Senior Assistant Commonwealths Attorney

Senior Assistant Commonwealths Attorney

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Senior Assistant Commonwealths Attorney

Salary

$85,195.00 – $135,459.00 Annually

Location

Norfolk, VA

Job Type

Unclassified

Job Number

12476

Department

Commonwealths Attorney

Opening Date

09/24/2024

Closing Date

10/6/2024 11:59 PM Eastern

Description

Benefits

Questions

Description

Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi seeks one Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. This position is required to perform duties under the limited supervision of designated senior management. Requires extensive contact with the public, court officials, representatives of law enforcement and judicial agencies, victims, witnesses, as well as other public and private organizations. Requires continuing legal education. Requires extensive research and analysis requiring hours beyond the normal 40-hour work week. Requires some evening meetings. This is an exempt position.

Norfolk is a jurisdiction of 40 prosecutors and 45 staff, with a very busy caseload and significant violent crime. The office prosecutes all felony cases and selected misdemeanors, including domestic-violence, stalking, intoxicated driving, and firearms offenses. Prosecutors handle nearly all of their cases vertically. The office believes in data-driven, evidence-based processes that promote accountability for violent crime and opportunities in other cases for rehabilitation, diversion, and restoration where possible. The lawyers in the office must adhere to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Plea Philosophy, Policies, and Procedures. Deputies serve as liaisons with the Norfolk Police Department and other law-enforcement agencies to share criminal intelligence and maximize the Office’s ability to address violent and problematic actors on an individualized basis.

The Office’s seven Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys are divided among the two precinct-prosecution teams and the Juvenile Court Team. Senior Assistants serve as career trial lawyers, carrying heavy caseloads of serious and high-profile matters, including multiple homicide cases. Senior Assistants should have first-chair experience in homicide jury trials and should be able to handle these cases with a minimal degree of day-to-day supervision. Senior Assistants serve as role models and mentors for Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys and participate in training and professional development for newer lawyers. Senior Assistants will also respond to selected homicide scenes and attend community events as necessary.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney will consider external and internal candidates for this position. Should the Commonwealth’s Attorney promote an internal candidate, the Commonwealth’s Attorney will consider external candidates for a position as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney III.

Department Hiring Salary: $126,660

Essential Functions

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

Considerable experience in preparing cases for trial by reviewing case reports, identifying the relevant facts of the case, contacting necessary witnesses for interviews, reviewing relevant state law and anticipating possible defenses. Case preparation includes conferring with supervisor when necessary and following office procedures including the “Plea Agreement Policy.”

Establishes rapport with victims and witnesses by explaining the process of testifying, reviewing possible questions, informing them about court procedures, and advising them about changes in the case prosecution and court dates. Coordinates with Victim- Witness Advocates when necessary for travel arrangements. Complies with the Victims Rights Act regarding witness communication, safety and confidentiality. Has considerable experience in handling uncooperative witnesses, co-defendant witnesses and other inmate witnesses.

Competently and thoroughly responds to discovery requests by preparing written responses for defense attorneys which include defendants statements and a record of defendants prior convictions. Complies with the ongoing discovery obligations during a case in accordance with the Virginia Code and the Rules of the Virginia Supreme Court, as well as compliance with state and federal constitutional requirements.

Competently uses Motions in Limine to address discovery and/or evidentiary issues before trial.

Easily performs case evaluation and plea negotiations. Considerable experience in negotiating plea agreements with opposing counsel, calculating sentencing guidelines, drafting plea agreements, making bond arrangements when necessary, and performing other tasks to resolve the case. Coordinates with “alternative” and/or “community courts” as appropriate.

Competently conducts preliminary hearings in General District Courts and Juvenile Courts, and certain misdemeanor trials in both courts. In Juvenile Court conducts transfer and certification hearings. Complies with office policies regarding file documentation after District Court, preparation of documents for Grand Jury, and scheduling of cases for trial in Circuit Court.

