Staff Attorney (Attorney II)

Assists the Department by prosecuting cases in Magistrate’s Court and attending preliminary hearings.  Also assists the General Counsel with other assigned tasks.  

• Manages assigned case load and resolves each case as appropriate through trial, plea, diversion program or dismissal. 
• Ensures compliance with victims’ rights.
• Reviews case files, including police reports, witness statements, results of forensic testing, etc.; interviews witnesses, including victims and law enforcement as to questions of fact; explains and reviews possible dispositions of each case with the victim; reviews crime scenes and physical evidence as appropriate; coordinates additional investigation and/or forensic testing as needed.
• Evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of each case, determining whether the case should be called for trial, whether a plea offer should be extended or whether the case should be referred to a diversionary program or dismissed.
• Prepares and reviews charging documents; reviews and provides discovery material to defense; prepares motions, orders, memorandums, and other legal documents as necessary.
• Disposes of cases through guilty plea by presenting factual basis for plea and serves as an advocate for the citizens of the state of South Carolina, victims and law enforcement; negotiates plea with defense attorney or pro se defendant to obtain the appropriate charge and sentence.
• Prepares cases for trial; develops strategy; designs and prepares exhibits; prepares witnesses for testimony; prepares openings, closings, direct and cross-examinations; determines legal issues; performs research, reviews relevant case law, statutory law and evidentiary and procedural rules; prepares arguments or memoranda as appropriate.
• Prepares witness and records subpoenas; performs legal research and drafting documents; studies applicable statutes, case law, and rules of court; writes legal motions, briefs, and court orders; consults expert witnesses, such as medical doctors, forensic psychiatrists, and forensic scientists.
• Conducts jury trials; presents evidence to the jury and trial judge through direct examination of witnesses and introduction of evidence; exposes bias or inconsistencies through cross-examination of defense witnesses; persuades jury with opening and closing statements; persuades judge through oral arguments.
• Provides assistance and advice to law enforcement, Magistrates, and other prosecutors.
• Represents the State in criminal appeals to the Circuit Court.  
• Assists with disposition of evidence.  

Supplemental Functions:

Education/Experience:

• Juris Doctorate; two (2) years of criminal litigation experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. 

Licensing and Certifications:

• Must possess and maintain membership in the South Carolina State Bar Association.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Knowledge of:

• Applicable law.
• Legal strategy.
• Rules of Court.
• Current principles and practices of criminal and civil law. 
• Courtroom/judicial procedures and processes. 
• Methods and techniques of legal research. 
• Established precedents, case law and sources of legal reference. 
• Functions and authorities of criminal justice organizations.
• Modern office practices and equipment, including the use of computers for word processing and records management.
• Proper English usage, vocabulary, punctuation and spelling; basic mathematics. 

Skills:

• Meeting deadlines. 
• Clearly articulate a point of law in a pressured environment.
• Written and verbal communications in-person, by phone and email.
• Interviewing individuals to ascertain information.
• Public speaking and persuasion.
• Reading and interpreting case law, statutes and ordinances.
• Attention to detail.
• Organizing, interpreting, and applying legal principles and knowledge to complex legal problems.

• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Positions in this class typically require fingering, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, walking, and repetitive motions.

The Lexington County Sheriff's Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.