Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Special Assault Unit Lead - Juvenile Division

King County; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 123,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office invites applications for a seasoned attorney to serve as the Juvenile Division's lead SAU prosecutor during a two-year rotation in Seattle. You will mentor attorneys, handle juvenile sexual assault and related felonies from charging through trial, and work closely with law enforcement and victim advocates.

Expect in-person work with some telecommuting possibilities.

Qualifications

• Experience handling complex litigation, including pretrial motions, hearings and trial practice.
• Prior or current experience in a Sexual Assault Unit or comparable specialized prosecution assignment preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and provide leadership and mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead attorney for Sexual Assault Unit during a two-year rotation, guiding attorneys and staff.
• Prosecute juvenile sexual assault and other serious felony matters from charging to post-conviction proceedings.
• Collaborate with law enforcement, victim advocates, and community partners; manage case development and strategy.

Skills

SAU experience

Communication skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Litigation experience

Victim-centered approach

Juvenile justice interest

Job description

Our Juvenile Division is a national model in innovative, effective responses to youthful offending that seeks to hold youth accountable for their behavior, while affording them the chance to turn their lives around and be positive contributors to our community.

About the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Guided by our core values of Integrity, Compassion, Professionalism, and Leadership, our mission is to do Justice:

• 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 race, equity, and social justice principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.

Location

The Juvenile Division is located in the Clark Children & Family Justice Center in Seattle. These positions are primarily in-person with some ability to telecommute each week as business needs allow, subject to a telecommuting agreement. If a successful candidate is new to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, they may be required to work in office four days every week for six months. 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.

• Serve as the Juvenile Division's lead attorney for Sexual Assault Unit practice during a two-year rotation, providing guidance, mentorship, and subject matter expertise to attorneys and staff, including supervising and supporting attorneys in the handling of Sexual Assault Unit cases.
• Vertically manage and prosecute juvenile sexual assault cases and other serious felony matters from charging and case review through pretrial litigation, negotiation, trial, and post-conviction proceedings.
• Provide guidance on case development, charging decisions, investigative issues, discovery, defense interviews, and trial strategy in complex and sensitive cases.
• Collaborate with law enforcement, victim advocates, Child Advocacy Centers, and other community partners.
• Assist attorneys with complex legal issues and promote consistent application of best practices within the unit.
• Handle cases involving juveniles transferred to adult court, navigating the complexities of both juvenile and adult legal systems.
• Expand and maintain expertise in the Juvenile Justice Act and juvenile-specific legal issues, including custodial interrogation, sentencing standards, and restorative justice practices.
• Conduct thorough reviews of search warrants related to juvenile cases.
• Effectively file, negotiate, and try cases with professionalism and integrity.
• Provide regular calendar coverage, including occasional weekend coverage through telecommuting.

We are providing a courtesy link to the Rules of Professional Conduct for candidates to consider and review to ensure they are meeting any requirements, particularly for those who currently represent individuals in any King County-related matters. In the supplemental question section, please acknowledge you have reviewed this and that you’re aware of these obligations.

• Prior or current experience in a Sexual Assault Unit or comparable specialized prosecution assignment preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with crime victims, law enforcement, and multidisciplinary partners.
• Experience handling complex litigation, including pretrial motions, hearings and trial practice.
• Ability to work collaboratively with fellow attorneys and staff and provide leadership, mentorship and support to colleagues.
• Strong communication, organization, and judgment skills.
• Interest in juvenile justice and a desire to develop expertise in juvenile offender sentencing standards, alternatives to traditional prosecution, and restorative justice practices.
• Commitment to victim-centered approach and the mission of the Juvenile Division.

• We're looking for an experienced DPA who is looking for a change of scenery and an opportunity. 5 years of experience, including felony practice, some experience filing, negotiating and trying SAU cases is desired.

Salary

$122,671 - $174,028 annually commensurate with 5 - 20 years of experience.

Special Requirements

• Member in good standing with the Washington State Bar.
• Must submit to a criminal history check.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

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 race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. 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.