Fall 2027 3L- Entry-Level Assistant District Attorney

Philadelphia District Attorney's Office; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PSLF Program-qualified

Comprehensive health coverage

Annual PTO 20 days, sick leave 15 days

Annual holidays 11

Wellness program

Commuter pre-tax

Flexible spending accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office seeks an attorney to prosecute in the Trial and Law Divisions, handling matters from municipal to major trials with opportunities to contribute to both appellate and civil work.

Candidates must have a JD from an accredited law school and be eligible to sit for the Pennsylvania bar. A demonstrated commitment to public service and a rigorous academic record are essential.

Qualifications

• All qualified candidates must have earned a J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Must sit and pass the Pennsylvania bar exam.
• Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to public service and a strong academic record.
• Ideal candidates will also possess a capacity for fairness and empathy, a strong work ethic, and an ability to manage a demanding workload.
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Attorneys completing judicial clerkships, including Federal District and Circuit Court clerkships, are also encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Municipal Court Unit: Oversee misdemeanor trials and preliminary hearings.
• Juvenile Court Unit: Manage delinquency hearings involving a range of charges, including serious felonies.
• Major Trials Unit: Begin working on felony waivers.

Skills

J.D. required

Pennsylvania Bar

Public service mindset

Strong academic record

Empathy

Work ethic

Problem-solving

Clerkships encouraged

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 700 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. Our Assistant District Attorneys are dedicated to public service, public safety, and justice for all involved in the criminal justice system.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, in particular, is committed to several citywide collaborations aimed at reducing Philadelphia’s jail population and improving the criminal justice system overall.

**Please note that effective September 1, 2021, the City of Philadelphia requires all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. **

To attain a job with the city, you must be a City of Philadelphia resident within 6 months (180 days) of hire and able to work completely in the office.

Summary of the Law Division

The Law Division consists of four units: Appeals, Civil Litigation, Federal Litigation, and Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRC). It includes the largest appellate litigation department in Pennsylvania, representing the Commonwealth at all levels of the appellate process. We handle over one thousand appeals annually.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Appeals Unit: Write briefs and argue before the appellate courts.
• Civil Litigation Unit: Practices litigation (including complex discovery), right-to-know law, contracts drafting, review, and negotiations, and employment law.
• Federal Litigation Unit: Litigate petitions for writs of habeas corpus filed in federal court by prisoners prosecuted by our office.
  • Magistrates and district court judges sometimes order evidentiary hearings or oral arguments in these cases, which are handled by the Assistant District Attorneys in that unit.
• Post-Conviction Relief Act: Review incoming Post-Conviction Relief Act petitions to determine whether to agree to some form of relief or to assign for the filing of a motion to dismiss.

Summary of the Trial Division

The Trial Division is responsible for prosecuting adults and juveniles charged with committing misdemeanor and felony crimes. It consists of the Municipal Court Unit, Juvenile Court Unit, the Major Trials Unit, and our specialized trial units: The Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit and the Homicide and Non-Fatal Shootings Unit.

An entry-level attorney in the Trial Division is first assigned to the Municipal Court Unit. Typically, after an initial period in the Municipal Court Unit, Assistant District Attorneys either move on to the Juvenile Court Unit or the Major Trials Unit. The progression from the initial assignment into other units is based on the needs of the office and on one’s demonstrated ability and work ethic. During the course of their first few years, Assistant District Attorneys can expect to be assigned to the Charging Unit for a six-month rotation at a minimum.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Municipal Court Unit: Oversee misdemeanor trials and preliminary hearings.
• Juvenile Court Unit: Manage delinquency hearings involving a range of charges, including serious felonies.
• Major Trials Unit: Begin working on felony waivers.

Skills & Qualifications

• All qualified candidates must have earned a J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Must sit and pass the Pennsylvania bar exam.
• Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to public service and a strong academic record.
• Ideal candidates will also possess a capacity for fairness and empathy, a strong work ethic, and an ability to manage a demanding workload.
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Attorneys completing judicial clerkships, including Federal District and Circuit Court clerkships, are also encouraged to apply.

This is an exempt employee with the City of Philadelphia. Immediately upon assuming office, the new hire will receive benefits similar to those of other City of Philadelphia employees, including the following benefits:

• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program-qualified employer
• We offer comprehensive health coverage (medical, vision, prescription, and dental) for employees and their eligible dependents
• Annual paid time off (PTO) package: 20 vacation days, 15 sick leave days, 11 paid holidays, 5 annual administrative leave
• Our wellness program offers eligibility for the discounted medical plan
• Before tax commuter program
• Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Sick leave bonuses and exchanges
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Applications will be active for one year from the date of receipt by the Office.

All exempt employees of the District Attorney’s Office are at-will employees and serve at the pleasure of the District Attorney. The at-will relationship shall not be modified for any employee, and no agreement, oral or written, shall be entered into that changes the at-will relationship.

** The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information, or domestic or sexual violence victim status. **