just outcome of criminal cases.
Advises law enforcement while in the field regarding proper evidence collection, arrest procedures, search and seizure law, and constitutional law enforcement practices to ensure constitutional procedures are followed during investigations.
Interviews witnesses, victims, victim advocates, law enforcement, and defense counsel in preparation for trial and for negotiation purposes.
Performs limited supervisory duties when the chief prosecutor is unavailable.
Punctual, regular, and reliable attendance is essential for successful job performance.
Follows cases through sentencing procedures and criminal appeals.
Provides legal research, training and assistance to the Police Department in all criminal matters, including statutory interpretation, enforcement issues, and case decisions.
At the direction of the Chief Prosecutor, develops, recommends and drafts policies and ordinances pertaining to the municipal criminal code.

Benefits

The Assistant Prosecutor II has extensive contact with the public, including criminal defendants, witnesses and individuals with questions about criminal prosecution.
Contacts are for the purpose of information sharing, complaint resolution, and/or case investigation/resolution.
Contacts are frequently hostile or highly emotional in nature and the Assistant Prosecutor II is required to exercise skill in persuasion, arbitration and/or conflict resolution.
The Assistant Prosecutor II also has daily contact with members of the Legal and Police Departments for the purpose of work coordination.
In the very busy field of municipal prosecution, inter-office contacts and coordination of effort are essential to successful enforcement and case management.
Contact with the local legal community is encouraged to remain current on issues relating to municipal law.
May assist in the supervision of Assistant Prosecutor I, support staff and/or interns.
The Assistant Prosecutor II is accountable for the quality of legal services provided to the Police Department and the overall effectiveness of the City's prosecution of cases.
The work requires close, sustained attention to detail in a busy, noisy office with frequent interruptions.
The prosecution of cases also requires the ability to manage significant stress related to timelines, competing priorities and frequently confrontational individuals/situations.