Considerable experience in presenting cases in Circuit Court by preparing opening and closing statements, performing direct and cross-examinations, making and responding to objections, explaining complex legal concepts and presenting evidence and arguments at trial and at sentencing. Coordinates with Victim-Witness advocates regarding victim testimony or impact statements at sentencing. Also handles pre-trial and post-trial motions.

Handles more complex cases including multi-day juries.

Is expected to work independently and with less supervision than Assistant Commonwealths Attorneys.

May serve as a mentor for younger attorneys.

Will serve as a “second chair” on juries with younger attorneys to assist them in training.

May be called on to conduct training with local law enforcement or other professional witnesses such as child abuse counselors, SANE nurses, etc. Is expected to become proficient with law and rules of evidence relevant to such training.

Keeps supervisors and the offices communications director apprised of “high profile” or difficult cases.

Efficiently manages caseloads by keeping files updated, documenting additional facts and evidence after hearings, ensuring all changes are made properly. Compliance with office and team policies regarding the conclusion of cases and closing files. Should have established time-management procedures in place for his or her own case work and scheduling.

Maintains knowledge of current case law and rules of evidence by researching pertinent topics, reviewing other Attorneys briefs, reading the Virginia Rules of Evidence and attending training sessions. Must comply with Virginia State Bars CLE requirements.

Assists with in-office training as required and prepares training materials for use by colleagues.

Effectively manages appeals from lower courts by filling out any necessary paperwork, scheduling court dates and completing all necessary steps in accordance with the law. Prepares Briefs in Opposition as required when cases are appealed to Court of Appeals and/or Supreme Court. Complies with all filing deadlines.

Always conducts his or herself in a professional manner. Complies with office confidentiality procedures.

Engages in community and/or civic events which support Ability to manage a heavy caseload of serious matters.

Education/Experience

Required:

Graduation from an accredited law school with an LLB or JD degree and licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Active membership in good standing in the Virginia State Bar.

Minimum of eight years of prior prosecution experience, including substantial jury experience in the prosecution of homicides, complex white-collar crimes, or equivalent matters sufficient to allow for the first-chair prosecution of murder cases under minimal supervision.

Must successfully pass a background check related to this position. Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record based on the City of Norfolk’s criteria.

Preferred:

Prior experience as a public defender, criminal-defense lawyer, public interest lawyer, innocence lawyer, probation officer, police officer, or federal/state judicial law clerk preferred but not required.

Prior experience with Prosecutor by Karpel, evidence.com, or other case management or digital-evidence management systems a plus.

Additional Information & Requirements

Working Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.

Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.

Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.

Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of “Non-City” are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.

01

The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer “see resume” or “see application” as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

Yes – I am a current City of Norfolk Employee

Yes – I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee

No – I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

03

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employees full name, department, and job title. If not, please indicate by typing “N/A.”

04

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Masters Degree or higher

05

I have graduated from an accredited law school with a LLB or JD degree and licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Yes

No

06

I currently have an active membership in good standing with the Virginia State Bar.

Yes

No

07

I have a minimum of eight (8) years professional prosecution experience. Your application must indicate where you gained this specific experience.

Yes

No

08

Please describe your experience supervising subordinates and working in a team environment.

09

Do you have a valid drivers license?

Yes

No

10

Do you have the legal right to work in the United States and, upon employment, can you provide documentation to verify this?

Yes

No

11

A conviction (felony or misdemeanor) does not necessarily eliminate you from employment consideration. A criminal background check is conducted on all new hires. Failure to disclose all criminal convictions may result in disqualification from employment consideration or may result in dismissal from City of Norfolk employment if you have been hired. The nature of the offense; the time that has passed since the offense, conduct and/or completion of the sentence; and the nature of the job sought may be taken into consideration. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor?

I have been convicted of a felony

I have been convicted of a misdemeanor

I have been convicted of a felony and a misdemeanor

I have not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor

12

If you answered yes to the previous question, please provide an explanation including the city, state, and date of the conviction. This excludes DUI (first offense) and minor traffic violations (such as speeding tickets).

13

Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.

14

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

I am not a Veteran

I am a Veteran

I am a Disabled Veteran

Required Question

Agency

City of Norfolk

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