Deputy District Attorney I

Josephine County; Oregon; On-site; USD 82,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

AD&D

Long-term disability

PERS retirement

PTO 249 hrs/yr

Holidays

Job summary

The Josephine County District Attorney’s Office in Grants Pass, OR is seeking a Deputy District Attorney for a Regular Full-Time position. From day one, you will handle a range of criminal matters, including misdemeanors and irregular felonies, with courtroom advocacy and varied prosecutions.

Qualifications include graduation from an ABA-accredited law school and membership in good standing with the Oregon State Bar.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an ABA accredited school of law.
• Must be a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar.
• Some experience in a professional legal work preferred; may be satisfied by an internship/clerkship.

Responsibilities

• Initiates and prosecutes misdemeanor cases in District Court; handles irregular felonies; presents cases to Court or Jury.
• Reviews police reports; prepares for trials; conducts legal research; represents the State at sentencing.
• Maintains liaison with police and other agencies; participates in pretrial conferences.
• Provides off-hour on-call services and may participate in special prosecutions.
• Performs other duties as required.

Skills

Good communication skills

Education

ABA accredited law school

Oregon State Bar membership

Job description

Salary – $90,796 Annually Location – 500 NW 6th St, Grants Pass, OR

Job Type – Regular Full-Time Job Number – 26-044A

Department – District Attorney Opening Date – 04/08/2026

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Health Benefits: 7 health insurance plan options for the whole family, plus a free Employee Assistance Program

Insurance: Life, AD&D, and Long-Term Disability insurance coverage included

Retirement: PERS enrollment and 6% contributions from Josephine County (after 600 hours)

Time Off: PTO accrual of 249 hours/year for the first year, plus 12 paid Holidays

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Description

At this time, we are not participating in the SPPE program given our staffing levels and caseloads. For the right applicant, employment may be contingent on successful completion of the Oregon State Bar Exam.

Ready to jump start your legal career? Josephine County offers challenging cases from the beginning, that many do not get to experience for years. District Attorneys in Josephine County experience vertical prosecutions from the start: handle, negotiate, and try cases that you charge. Caseloads are varied and may include felonies from day one.

Unite this challenging career with the beauty and relaxed environment of Southern Oregon. The courthouse is in Grants Pass, the county seat of Josephine County. Here you will find yourself surrounded by mountains, rivers and lakes as well as all the amenities a county with the population of 86,000 can provide. Venturing out of the valley you will discover Crater Lake, the Redwoods and the Oregon Coast are just a day trip away. Less rain and more sun mean there is never a shortage of activities all year long.

Applicant will be a Graduate from an ABA accredited school of law and must be a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar.

Participates in the daily preparation and presentation of criminal prosecution proceedings on behalf of Josephine County. Performs work of moderate difficulty and beginning level professional legal work in the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office. Conducts legal research and represents the District Attorney in the less complex, more routine legal assignments. Generally, employees in this category are considered to be in a professional training status. All work is performed under the professional direction of the District Attorney, or a higher-level Deputy District Attorney who reviews work primarily through results attained. Serves as a confidential employee and carries out the policies of the District Attorney. Assists the District Attorney in the administration and direction of the activities of the office of the District Attorney. Performs other work as required.

1. Initiates and prosecutes misdemeanor cases in District Court. Irregular felony work. Reviews police reports and makes initial charging decisions. Presents cases to Court or Jury. May prepare cases for, and present matters to, Grand Jury. Performs legal research. Prepares and argues pretrial motions and probation violations. Represents the State at sentencing and makes appropriate recommendations. Consults with and advises police agencies in the course of investigations. Prepares for trials, including contacting witnesses and reviewing cases, and attending pre-trial conferences. Participates in trial team review.
2. Initiates and prosecutes probation violations and revocations arising out of criminal convictions and violations of diversion agreements. Assists law enforcement agencies in the application for arrest and search warrants. May be involved as a liaison between the District Attorney’s Office and various law enforcement agencies or community groups. May enforce city and county ordinances.
3. May perform prosecution duties related to support enforcement and child dependency cases.
4. May provide liaison between the District Attorney’s Office and outside agencies when the District Attorney is unavailable.
5. May assist the District Attorney in the preparation of office policies and procedures.
6. Provides, on emergency or a scheduled basis, off-hour, and on-call services to police agencies requiring assistance during nights or weekends.
7. May be responsible for special prosecutions and research projects.
8. May be responsible for juvenile prosecutions and mental commitments.
9. May participate in trial team reviews. Attends pretrial conferences.
10. May be involved in job-related civic and educational activities.
11. Performs other duties and related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Basic knowledge of criminal law and the practices and procedures relating to criminal prosecutions. Basic knowledge of courtroom and trial procedures and rules of evidence. Ability to analyze facts, evidence and precedents, and to arrive at logical conclusions. Good communication skills. Basic knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, practices and references utilized in legal research. Ability to present and argue cases in court and handle unanticipated situations smoothly. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with office staff, court personnel, county officials, law enforcement agencies, and the general public. Must exercise good judgment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an ABA accredited school of law; Must be a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar; Some experience in a professional legal work preferred; may be satisfied by participation in an internship/clerkship program with a law firm or organization engaged in the practice of criminal law.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Must be a member in good standing with the Oregon State Bar. Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon Driver’s License; safe driving record.

JOB CONTACTS

This position requires working relationships with victims, police officers, fellow district attorneys from both within and outside the office, members of the defense bar, jurors, witnesses, multi-disciplinary team members, related sister agencies such as the Juvenile Department, DHS, and Options (mental health). Each attorney must also be a member of the Oregon State Bar and engage in continuing education during their tenure on the job.

REASONING ABILITIES

Ability to define issues and thoroughly research both statutory and precedential interpretations of law. Ability to form logical and persuasive arguments regarding the correct interpretation of law and application of law to facts.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Deputy district attorney work is performed primarily in an office environment though courtroom appearances and advocacy are a regular part of the DDA’s workday. The DDA may also consult and train at sister agency’s facilities. A timed pressure environment is the norm where multi-tasking is required. The position is impacted by the necessity of meeting timelines established by law, uncontrollable workflow, the need to make immediate decisions, and uncontrollable interruptions. The position is on a rotating on-call schedule wherein the DDA takes all emergency calls outside of the workday for a week at a time.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Those employed in this position may be subject to pre-employment drug testing/physical examination and a background investigation, including criminal background investigation. Conviction of a crime will not necessarily disqualify an individual for this classification. Must pass and maintain Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) security clearance.

For benefit questions please visit:

NU Rates and Overview

For questions contact:

Josephine County Human Resources

[e-mail]

[phone] ext. 3218