Deputy District Attorney 1

Benton County, Oregon; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 96,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Retirement plan

Job summary

The Benton County District Attorney Department is seeking a Deputy District Attorney 1 to join our team in Oregon. You will advocate in court, protect victims’ rights, and uphold constitutional rights while promoting community safety and accountability.

This role emphasizes courtroom advocacy, ethical decision-making, and professional growth. Salary ranges from $96,194.59 to $131,175.20 annually with increases after 6 and 12 months, plus comprehensive benefits and support for career development.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and licensed Oregon State Bar in good standing by hire date or within six months if reciprocity applies.
• Must have or obtain a valid Oregon Driver’s License within the first 30 days of hire (travel required).
• Residence within 60 minutes from the Benton County Courthouse is required due to commute.
• Successful completion of a criminal background investigation.
• Ongoing compliance with all Federal, State and Local statutes.

Responsibilities

• Appear in court and try cases to the court or jury.
• Decide charges and determine appropriate plea offers to serve the community.
• Negotiate plea and handle trial preparation, witness prep and jury selection.
• Engage in a vertical prosecution model with case assignments and autonomy in charging decisions.

Skills

Outlook

Word

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD) and Oregon Bar in good standing

Tools

Outlook

Word

Job description

Job Summary

The Benton County District Attorney's Office is seeking a Deputy District Attorney 1to join our team.

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 DDA 1, you will protect victims’ rights, promote community safety, hold offenders accountable, and ensure the constitutional rights of all in the system. You will have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of others. Working as a prosecutor is more of a calling than a job. Law school was only the beginning.

Pay:

• Annual salary range of $96,194.59 - $131,175.20
• You will receive a salary increase at 6 months, then again at 12 months, as long as your performance is in good standing! If, for example, your starting pay is $96,194.59, your first raise will be to $100,567.17 and your second to $104,939.74. See DDA 1 Salary Schedules - Benton County Human Resources, Oregon (click on Management and Non-Represented tab)

What You will Learn:

You will quickly learn all the ins and outs of criminal law by taking on a variety of cases from the very beginning. In your first year, you will learn:

• How to navigate the court system: Some days you’ll be assigned the docket for all the cases coming before a judge that day. You will learn the nuances of working within the system efficiently and professionally as you represent the entire office.
• The influence of a prosecutor: You will review criminal cases, decide whether to charge and, if so, what charges are appropriate; decide what plea offer best serves the community and, when negotiations fail, how to win your case at trial.
• Plea negotiation with defense attorneys: You will become an expert in negotiation techniques, judgment, fairness and seeking “justice through the truth” (our motto!).
• The thrill of preparing for and conducting trials: You will experience firsthand the excitement and complexity of preparing for trial: witness preparation, jury selection and trial presentation, and helping the jury reach a just and appropriate verdict.

How We will Support You:

We will support you at every step. You’ll be mentored 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. We do not endorse a sink or swim environment. All of our DDAs and our elected have an open-door policy, and are there to teach, advise and cheer you on.

Our Prosecution Approach:

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 DDA, 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).

Click Here for a complete list of the duties, responsibilities and physical requirements of the District Attorney 1 position.

First review of applications will be on October 8 ,2026.

Applications submitted after this date may or may not be considered.

Please note that this recruitment may close at any time after the first review date.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Deputy District Attorney 1:

The following minimum qualifications are requiredfor this position:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law AND a licensed Oregon State Bar member in good standing by the time of hire OR within six months if the applicant is currently licensed in another state and would be seeking reciprocity.

Special Requirements

• A cover letter is required for the purposes of 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.

The Ideal Candidate

• Will enjoy appearing in court and trying cases to the court or jury.

• Have a knowledge or interest in criminal law/prosecution.
• 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.

Salary Placement

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, please click on the link Oregon Pay Equity Law for more details.

BENEFITS

Please note: If beginning employment as a Certified Law Student, and working less than 40 hours/week, you will be eligible for benefits based on a prorated formula.
Generous time off to maintain a healthy work-life balance!

• 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.

$0 Health Insurance Premium!

• Medical, Dental and Vision - cover your whole family without paying a dime.
• In addition, the county contributes up to $1,400 per year to your Health Savings or Retirement account!
  • 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!

Get ready for retirement. Generous employer paid contributions!

• After 6 months of employment:
  • The County makes a retirement contribution of 6% of your salary towards Oregon PERS!
    • Deputy District Attorneys fall under the enhanced PERS designation of Police and Fire.
  • The County makes a deferred compensation 457b plan contribution of 3% 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.

A free and award-winning wellness program

• 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!

100% employer-paid coverage for AD&D ($100,000), Life ($50,000), and Long-Term Disability coverage.

• Supplemental plans are available at reasonable rates.

Have benefits questions?

• Reach out to us anytime: [e-mail]

Questions regarding this position can be directed to

Kim McDermid, Executive Assistant

Benton County District Attorney Department

Telephone: [phone]

[e-mail]

Working and Living in Benton County

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 Wilmette 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.

All are Welcome

The strength of our organization lies in the diversity of our workforce and the varying perspectives and experiences our employees bring. We encourage all to apply!

Working at the Benton County District Attorney's Office

Benton County is an equal opportunity employer.

Living in Benton County

Helpful links and contact information

Learn more about

Benton County

Understanding the County Application Process

JobInterest Cards

webpage

For more information you may contact us by e-mail at

[e-mail]

or by phone at 541-766-6081.

Additional information

• This is a FLSA exempt position.
• This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions.
• 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: Veterans Resources. NOTE: If claiming veterans’ preference please be sure to attach your DD214 or Disability letter (if applicable) 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.