ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY - Arlington County, VA

Job Details

Salary: See Position Description

Location : Arlington, VA

Job Type: Full-Time Permanent

Job Number: 9603-24B-CWA-HQ

Department: Commonwealth's Attorney

Division: CWA Commonwealth's Attorney

Opening Date: 02/09/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

Position Information

A career in prosecution is designed for attorneys dedicated to public service and who are committed to the ideals of public safety and justice. The Commonwealth's Attorney Office is committed to transformative justice in the promotion of effective and evidence-based diversion programs, racial justice, and victim services. Working in a major metropolitan area's prosecutor's office including 20 attorneys and 20 support staff, offers an attorney a broad spectrum of experience and provides ample opportunities for collaboration, discussion, and comradery. The crimes prosecuted range from DUI to aggravated assaults, complex fraud investigations, rapes, and murders. The Office is responsible for both adult and juvenile prosecutions.

This announcement is for Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney I, II and III, and the main duties for both positions include:

Preparing for and prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases;
Identifying appropriate cases for diversion programs and specialty courts;
Establishing and maintaining relationships with multiple law enforcement agencies, the community and non-profits by attending community events and participating in Community Advisory Board;
Serving as liaison between Office and law enforcement and system partners by providing support role to law enforcement in the investigation of crimes;
Preparing and providing discovery and other documents;
Reviewing and redacting body worn camera footage;
Preparing and arguing bond motions;
Researching, preparing, and litigating various pre-trial motions;
Conducting preliminary hearings;
Negotiating case dispositions;
Conducting both bench and jury trials; and
Providing victim support and coordinating with the victim witness team.
Participating in development of intern programs; and
Other job-related duties as assigned.

In addition to the duties listed above the specific duties for an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney II include:

Participating in training programs for less experienced attorneys;
Assisting in training of law enforcement on legal issues; and
Preparing legislative updates for Office and law enforcement agencies.

The Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney III is a senior level trial lawyer responsible for independently prosecuting complex, serious, and/or sensitive criminal cases, and their duties include:

Determining the method of prosecution, including potential case negotiations, plea agreements, and sentencing requests;
Preparing for court by researching legal issues, reviewing facts, studying scientific reports, and interviewing witnesses;
Preparing related papers including appellate briefs;
Maintaining contact with the public and with those involved in the case; and
Performing training and mentoring duties.

Selection Criteria

Minimum for the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney I, II and III:

Completion of the requirements for graduation with a JD in law from an accredited college or university, and membership in the Virginia State Bar or eligible for waiver into the Virginia State Bar; and
One to three years' experience in law enforcement or courtroom experience, including legal research and writing. Experience prosecuting complex felony trials is helpful.

Additional requirements for the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney II:

Three years' experience in law enforcement or courtroom experience including trial, legal research, and clerk experience. Experience prosecuting complex felony trials is helpful; and
Extensive knowledge of Virginia law, including knowledge needed for and membership in the Virginia State Bar.

Additional requirements for the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney III:

Three years' experience in law enforcement or courtroom experience including trial experience with complex felony cases, legal research and legal writing; and
Extensive knowledge of Virginia law, including knowledge needed for and membership in the Virginia State Bar.

The ideal candidate for Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney I, II and III must have the following;

Reading comprehension to read complex legal materials;
Writing skills to compose and edit reports, proposals, procedures, policies, recommendations;
Interpersonal skills to resolve complaints, maintain liaison, and speak in public;
Problem solving skills to define problems and collect relevant information to prosecute cases successfully, including capacity to analyze and resolve complex issues; and
Extensive knowledge of Virginia law, rules of evidence, court rules and procedure, and U.S. Supreme Court rulings regarding criminal law and procedure.

Special Requirements

Please attach a resume to the on-line application and a cover letter (or provide your response in the supplemental question) that describes why you are interested in the position in Arlington. Be sure to detail your accomplishments in the areas outlined in the minimum and desirable qualifications to include: (a) your professional level experience as a practicing trial lawyer working in a courtroom setting or as a judicial clerk; (b) criminal trial prosecution experience; and/or (c) prosecuting complex, serious, and/or sensitive criminal misdemeanor and/or felony cases or other cases.

