Attorney I / II / III / IV (Criminal)

Dakota County, Minnesota; Hastings (MN); Hybride; USD 98 000 - 180 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Medical benefits

Work-life balance

Paid time off

Holidays

Pension

Hybrid work

Résumé du poste

Dakota County Attorney's Office in Hastings, MN is seeking Attorneys I–IV to handle criminal prosecutions or provide civil legal services to county departments. Positions may be filled at different levels based on experience, with a hybrid work arrangement and regular business hours.

The roles require a JD from an accredited law school and Minnesota bar admission by hire date. The office emphasizes service, integrity, people, and innovation while offering comprehensive benefits and opportunities

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota by the date of hire.
• The minimum qualifications listed above correspond to Attorney I level; meet these to advance in recruitment.

Responsabilités

• Provide advice to law enforcement personnel, child protection workers, adult protection workers, and others on legal authority, responsibilities, and liabilities in criminal investigations.
• Review investigative criminal reports to determine appropriateness of prosecution.
• Follow Dakota County Attorney charging and disposition guidelines for referred matters.
• Draft complaints, petitions, warrants, motions, memoranda, findings, orders, stipulations, appellate briefs, and post-conviction memoranda.
• Prepare cases for contested hearings, trials, or appellate arguments.
• Meet with victims and/or witnesses to explain law, court rules, procedures, evidentiary rules, and dispositions.
• Represent the State of Minnesota and Dakota County in state and federal courts at pretrial, trial, sentencing, appellate, and post-conviction proceedings.
• Provide training for law enforcement agencies, social workers, and others on developments in the law.
• Attend staff and required meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned by division heads or County Attorney.

Connaissances

Constitutional law

Court rules

Rules of Evidence

Rules of Professional Responsibility

Legal analysis

Case presentation

Formation

J.D.

Minnesota bar admission

Description du poste

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
HOURS: Full-time
LOCATION: Hastings
UNION: Attorney Employee's Association
CLOSE DATE: Monday, November 16, 2026, at 4:30 pm
SALARY RANGE: The position level at which the offer is extended is based on the candidate's ability to meet the minimum qualifications and the candidates' relevant years of experience.
*** Attorney I: $92,218 - $144,090 ***
*** Attorney II: $103,284 - $161,381 ***
*** Attorney III & IV: $115,678 - $180,748 ***

What You'll Do

Attorneys at Dakota County are assigned to handle the prosecution of criminal cases; or to provide civil legal services to Dakota County departments and provide legal representation to and on behalf of Dakota County; and other responsibilities as determined by the County Attorney. Under minimal supervision, the Attorney I/II/III performs work of varied and basic or routine difficulty in criminal or civil law. This posting will be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Who We Are

Dakota County is Minnesota’s third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. We strive every day to achieve excellence in public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

The Dakota County Attorney's Office welcomes and is inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and perspectives. The Office aims to reflect the community and clients it serves and fosters an equitable and respectful working environment where everyone is empowered to be their authentic selves.

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota by the date of hire.

*** The minimum qualifications listed above are written at the Attorney I level. You must meet these minimum requirements in order to continue in the recruitment and selection process.

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Provide advice to law enforcement personnel, child protection workers, adult protection workers, and others regarding their legal authority, responsibilities, and potential liabilities associated with the investigation of criminal activity.
2. Review investigative reports pertaining to criminal activity to determine the appropriateness of a criminal prosecution.
3. Comply with Dakota County Attorney charging and disposition guidelines for the charging and resolution of matters referred to the office for prosecution.
4. Draft complaints, petitions, warrants, motions, memoranda, findings, orders, stipulations, appellate briefs, and post-conviction memoranda in support of an investigation of criminal activity and related prosecution(s).
5. Prepare assigned cases for contested hearings, trials or appellate arguments.
6. Meet with victims and/or witnesses of criminal activity for the purposes of explaining law, court rules, court procedures, evidentiary rules, and case dispositions.
7. Represent the State of Minnesota and Dakota County in various state and federal courts at pretrial, trial, sentencing, appellate hearings, and post-conviction proceedings related to the prosecution of criminal activity.
8. Provide training for law enforcement agencies, social workers and others regarding applicable developments in the law.
9. Attend staff meetings and other required meetings.
10. Perform other duties as assigned by the Criminal Division Head, Assistant Criminal Division Head, Chief Deputy, or County Attorney.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Duties 1 - 10 are essential functions.

• Basic knowledge of constitutional, statutory and case law.
• Basic knowledge of court rules.
• Basic knowledge of rules of evidence.
• Basic knowledge of Rules of Professional Responsibility.
• Ability to analyze facts in light of applicable law.
• Ability to plan, organize and present a case.

Work Environment

Work is performed within a County office building. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to computer, laptop, projector, printer, scanner, telephone, and copy and fax machine.

Location & Schedule

Currently this is a hybrid position that offers a mix of telework and in-person work at our Judicial Center in Hastings, MN. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Benefits

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
• Excellent work-life balance.
• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year).
• Eleven paid holidays and one floating holiday per calendar year.
• Pension with a generous employer contribution.
• Ability to work from home some of the time.

Selection Process

• We assign you a score based on your qualifications.
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration.
• We conduct background and reference checks before hiring.