Assistant District Attorney - Special Investigations Unit

Philly; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Assistant District Attorney for its Special Investigations Unit. This pivotal role involves investigating and prosecuting municipal corruption, collaborating with law enforcement, and handling complex cases that require a strong commitment to anti-corruption efforts. The ideal candidate will have significant legal experience and a proactive approach to investigations, ensuring justice in challenging circumstances. Join a dedicated team making a real difference in the community by addressing misconduct and safeguarding public trust. If you are passionate about law and eager to tackle corruption, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• Must be admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania.
• Requires 5+ years of legal experience post-law school.

Responsibilities

• Investigate complaints of municipal corruption and misconduct.
• Collaborate with law enforcement on investigations and prosecutions.
• Manage a trial caseload and respond to on-call situations.

Skills

Anti-corruption commitment

Long-term investigation experience

Trial experience

Collaboration with law enforcement

Self-motivation

Education

Admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania

5+ years of legal experience

Job description

Position: Assistant District Attorney - Special Investigations Unit (Lateral)

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Job Id: 176

Number of Openings: 1

About the Role:

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigates and prosecutes municipal corruption, including misconduct by public officials, municipal and governmental employees, and law enforcement officers. SIU also handles cases requiring investigative resources, such as building collapses, and manages the Election Fraud Task Force, which addresses criminal misconduct in elections. The unit collaborates closely with other office units and, together with the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Unit (OISI) of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD), investigates law enforcement discharges and civilian deaths in custody.

Job Duties:

1. Receive and verify complaints of corruption from the public via phone, mail, digital media, and referrals from the Trial Division and defense counsel.
2. Investigate complaints collaboratively with SIU Detectives and initiate prosecution when appropriate.
3. Review complex investigations for SIU adoption.
4. Collaborate with PPD's OISI on law enforcement discharges and in-custody deaths.
5. Respond on-call to scenes of police-involved shootings and to warrant and charging requests from Internal Affairs and OISI.
6. Review investigations from outside agencies for probable cause and prosecute cases from arrest to final disposition.
7. Assess cases for diversion, considering collateral consequences like pension forfeiture and housing safety.
8. Consider hurdles faced by complainants, such as Fifth Amendment issues, distrust of law enforcement, and retaliation.
9. Conduct examinations and investigations through the Investigating Grand Jury.

Qualifications:

• Admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania.
• At least 5 years of legal experience post-law school.
• Strong commitment to anti-corruption work.
• Experience with document-driven cases that require long-term investigation.
• Trial or evidentiary proceedings experience involving serious felonies; experience with domestic violence and sexual assault cases is a plus.
• Ability to manage a trial caseload.
• Self-motivated and proactive, especially in non-deadline investigations.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Detectives and other ADAs.
• Willingness to be on-call 1 week out of every 6.