Deputy Prosecuting Attorney - District Court Filing Unit (Term-Limited)

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 154,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telecommuting allowed weekly

Laptop provided

Robust benefits package

Job summary

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is seeking Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys to join the District Court Unit on a 12‑month term. Responsibilities include reviewing police reports, applying RCWs and filing standards to determine charges, and creating detailed notes for potential arguments.

You must be WA State Bar qualified and reside in Washington, near King County facilities. Roles are primarily in-person with some telecommuting flexibility; candidates should be prepared to work at

Qualifications

• Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills.
• Strong work ethic and teamwork ability.
• Commitment to race, equity and social justice including cultural competency.
• Willingness to learn trial skills and adapt.
• Ability to accept feedback and coaching.
• Must be Washington State Bar qualified.

Responsibilities

• Review police reports and apply RCWs, case law and filing standards to determine charges.
• Exercise sound judgement in deciding which cases/charges to file.
• Assess bail or warrant-related filings and document rationale.
• Create detailed filing notes outlining facts and evidentiary issues.
• Identify missing evidence to request at filing; meet constitutional timelines.
• May cover court calendars at Seattle, Kent or Redmond courthouses.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Teamwork

Race equity

Trial skills

Bar admission WA

Education

Washington State Bar admitted

Job description

About the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

• We exercise the power given to us by the people with fairness and humility.
• We serve our diverse community, support victims and families, and hold individuals accountable.
• We develop innovative and collaborative solutions for King County and the State of Washington.

Our office is composed of six divisions that are further organized into specialized units:

We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce that reflects the community that we serve. It is essential to our mission that we create and maintain an office that is diverse and inclusive. All PAO employees are expected to participate in PAO equity work and attend equity trainings and discussions. PAO employees are expected to comply with equity and social justice principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.

To learn more about the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO), please visit our

Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys (DPAs) cover work at courthouses in Seattle, Kent and Redmond. All deputies are expected to be able to work at any of those locations. The starting location will be in Seattle.

Attorneys hired into these roles are primarily assigned to work in our District Court Unit handling gross misdemeanor cases. Core business hours are 8:30-4:30, with the occasional weekend or holiday calendar coverage required. The main responsibility for this role is to be part of the District Court Unit Filing team which includes the following responsibilities:

• Review police reports referred for potential charges, applying knowledge of the applicable RCWs, relevant case law and internal filing standards in order to make a well-reasoned determination if a charge can or should be filed.
• Exercise good judgement and discretion while deciding what cases/charges to file.
• Exercise good judgement as it relates to bail or filing cases on warrant.
• Create detailed filing notes that outline facts, spot evidentiary issues and anticipate legal arguments made by defense.
• Identify missing or additional pieces of evidence which should be requested at the filing stage.
• Timely make filing decisions to avoid excessive backlog and meet constitutional requirements for individuals in custody on the investigation calendar.
• Court Calendar coverage may be required in order to meet court obligations in either Seattle, Kent or Redmond Courthouses.

Term-Limited DPA contracts last 12 months (with the possibility of extension) and enjoy the same robust benefits package as non-contract employees. These positions are represented by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Association.

These positions are primarily in-person with some ability to telecommute each week as business needs allow, subject to a telecommuting agreement. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

• Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to working effectively in a team environment.
• Strong commitment to race, equity, and social justice issues, including working on personal cultural competency.
• Passion and eagerness to learn trial skills.
• Strong ability to accept feedback and coaching, and to implement it into practice.
• Must be Washington State Bar qualified.

Special Requirements

• Member in good standing with the Washington State Bar.
• Able to work at any of our three locations (Seattle, Kent, Redmond).
• Must submit to a criminal history check, which will include fingerprinting.

Salary

$92,770 - $153,722 annually commensurate with experience

The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is dedicated to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.