A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or willingness to use alternative modes of transportation. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. An offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

Additional Information

Work Hours: Full-time, Monday through Friday, flexible schedule with limited telework opportunities and flexibility for occasional evening and weekend hours as needed.

This position is part of a broad band, competency-based pay system. Starting salary within the band is based on a review of qualifications and experience. The pay band encompasses entry through senior-level work. Pay potential will be based on performance and employee development.

Commonwealth's Attorney III (senior level): $117,000.00 - $178,672.00 Annually
Commonwealth's Attorney II (journey level): $101,420.80 - $154,835.20 Annually
Commonwealth's Attorney I (entry-level): $79,539.20 - $121,451.20 Annually

THE OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER THAT IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our agency. We encourage all to apply and make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

NOTE: This position is listed as "open continuous." Interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed, and qualified applicants referred on a continuous basis. Interviews will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The application process will close when the position has been filled or when enough qualified applications have been received.

Please complete each section of the application. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions.

#LI-Onsite

Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) ###-#### or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.

The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-###-#### (voice) or email .

Eligibility for Arlington County Government employee benefits depends on your position type (permanent or temporary) and your status (full-time or part-time).

More detailed information on benefits and conditions of employment is available on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: www.arlingtonva.us/pers.

Permanent, Full-Time Appointments
All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available:

Paid Leave: Vacation leave is earned at the rate of five hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases gradually until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Paid parental and family leave benefits are also offered. Leave is pro-rated for part-time employees.

Holidays: There are eleven paid fixed holidays each year, as well as two floating holidays. Initial allotment of floating holidays may vary based on when you are hired.

Health and Dental Insurance: Four group health insurance plans are offered - a health maintenance organization, two plans with in-network only coverage, and a high-deductible plan with in and out-of-network coveerage, along with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Group dental insurance is also offered, with two options for coverage. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. The County also contributes to the HSA.

Life Insurance: Basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance may be purchased for yourself, spouse, and/or children.

Retirement: The County retirement program is made up of three parts: a defined benefit (pension) plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. The County also contributes to this plan. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service.

For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)). The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to save for retirement on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your pay. A variety of investment options are available for the 401(a) and 457 plans.

Other Benefits: The County also offers health care, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other benefits.

Permanent, Part-Time Appointments:
Part-time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week.

Limited Term Appointments:
Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status.

Temporary Regular Appointments:
Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:
Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.

01

Are you willing to complete a pre-hire background check as a condition of employment? It may include extensive checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

02

Do you have a Juris Doctor from an accredited school of law?

03

Are you an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar?

04

Please indicate the areas where you have experience as it relates to the qualifications for this position (check all that apply):

Practicing trial attorney working in a courtroom setting
Completion of a judicial clerkship
Prosecuting misdemeanor cases and/or traffic infractions
Criminal trial prosecution of misdemeanor cases
Criminal trial prosecution of felony cases
Handling complex, serious, and/or sensitive criminal and misdemeanor and/or felony cases
Using Prosecutor by Karpel or similar case-management software
Proficient speaking Spanish
Bilingual proficiency
None of the above

05

Indicate below the number of years of trial experience that you have handling complex, serious, and/or sensitive criminal felony and misdemeanor cases:

Less than 6 months
6 to less than 12 months
1 to less than 2 years
2 to less than 3 years
3 years or more
None

06

If you did not attach a cover letter, please describe why you are interested in the position in Arlington. Be sure to detail your accomplishments in the areas outlined in the minimum and desirable qualifications to include: (a) your professional level experience as a practicing trial lawyer working in a courtroom setting or as a judicial clerk; (b) criminal trial prosecution experience; and/or (c) prosecuting complex, serious, and/or sensitive criminal misdemeanor and/or felony cases or other cases.

Required Question

Arlington County, VA

04/30/2024

Arlington,VA