Deputy District Attorney
Oregoncounties
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Benton County District Attorney’s Office is seeking dedicated Deputy District Attorneys to join a close-knit, professional team. You will handle cases from review through trial and sentencing, with opportunities to advance as you gain experience and expertise.
The role emphasizes autonomy, mentorship, and a commitment to justice. Ideal candidates hold a JD, be in good standing with the Oregon State Bar, and bring experience in felony criminal litigation, with a readiness to collaborate within a
Qualifications
- Three years of relevant legal experience, plus one year felony criminal litigation experience.
- Knowledge of the Oregon Criminal Code, sentencing guidelines, and civil procedure.
- Experience with Outlook, DA case management systems, and courtroom presentations.
- Ability to supervise law school interns.
Responsibilities
- Handle cases from review through charging, trial and sentencing.
- Develop expertise in areas of interest and take on challenging cases.
- Exercise autonomy in charging decisions and case resolution.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
- Deputy District Attorney 2: $107,278 – $146,288
- Deputy District Attorney 1: $96,194 – $131,175
If you wake up every morning with a desire to do the right thing for the right reason, the Benton County District Attorney’s Office is where you should be. As a Deputy District Attorney (DDA), you will protect victims’ rights, promote community safety, hold offenders accountable, and work to protect the constitutional rights of all in the system. You will have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of others. Your case load will be based upon your demonstrated experience and skill set, but as you progress, you can expect to be assigned an increasingly complex and challenging case load.
Applications that are submitted after this date may or may not be considered for interviews. The posting may close without notice after the first review date when a sufficient number of qualified candidates are received.
Our DDA team is composed of up to 12 prosecutors, with a range of experience from 2 to 24 years. Maintaining a high level of skill and professionalism is essential. However, equally important to us is having a team who supports one another, meshes well, and believes in the hard work we do. We emphasize an open-door policy, where each DDA as well as our elected will be available to assist and support you at all times; whether it is learning the practices of a new jurisdiction or providing feedback as you prepare for motions or trials in major cases, we will help you succeed.
You will be supported by some of the best, brightest and most seasoned prosecutors in the State of Oregon. You will have true and trusted mentors who will help you to be your best; you will have the opportunity to mentor and support DDAs with less or different experience than yourself. Every year we send most of our DDAs to the ODAA summer conference as a team. We will also provide opportunities for additional training in line with your areas of interest.
We use a vertical prosecution model, where each DDA handles their cases from review and charging through trial and sentencing. You will be encouraged to take on more challenging cases as you advance in skill and experience. We provide our DDAs with a broad range of case assignments, but we will encourage you to develop an expertise in your particular areas of interest. As a deputy district attorney, we will expect you to exercise a fair amount of autonomy regarding your cases, including making charging decisions, or in resolving or trying cases by “seeking justice through the truth” (our motto).
Your application will be used to determine salary placement based on a pay equity assessment. Please ensure you have provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. For further information, Oregon Pay Equity Law for more details.
- Deputy District Attorney 2: $107,278 – $146,288
- Deputy District Attorney 1: $96,194 – $131,175
You will be eligible to receive a salary raise at 6 months, then again at 12 months, as long as your performance is in good standing!
- See Salary Schedules – Benton County Human Resources, Oregon
- Click on Management and Non-Represented tab
- A minimum of three (3) years of relevant legal experience, and one (1) year of felony criminal litigation experience, or equivalent relevant experience in complex litigation.
- Strong knowledge of criminal law and the practices and procedures of criminal prosecution, as well as knowledge of the Oregon Criminal Code, Oregon Sentencing Guidelines, courtroom trial procedure, trial tactics, and Oregon and Federal Civil procedure.
- Experience and competency using Outlook word, DA, Case Management systems (e.g., PbK), e-Court ODYSSEY (or equivalent), PowerPoint, and courtroom computer presentations (e.g., PowerPoints, ELMO).
- Demonstrated competency in all aspects of the duties and responsibilities to a Deputy District Attorney 1.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise law school interns.
- Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law
- Active member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar by time of hire
- PLEASE NOTE: A Cover Letter is required for this application.
- Must have or obtain a valid Oregon Driver’s License within the first 30 days of hire (travel required). Must maintain a good driving record, and the use of a personal vehicle.
- Benton County residency is not required. However, due to the nature of the work, must live within a commute of 60 minutes from the Benton County Courthouse (a reasonable transition period will be allowed).
- Successful completion of a criminal background investigation.
- Ongoing compliance with all Federal, State and Local statutes.
- Will be a competent trial attorney, who enjoys trying cases to the court or jury.
- Have an interest in becoming a career criminal prosecutor.
- Have experience and competency using Outlook and Word.
- Have the ability to use, or quickly learn to use, the case management system, Prosecutor by Karpel (PBK).
- Enjoy working in a friendly, fun and hard-working group.
Applicants who can meet the minimum qualifications for the Deputy District Attorney 2 within one year or less of are encouraged to apply as “underfill” candidates. Applicants who do not meet the requirements for the underfill option may be considered for the lower-level option of Deputy District Attorney 1.
Click here (Download PDF reader) for a complete list of the duties, responsibilities and physical requirements for Deputy District Attorney 2
Click here (Download PDF reader) for a complete list of the duties, responsibilities and physical requirements for Deputy District Attorney 1
Being a part of Benton County means you will be surrounded by highly educated neighbors and colleagues, with college-town amenities and resources. Our jury pools are often comprised of professors, engineers, and even rocket scientists!
Living and working in the heart of the Willamette Valley offers unparalleled access to the great outdoors. The courthouse is located less than a mile from the Willamette River with excellent fishing and recreational activities. The beautiful Oregon coast is just over an hour away and has plenty of options for fantastic day trips to the beach, surfing, and hiking. You will also have easy access to the Coastal and Cascade mountain ranges for hiking, backpacking, and famous mountain biking trails. In the winter, several ski resorts are available to enjoy your weekends year-round.
- 11 Paid Holidays + 64 Personal Leave Hours + 2 Floating Holidays + 8 hours of vacation accrual every month + sick leave. Vacation accrual increases with years of service.
- Medical, Dental and Vision – cover your eligible family members without additional premium.
- In addition, the County contributes up to $1,900 per year to your Health Savings or Reimbursement account, depending on plan and personal contributions.
- Apart from your deductible you can use this money for things that aren’t traditionally paid by insurance – i.e. Ibuprofen, Tylenol and other preventative type medications
- You never lose your Health Savings Account funds as it rolls over from year to year
- Dependents up to age 26 are covered.
- After 6 months of employment:
- The County makes a retirement contribution of 6% of your salary towards Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)!
- Deputy District Attorneys fall under the enhanced PERS designation of Police and Fire.
- The County makes a deferred compensation 457b plan contribution of 1.5% of your salary! You can add more if you wish.
- Loan Forgiveness eligibility
- The office covers your bar dues and continuing legal education expenses. We provide opportunities for specialized trainings that fit with the areas of prosecution in which you demonstrate an interest.
- Interactive and personalized approach focused on your whole health
- Onsite and virtual seminars, wellness challenges and fun activities
- Monetary incentives and cool prizes to engage everyone and meet your individual needs
- Supplemental plans are available at reasonable rates.
Reach out to us anytime: recruiting@bentoncountyor.gov
- This is a FLSA exempt position.
- This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions at either level.
- This position requires driving and may require use of a personal vehicle.
- Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.
- Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans’ preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veteran’s Resources.
- NOTE: If claiming veterans’ preference please be sure to attach your DD214 or Disability letter from the VA.
- Benton County does not offer VISA sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. Benton County will review these documents to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
- If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and will be requesting accommodation, please contact the Benton County Human Resources Department by calling 541-766-6081.
Learn more about Benton County Understanding the County Application Process Job Interest Cards webpage For more information you may contact us by e‑mail atrecruiting@co.benton.or.usor by phone at 541-766-6081.
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