Deputy Attorney General III

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General•Harrisburg, PA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

This Deputy Attorney General position is an advanced prosecutor position in the Office of Attorney General’s Criminal Law Division. The Asset Forfeiture & Money Laundering Section is responsible for the litigation of all asset forfeiture cases from law enforcement agencies with statewide jurisdiction and the supervision of financial investigations leading to money laundering assets and large property seizures. These cases are complex and often involve multiple defendants and numerous types of property. The Section is primarily responsible for the litigation of asset forfeiture cases pursuant to Chapter 58 of the Judicial Code relating to Forfeiture of Assets. This Chapter provides for the forfeiture of property that was used to facilitate violations of the Drug Act as well as property representing proceeds of drug trafficking. Chapter 58 also applies to other statutory forfeitures which include sex offenses, chop shops, gambling, and liquor code violations and trademark and recording device counterfeiting. The cases usually involve the forfeiture of cash, automobiles, jewelry, bank accounts and other financial instruments, and real estate. The position will be based in the Flank Drive Regional Office in Harrisburg, but requires the managing and litigation of forfeiture cases on a statewide basis. A Deputy Attorney General III will work independently on most matters. A willingness to travel is an essential part of this position, and an intimate knowledge of criminal law and criminal procedure is necessary to perform these duties.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of law
Admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Six years of progressively responsible experience in professional legal work

Nice To Haves

Prior asset forfeiture and/or financial investigations experience is preferred

Responsibilities

Reviews relevant law enforcement investigatory reports to determine if legally sufficient to proceed with forfeiture
Prepares briefs, motions, pleadings, reports, court filings, discovery, and other legal documents for various court proceedings in relation to forfeiture matters
Negotiates settlements and/or consent orders when appropriate
Represents the Commonwealth throughout all stages of forfeiture matters including the maintenance and disposition of forfeited property, pre-trial conferences, pretrial motions and hearings, trials (bench/jury), and post-trial motions and hearings
Develops investigative plans based upon the nature of the matter to be investigated (simple/complex) in conjunction with the assigned agents or trooper
Directs investigations determining the investigative steps to take and investigative tools to use to achieve an appropriate/just investigative outcome
Monitors forfeiture cases and financial investigations, assessing progress and adjusting investigative strategies when needed
Reviews and approves search and seizure warrants with assigned agents
Keeps supervisor informed of the progress and potential outcome of forfeiture cases and financial investigations
Determines, along with agents and in consultation with superiors, whether to pursue a prosecution
Writes submissions and presentments to the Statewide Investigating Grand Jury
Prepares, reviews, and approves charging documents in conjunction with agents if prosecution is pursued
Represents the Commonwealth post arrest and throughout all stages of the money laundering prosecutions including arraignments, preliminary hearings, pre-trial conferences, pretrial motions and hearings, trials (bench/jury), post-trial motions and hearings, and sentencing hearings
Answers routine correspondence
Performs additional and related work as required