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Senior Assistant Commonwealth Attorney

Fairfax County Government
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Job Announcement

This is an exciting time to join the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, as the office embarks on the ambitious criminal justice reform agenda amidst the ongoing national conversation on race and the legacy of racism in the criminal justice system. After taking office in January 2020, Commonwealth’s Attorney Descano’s initiatives have included restructuring the office to produce accountability around reforms, issuing a comprehensive policy to address mass incarceration, and the formulation of a Justice Advisory Council, among others. His passion for reform and creating an atmosphere of diversity and fairness within the office has prompted the offices to seek team members with a passion for criminal justice reform and working to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in the local justice system. The office seeks to foster a culture of inclusion and diversity, with team members who are eager to take meaningful action to spearhead and institutionalize equity initiatives.

The Senior Assistant Commonwealth Attorney will be a member of the office’s leadership team and will be responsible for helping transform the office’s culture to orient around criminal justice reform and addressing racial disparities in the justice system. They will provide overall direction as first-line supervisors. They will also help implement policy directives set by the Commonwealth’s Attorney. In addition, they will prosecute criminal cases, and serve as a liaison to the other agencies involved in the criminal justice system. 

Will prepare and prosecute misdemeanor cases and felony cases, conduct legal research and argument for hearings, compose appellate briefs, advise local law enforcement agencies, and work closely with victim/witness advocates. Assigned a combination of cases, including misdemeanor offense at the General District Court level and more serious felony cases at the Circuit Court level. Depending on the level of experience, assignments generally include the prosecution of misdemeanor cases in General District Court (DUI, traffic offenses, and simple drug possession), and the prosecution of felony cases to include violent crimes (murder, rape, abduction, robbery, etc).

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants should submit a resume directly to support@talentfront.net.

Note: This job advertisement is open until the closing date OR until the position is filled, and may close prior to the advertised closing date. Interested applicants are advised to submit their resume as soon as possible. Resumes will be reviewed, and qualified applicants interviewed on a continuous basis. Interviews may be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your resume is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The resume review process will close when the position(s) have been filled or when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been reviewed.   

Illustrative Duties

 

  • Represents the Commonwealth of Virginia in prosecutions of violations of criminal law;
  • Prosecutes major felony cases in Circuit Court jury and bench trials, specializing in the most serious cases;
  • Acts as a subject matter expert for other attorneys and law enforcement personnel on a specialized area of law;
  • Attends training in area of specialization;
  • Conducts training for lower level attorneys in area of specialization;
  • Conducts legal research and composes briefs in opposition to constitutional motions and petitions for appeal;
  • Advises and supervises lower level attorneys in case preparation and trial performance;
  • Advises County and State law enforcement officials concerning the investigation of criminal violations and trial preparation;
  • Reviews search warrants, affidavits, and court orders submitted by law enforcement for obtaining of evidence related to criminal cases;
  • Advises citizens of Fairfax County on issues relating to criminal law violations in the community and court procedure.

 

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

 

  • Knowledge of the principles of law and their application;
  • Knowledge of trial procedure and the rules of evidence;
  • Thorough knowledge of all facets of criminal law; including trial practice, motion practice, and appellate practice;
  • Knowledge of the criminal laws under the Code of Virginia and Fairfax County Code and the court decisions affecting the prosecution of those laws;
  • Knowledge of legal research methods;
  • Ability to effectively and efficiently prosecute all major felonies;
  • Thorough knowledge of a specialized area of criminal prosecution;
  • Ability to train and advise lower level attorneys and law enforcement personnel in a specialized area of criminal prosecution;
  • Ability to supervise and instruct lower level attorneys in general aspects of case preparation and trial performance;
  • Ability to present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically;
  • Ability to interview victims, witnesses and law enforcement to obtain the necessary information to prosecute criminal cases;
  • Ability to maintain an effective working relations hip with associates, law enforcement officials, the judiciary and the general public.

 

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar.
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Graduation from an accredited law school; plus three years of experience as a practicing attorney.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
License to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

  • The appointee to the position will be required to complete the following to the satisfaction of the employer:
    • Criminal Background Investigation
    • Credit Check
    • Driving Record Check
  • Employment to this position is at-will, serving at the pleasure of the Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney.


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
The ability to communicate effectively and professionally with law enforcement personnel, expert and lay witnesses; effectively address, with sensitivity, the needs of victims of crime; work proficiently in a collaborative, team environment, engage people of various social, economic, cultural, ideological, racial and ethnic backgrounds; maintain a fast-paced workload/docket while keeping case files and workplace organized; prepare and present cases before a trial court in a short period; and establish and maintain constructive, effective and professional relationships with fellow attorneys, public officials, judicial officers, and the public. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Duties are generally sedentary, performed in a normal office environment. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations. 

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
May include a panel interview and a practical exercise. This job advertisement is open until the closing date OR until the position is filled, and may close prior to the advertised closing date. Interested applicants are advised to submit their resume as soon as possible. Resumes will be reviewed, and qualified applicants interviewed on a continuous basis. Interviews may be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your resume is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The resume review process will close when the position(s) have been filled or when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been reviewed.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.
 
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.  
 
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.