Assistant City Prosecutor

Job Description Summary

Essential Functions

This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the position. The following functions do not identify all duties performed by the incumbent. Other duties and responsibilities will be performed as assigned.

• Initiates criminal, city code, or probation violation charges; reviews investigations from various law enforcement agencies for legal and factual sufficiency; confirms that cases are misdemeanor-appropriate and not felony-eligible; performs legal research and writes legal memorandums documenting reasons for case dispositions; notifies victims of criminal charges, their rights, and educate victims on the criminal justice system; prepares and files charging documents with the court; and ensures proper service of summons/petitions and the issuance of warrants.
• Reviews/prepares cases for arraignments, pre-trial conferences, and probation violation; reviews investigations for legal and factual sufficiency; formulates plea offers; prepares any amendments or allegations; contacts victims, explains victims’ rights and gathers input for possible plea offers; works with victims and victim advocates to ensure that victims’ rights are recognized and followed; corresponds with witnesses and defense bar; and monitors probation cases.
• Conducts arraignments and pre-trial conferences; presents arguments and sentencing recommendations to the court; makes recommendations for conditions of release; negotiates plea agreements; and ensures defendants understand their legal rights and alternatives.
• Prepares cases for trial/restitution/sentencing/probation hearings; subpoenas witnesses; obtains and evaluates physical evidence; discusses case and trial procedure/strategy with victims, law/code enforcement, and witnesses; interviews defense witnesses; prepares a theory or theme for the case and anticipates legal problems or objections and performs legal research when necessary; files appropriate pre-trial motions if applicable.
• Conducts bench trials, jury trials, and probation violation hearings; litigates cases; ensures a proper legal record; and advocates for victim rights.
• Possesses the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment as well as effectively collaborate with a team-oriented office
• Researches legal motions, appeals, special actions, and petitions for review in response to defense or in support of the State’s position; writes legal motions, appeals, special actions, and petitions for review; and presents oral arguments to Municipal, Superior, Court of Appeals, and Arizona Supreme Courts.
• Attends law/code enforcement meetings; advises law/code enforcement of new laws, cases, and legal challenges; prepares advisory legal memorandums for law/code enforcement; advises law/code enforcement regarding alternative methods and procedures that would assist in successful prosecution; assists in the training of law/code enforcement officers; responds to law enforcement officers’ questions/concerns and explains legal reasoning regarding disposition of cases; and reviews legislation and determines how it will impact criminal/code prosecution.
• Participates in competency hearings; reviews mental health reports; prepares necessary legal motions; argues State’s legal position; and advocates for victim safety.

Requirements

• Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires specialized knowledge in a professional or technical field. Work requires professional level of knowledge of a discipline equivalent to that which is acquired in a Masters degree-level of study, P.E., Legal degree, CPA, etc. Appropriate certification may be required.
• Experience: Experience in the practice of Criminal Law preferred.
• Certifications and Other Requirements: Valid Driver’s License, Graduate of Law School, Licensed to practice law in Arizona.
• Reading: Work requires the ability to read legal statutes and ordinances, legal books, and memorandums.
• Math: Work requires the ability to perform general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Writing: Work requires the ability to write legal motions, appeals, special actions, and advisory memorandums.
• Managerial: Semi-Complex – Work requires the occasional direction of helpers, assistants, seasonal employees, interns, or temporary employees.
• Budget Responsibility: Has no budgetary responsibility.
• Policy/Decision Making: Moderate - The employee normally performs the duty assignment according to his or her own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance only when necessary. Projects and daily work are managed with little oversight; however special assignments and significant work products may be reviewed upon completion. Typically positions in this category are supervisor to mid-management jobs.
• Technical Skills: Broad Application - Work requires advanced skills and knowledge in approaches and systems, which affect the design and implementation of major programs, solutions for highly complex issues, and/or processes organization-wide. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills: High - Interactions at this level typically result in recommendations regarding policy development, changes in policy, and implementation of policies. Interactions at this level are typically concerned with providing communications at higher levels of organizational operations and may utilize activities such as evaluating customer satisfaction, developing cooperative associations, and allocating resources to improve work operations, work quality, overall achievement of organizational goals and objectives, and customer satisfaction.

12 Month Objectives