Temporary Deputy District Attorney - County Court

This posting has been re-opened and if you have already applied, you are still being considered and will not be able to apply to this posting again.

*PLEASE NOTE: This position is temporary and is ineligible for benefits.

Arapahoe County and the District Attorney's Office for the 18th Judicial District has an exciting opportunity for a Temporary Deputy District Attorney - County Court.

Are you passionate about seeking justice for victims of crime? Do you want to become a trial lawyer who strives for justice in the courtroom, day in and day out? Look no further than the Office of the 18th Judicial District Attorney, covering the south Denver Metropolitan Area and serving over a million Coloradans. We are Colorado's most diverse jurisdiction.

Our Jurisdiction - Explore All Colorado Has to Offer
We are perfectly situated to the east of the mountains and between Colorado's two largest cities. Directly to the north is Denver, offering nightlife, performing arts venues, and all 5 major professional sports teams. Directly to the west are the Rocky Mountains, home to world class ski resorts, hiking, mountain biking, and rafting. Directly to the south is Colorado Springs, home to the Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy, Olympic Training Center, and Pikes Peak.

Career Advancement - The Start of a Journey Fighting for Victims
Joining our team as a Deputy District Attorney in county court is the first step in a career as a prosecutor. We pride ourselves in our dedication to training and preparing our new Deputy District Attorneys to excel as trial attorneys, courtroom advocates, and most importantly, "ministers of justice."
Deputy District Attorneys in county court prosecute misdemeanor offenses such as assaults, child abuse, domestic violence, DUIs, and sex offenses.
After gaining experience and courtroom skills in county court, our Deputy District Attorneys have advancement opportunities into district court, where they handle all levels of felony offenses, from motor vehicle theft to murder.

We also offer promotional opportunities into many specialized prosecution units, allowing experienced Deputy District Attorneys to focus on and become experts in their chosen field. In addition to general misdemeanor, juvenile, and felony units, our office has units and teams of prosecutors dedicated to Appeals, Cold Cases, Domestic Violence, Economic Crimes, Elder and At-Risk Victims, Hate Crimes, Human Trafficking, Organized Crime, Problem Solving Courts, Special Victims, and Vehicular Homicides.

More Than Just a Workplace
Our office is more than just a place to work - it's a place you want to work. Just some of our office events are a yearly chili cook-off challenge, a cornhole tournament, and wildlife photo contest. We have an office softball and golf team. We hold an annual winter holiday party, trick-or-treat street, and frequent summer BBQs on our office grills.

Skills and Expertise - Learn from Experience
To be the best, you should learn from the best. Our office is staffed with experienced prosecutors who have tried some of the highest profile and most complex cases in Colorado history. You'll find our Chief and Senior Deputy District Attorneys teaching at law schools and both statewide and national conferences.

Our office strives to be at the forefront of prosecution. From leading the state in giving the public an unprecedented level of insight into our office with our data dashboards, solving decades old cold case murders through DNA analysis from our dedicated forensic crime lab, to solving crimes through digital data analysis of cellphones and geo-location analysis.

The following essential job functions and examples of duties are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive; positions assigned to this class may not perform all of the duties listed.

A Deputy District Attorney in county court handles a docket of traffic and misdemeanor cases. This includes initial and on-going case review, follow-up with law enforcement agencies, negotiations with defense counsel, meeting with witnesses and victims, preparing and conducting motions and trial.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Attributes:
This position involves the ability to gain extensive knowledge of state statutes, county ordinances, and constitutional / substantive case law related to motor vehicle, misdemeanor, and petty offense violations. A Deputy District Attorney in county court will gain extensive knowledge of the Colorado Criminal Code, the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, the Colorado Rules of Evidence, and the Colorado Victim Rights Act, which all apply to this assignment.
A Deputy District Attorney in county court advocates legal and factual scenarios in a clear and persuasive manner to judges and jurors. This position involves the ability to effectively process and dispose of a high volume of criminal case filings while maintaining a balance of equal justice between victims, the People of the State of Colorado, and affected defendants. The position also involves the ability to rapidly assess cases for strengths versus weaknesses and aggravators versus mitigators to determine just and ethical dispositions that are within policies promulgated by the elected District Attorney.

Candidates should have the capacity to recognize situations warranting potential policy/procedure exceptions, and the ability to effectively advocate for alternative resolutions. Applicants must be able to react quickly and appropriately in court to defense objections, oral motions, court inquiries and rulings, and presentations/responses from defense attorneys and witnesses. Candidates should demonstrate an aptitude for mastering software programs applicable to the assignment. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, defense attorneys, pro sedefendants, victims, witnesses, judges, court staff, law enforcement and related agencies' personnel, press/media reporters, and the general public is essential; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with same are also necessary for success in this role.

EDUCATION
: Graduation from law school as provided under Rule 205.1 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.

EXPERIENCE
: None

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
: Licensed or eligible for licensure to practice law in the State of Colorado and a valid driver's license. We accept applicants licensed to practice in other states who would be eligible to gain licensure in Colorado. We also accept applications and make contingent offers to strong candidates who are planning to take the Colorado Bar exam in the upcoming year.

SCOPE OF INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS
: Contacts are with supervisors, co-workers, defense attorneys, pro-sedefendants, victims, witnesses, judges, juries, court staff, law enforcement and related agencies' personnel, press / media reporters, and the general public and involve the giving and receiving of legal, factual, and theoretical information; explanations of complex legal theories, factual patterns, constitutional/statutory/ordinance/case law requirements, and interpretations to persons with widely varying levels of legal education and understanding are also required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
: Work is generally in a standard office and courthouse environment and requires no more than normal physical abilities. Some minimal lifting may be required.

** In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (i.e. uploading or attaching documents to your online application), call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627. Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt uploading (attaching) it.