Senior Deputy District Attorney (Criminal Division)

This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position with the Carson City District Attorney's Office, located in Carson City, Nevada. Depending on qualifications this recruitment is open to hire a Deputy District Attorney or Senior Deputy District Attorney within the Criminal Division. Under the direction of the District Attorney,  Assistant District Attorney, or Chief Deputy District Attorney, the Senior Deputy District Attorney performs a variety of professional legal work in the District Attorney’s Office, including criminal, juvenile and civil matters; develops, prepares and presents cases requiring court and/or administrative tribunal appearances and/or appellate work; represents the State or City in criminal or enforcement proceedings; represents the State in juvenile delinquency proceedings and the interest of the public in NRS 432B proceedings; serves as legal counsel to the City and its departments and boards; and performs related work as required.  
 
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This is the second level in the Deputy District Attorney series.  Incumbents are expected to perform a wide range of the regular legal assignments performed in the District Attorney’s Office.  It differs from the Deputy District Attorney classification in that the assignment of matters  are more complex and require more experience and knowledge.  The Senior Deputy District Attorney is the highest classification that can be achieved without supervisory or administrative responsibility.

This class specification lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive.  Incumbent(s) may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills.
 
Criminal Division:

• Prepares and presents criminal cases from inception through disposition in the trial court, post-conviction proceedings, and through appeal.  
• Performs research, interprets cases, statutes and ordinances, drafts pleadings, interviews witnesses, presents arguments and evidence in court and plea negotiations, and drafts appellate briefs.  
• Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the division’s services by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team.  
• May drive a personal or City vehicle in the course of the work to off-site locations in order to attend meetings and conduct other legal business.  
• Demonstrates courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with clients, public, and staff.  
• Acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace.

• Serves as in-house legal counsel by providing legal representation to the City and its departments, boards and commissions that encompass a wide variety of civil matters involving state and federal law.  
• Assists the Assistant District Attorney in drafting and amending Carson City Municipal Code provisions.  
• Provides trainings to City departments, boards and commissions concerning legal matters such as Nevada’s open meeting law. 
• Interviews and advises clients, prepares and presents evidence and legal arguments, conducts legal research, analyzes and interprets cases, statutes and ordinances.
• Drafts memoranda, ordinances, resolutions and other legislative measures. 
• Confers with investigators regarding the collection of facts and evidence.
• Presents evidence and arguments before tribunals and mediators. 
• Reviews contracts and represents the City in labor negotiations and disputes.        
• May represent the City in traffic matters.  
• Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the division’s services to its customers by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team.  
• May drive a personal or City vehicle in the course of the work to off-site locations in order to attend meetings and conduct other legal business.  
• Demonstrates courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with clients, public, and staff.  
• Acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace.

• Prepares and presents juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency matters from inception through disposition in the trial court and on appeal.
• Performs research, interprets cases, statutes and ordinances, drafts pleadings, interviews witness, presents arguments and evidence in court, negotiates case resolutions and drafts appellate briefs.
• Confers with and advises City officials, employees, and representatives on legal issues and questions; monitors legal developments and makes recommendations for appropriate changes in procedure.
• Provides on-call assistance to law enforcement and/or Division of Child and Family Services on an as needed basis or as assigned.
• Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the division’s services by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team.
• May drive a personal or City vehicle in the course of the work to offsite locations in order to attend hearings, meetings or conduct other legal business.
• Demonstrates courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with clients, public and staff.
• Acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
 
Education and Experience:
Juris Doctorate or equivalent degree from an accredited law school AND three to five years’ experience as a practicing attorney in the District Attorney’s Office. Must be Admitted to practice law in Nevada OR must 1) obtain temporary certification to practice in Nevada pursuant to 49.1 within two months from hire date; 2) maintain eligibility to practice law in Nevada pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 49.1 until admitted to the bar; and 3) be admitted to practice law in Nevada within two years of hire date.
 
Required Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

• Valid driver’s license

• Judicial procedure and rules of evidence; applicable laws, codes and regulations.
• Computer applications particularly as related to the performance of legal research.
• Techniques for dealing with individuals from various socio-economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, in person and over the telephone, often where relations may be confrontational or strained.
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.

• Applying legal principles to individual cases or problems.
• Presenting facts, evidence and precedents in the form of oral arguments, briefs, opinions, orders or decisions.
• Understanding and interpreting constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations and precedents.
• Researching, interpreting, applying, and explaining applicable laws, codes, regulations and court decisions.
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Maintaining accurate records of work performed.
• Compiling and summarizing information and preparing periodic or special reports related to the work of the court or department to which assigned.
• Organizing own work, setting priorities and meeting critical deadlines.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
 

1. Unclassified employees are “At Will” and as such, may be terminated at any time for any reason, or no reason.

1. Continued employment is contingent upon all required licenses and certificates being maintained in active status without suspension or revocation.

1. Any City employee may be required to stay at or return to work during emergencies to perform duties specific to this classification or to perform other duties as requested in an assigned response position. This may require working a non-traditional work schedule or working outside normal assigned duties during the incident and/or emergency.

1. Employees may be required to complete Incident Command System training as a condition of continuing employment.

1. New employees are required to submit to a fingerprint-based background investigation and a drug screen.  Employment is contingent upon passing the background and the drug screen.

1. Carson City participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.   All candidates who are offered employment with Carson City must complete Section 1 of the Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity prior to starting employment.  Please be prepared to provide required documentation as soon as possible after the job offer is made.  For additional information regarding acceptable documents for this purpose, please contact Human Resources at 775.887.2103 or go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web page at www.uscis.gov.

1. Carson City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.