Assistant Prosecutor II

City-of-Olympia,-Wa; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Olympia seeks an Assistant Prosecutor II to prosecute municipal criminal cases. Under the Chief Prosecutor, you will handle arraignments, pre-trial conferences, motions, trials, and sentencing hearings.

The role requires extensive courtroom experience, strong professional judgment, and a commitment to public safety. Apply by August 28, 2026, with a resume and two-page letter of interest.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Five years of professional criminal law experience recommended.
• Experience prosecuting criminal cases preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review evidence to support filing charges by reviewing police reports and 911 calls.
• Represent the City in prosecuting all criminal violations under the Olympia Municipal Code.
• Supervise and manage all aspects of prosecution, including hearings, trials and appeals.
• Communicate with defense attorneys to negotiate just outcomes.
• Advise law enforcement on evidence collection and constitutional procedures.
• Interview witnesses, victims, and law enforcement for trial preparation and negotiations.
• Perform supervisory duties when the Chief Prosecutor is unavailable.
• Maintain punctual and reliable attendance.
• Provide legal research and training to the Police Department.

Skills

Criminal law

Trial advocacy

Legal research

Evidence procedures

Communication

Interpersonal relations

Microsoft Office

Team collaboration

Leadership

Negotiation

Public safety

Planning/prioritizing

Conflict resolution

Education

Juris Doctor (ABA-accredited)

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel)

Job description

Under general direction of the Chief Prosecutor, responsible for the prosecution of assigned cases in the City of Olympia (City) municipal court. Work involves prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the City. Represents the City in criminal court hearings such as arraignments, pre-trial conferences, evidentiary motions, trials, plea hearings and sentencing hearings.Series Concept:1. The Assistant Prosecutor II is the intermediate level in the Prosecutor series, working under the direction of the Chief Prosecutor.2. The Assistant Prosecutor II is distinguished from the Senior Assistant Prosecutor by the degree of supervision and the complexity or level of difficulty of cases prosecuted.About the PositionThe 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.Annual Salary: $ 123,659.00 - $150,309.00Ideal Candidate ProfileThe ideal candidate will:Demonstrate strong motivation and a genuine commitment to public service.Work effectively both independently and as part of a team.Maintain a professional, respectful and approachable demeanor.Communicate clearly and professionally with coworkers, law enforcement, victims, witnesses, court personnel and members of the public.Be dependable, organized and capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines.Contribute to a positive workplace culture and treat colleagues with professionalism and respect.Approach difficult situations with patience, professionalism and a solution-oriented mindset.To Apply:Submit a resume and a letter of interest by attaching both documents to your electronic application. The letter of interest must be no longer than two pages and should clearly explain how you meet the Ideal Candidate Profile (listed above) or what support you would need to meet the Ideal Candidate Profile.Apply by midnight on August 28, 2026 , to be considered in the first review of applications.Only electronic applications are accepted.Contact:If you have questions about the position and/or requirements, please contact Bryanna Pinkston, Chief Prosecutor via email at [e-mail] .Essential FunctionsThe essential functions of this position include but are not limited to:1. 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.2. Represents the City in the prosecution of all criminal violations covered by the Olympia Municipal Code.3. Responsible for all aspects of prosecution including investigation, arraignments, pre-trial hearings and motions, bench and/or jury trials, sentencing, review hearings and appeals.4. Communicates with defense attorneys to negotiate a just outcome of criminal cases.5. 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.6. Interviews witnesses, victims, victim advocates, law enforcement, and defense counsel in preparation for trial and for negotiation purposes.7. Performs limited supervisory duties when the chief prosecutor is unavailable.8. Punctual, regular, and reliable attendance is essential for successful job performance.9. Follows cases through sentencing procedures and criminal appeals.10. Provides legal research, training and assistance to the Police Department in all criminal matters, including statutory interpretation, enforcement issues, and case decisions.11. At the direction of the Chief Prosecutor, develops, recommends and drafts policies and ordinances pertaining to the municipal criminal code.Typical QualificationsKnowledge/Skills/Abilities:1. Thorough knowledge of criminal and traffic law and procedure, especially at the misdemeanor and infraction level.2. Thorough knowledge of pretrial, trial and sentencing procedures.3. Thorough knowledge of general litigation procedures, including rules of evidence.4. Thorough knowledge of alternative sentencing methods.5. Thorough knowledge of appropriate criminal investigation methods and procedures.6. Thorough knowledge of legal research methodology and procedures.7. Thorough knowledge of the requirements of criminal record maintenance and retention.8. 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 required9. Ability to resolve conflicts and gain cooperation among conflicting groups and/or individuals.10. Ability to provide effective factual, rational and persuasive presentations in court.11. Ability to review, identify, sort, and incorporate essential facts, issues, and information involved in criminal prosecution cases.12. Ability to compose clear, concise legal documents.13. Ability to effectively prepare and manage criminal cases for prosecution.14. Ability to prosecute cases and argue motions in Municipal and District courts.15. 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.16. Ability to understand complex factual and legal information, draw appropriate conclusions and formulate sound legal decisions.17. 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.18. Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a service-oriented team comprised of professional and support staff.19. Ability to perform responsibilities with sensitivity, empathy, understanding and awareness of issues affecting individuals involved in the prosecution of criminal cases.20. 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.21. Ability to prepare and present training information to various audiences.22. Ability to work independently under general supervision, and efficiently organize work schedule and tasks.23. 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.Experience/Education:1. Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and five (5) years professional work experience in criminal law;2. Experience in prosecuting criminal cases preferred;3. OR a combination of experience, certification, education and training that demonstrates expertise in the related areas.Special Requirements:1. Current license to practice law in the State of Washington required at the time of hire.2. Maintenance of Washington State Bar Association membership is a condition of continued employment.3. Successful completion of a criminal history background investigation is required.4. A valid Washington State driver’s license may be required.Supplemental InformationContacts:1. The Assistant Prosecutor II has extensive contact with the public, including criminal defendants, witnesses and individuals with questions about criminal prosecution.2. Contacts are for the purpose of information sharing, complaint resolution, and/or case investigation/resolution.3. 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.4. The Assistant Prosecutor II also has daily contact with members of the Legal and Police Departments for the purpose of work coordination.5. In the very busy field of municipal prosecution, inter-office contacts and coordination of effort are essential to successful enforcement and case management.6. Contact with the local legal community is encouraged to remain current on issues relating to municipal law.Supervision:1. May assist in the supervision of Assistant Prosecutor I, support staff and/or interns.Accountability:1. 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.Working Conditions:1. The work requires close, sustained attention to detail in a busy, noisy office with frequent interruptions.2. The prosecution of cases also requires the ability to manage significant stress related to timelines, competing priorities and frequently confrontational individuals/situations.Olympia is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.Union:IndependentsCompensation (minimum-maximum):$123,659.00 - $150,309.00Exempt:YesFor general application or position questions please contact the hiring supervisor or Human Resources at [e-mail] City of Olympia complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Manny Bosser, Director of Human Resources, at [phone] or [e-mail]. This contact is for ADA accommodations only. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the manager noted in the Contact section near the top of this recruitment.