Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

Bannock County was established in 1893 and was named after the Native American tribe indigenous to the area. Bannock County is the sixth-most populous county in Idaho and as of the 2020 census had a population of 87,018. The City of Pocatello is the county seat and largest metropolitan area in the county. Bannock County proudly provides meaningful work, looks out for the safety and wellbeing of employees and their families, provides opportunities for development, encourages trust in the organization, offers a positive workplace, and maintains work/life balance. The County also performs many essential functions in the community.

If you enjoy working with a great team, care deeply about maintaining and enforcing the rule of law, find criminal law and litigation stimulating, and have a desire to help victims of crimes, come join the Bannock County Prosecutors today.

Benefits include a very generous vacation and sick leave policy, medical/dental/vision insurance, County provided and optional life insurance, PERSI 401k and other retirement plans, long-term disability coverage, flex-spending, and AFLAC options.

Job Summary

Provides professional legal services, with emphasis on primarily prosecuting felony criminal cases; assists the County Attorney with legal and administrative work; performs related work as required. Assignments may be made to prosecute specific types of cases such as narcotics, sexual assault and abuse, property crimes, domestic violence, juvenile crime, or other specializations. The position provides direction to the Legal Secretary/Assistant positions. The work is performed under the general supervision of the County Prosecutor and direct supervision of an Assistant Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, but considerable latitude is granted for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative. The principal duties of this class are performed in a general office and courtroom environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (will vary by assignment)

• Prepares and manages primarily felony criminal cases for trial, including but not limited to, initiating complaints, conducting research, interviewing affected parties, preparing required legal and court documents, preparing and arguing briefs, and attending court proceedings;
• Makes charging decisions following review and evaluation of police reports in light of applicable law;
• Negotiates case settlements;
• Advises and consults with police officers, detectives, attorneys, defendants, victims, witnesses, and other interested and affected parties;
• Represents the County's interest in court;
• Answers communications from the public relative to legal matters affecting the County;
• Assists County Attorney in administrative office duties, including employee supervision and work assignments;
• Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with County policies, procedures, and safety practices.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• On call after regular hours to respond to emergency situations;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competency Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Legal, court, and judicial procedures, rules, terminology, methods, documents, practices, and objectives;
• Applicable County, city, state, and federal laws, statutes, ordinances, and codes;
• General municipal, state and federal laws affecting county government;
• Legal research methods;
• Established precedents and sources of legal references applicable to County ordinances and codes;
• Operation of standard office equipment including a personal computer and job-related software applications;
• Employee supervisory duties;

Ability to:

• Analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence, and precedents in determining the various aspects, alternatives, and possible outcomes of cases;
• Present material to opponents and develops an appropriate legal strategy;
• Appear without assistance in court and other judicial proceedings and present evidence, arguments, testimony, and witnesses before a judge or jury;
• Make significant/substantial legal decisions in individual cases based on a combination of factors including the law, policy, and rules of ethics;
• Negotiate complex legal issues;
• Bring interested and affected parties to consensus;
• Discern critical issues and needs of the County through a negotiations process;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, for purposes of advocating, persuading, negotiating, and counseling for or on behalf of the County;
• Analyze, appraise, and organize facts and precedents and to present such material in a clear and logical form;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County employees, staff, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, victims, witnesses, supervisory personnel, state and local elected and appointed officials, and the public;
• Maintain a professional demeanor during stressful situations;
• Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously, including handling interruptions, and return to and complete tasks in a timely manner;
• Perform time management and scheduling functions, meet deadlines and set case priorities;
• Demonstrate integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks;

Acceptable Experience and Training

• Graduation from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association with a Juris Doctorate Degree;
• License to practice law in the State of Idaho or willing to seek reciprocal admission/pass Idaho State Bar exam.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Special Qualifications

• Membership in good standing in the Idaho State Bar Association.

Essential Physical Abilities

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to discern verbal instructions and to communicate effectively in person, on a telephone, and in a courtroom environment;
• Sufficient visual acuity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to comprehend written work instructions and to assist in the preparation, monitoring, and litigation of all criminal and civil cases;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee operate standard office equipment and a personal computer;
• Sufficient personal mobility, flexibility, and balance, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to work in an office environment, lift up to 20 pounds, and perform in a courtroom environment.