Assistant District Attorney

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About Us

DO YOUR CAREER JUSTICE! Each and every day, North Carolina's courts help provide safety for our communities, prosperity for our economy, and protection for the rights, liberties, and freedoms that sit at the foundation of our state and federal constitutions. Consider an exciting and rewarding career with us and join the more than 7,000 elected officials and employees who make up our workforce and help us ensure that justice is administrated without favor, denial, or delay.

Description of Work

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

SALARY RANGE: $72,000.00 - $102,000.00 - to commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The District Attorney’s Office for Prosecutorial District 11 is seeking a highly skilled and motivated attorney to serve as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA). This position offers a rare and unique opportunity to remain a state employee of a North Carolina District Attorney’s Office while prosecuting cases in federal court within the Eastern District of North Carolina.

The SAUSA will be primarily based in Raleigh, North Carolina with a secondary office in Henderson, North Carolina. The SAUSA will prosecute federal criminal cases arising in Bertie, Hertford, Halifax, Northampton, (Prosecutorial District 7) Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson, (Prosecutorial District 8) Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren (Prosecutorial District 11) counties.  The SAUSA will work in close coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the District Attorneys serving the counties in which cases are handled. This position blends the strengths of state and federal prosecution, providing meaningful public service, complex litigation experience, and the stability and benefits of state employment.

Employment Status

State employee of the District Attorney’s Office for Prosecutorial District 11

• Eligible for all applicable State of North Carolina employee benefits

• Appointed as a SAUSA pursuant to federal authorization and agreement

• Serves at the discretion of the District Attorney, Prosecutorial District 11, subject to the terms of the SAUSA appointment

Primary Responsibilities

The SAUSA will be responsible for the prosecution of assigned federal criminal cases, focusing on prosecuting drug and violent crimes, from intake through resolution, including:

• Reviewing and evaluating criminal investigations for legal sufficiency and charging decisions

• Collaborating closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies during investigations

• Coordinating case referrals and charging decisions with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina

• Prosecuting federal criminal cases in United States District Court, including:

  • Grand jury presentations

  • Motions Practice & Hearings

  • Trials

  • Sentencings

• Handling all aspects of case preparation, including discovery review, witness preparation, and legal research and writing

• Working collaboratively with District Attorneys in the counties from which cases originate to ensure alignment with prosecutorial priorities

• Advising law enforcement on investigative strategies, legal standards, and evidentiary issues

• Ensuring compliance with all ethical obligations, Department of Justice (DOJ) policies, and applicable state and federal laws

• Participating in trainings, meetings, and coordination efforts required by the SAUSA appointment and the District Attorneys

Collaboration & Reporting Structure

The SAUSA will work closely and collaboratively with:

• Assistant United States Attorneys and leadership within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina

• District Attorneys and Assistant District Attorneys in the counties where cases are generated

• Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in assigned investigations

• This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to navigate dual-sovereign partnerships while maintaining clarity of roles and responsibilities as a state employee.

Security Requirements

Initial appointment is conditional upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprinting, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

Why This Position Is Unique

This SAUSA position offers a distinctive career opportunity that is rarely available:

• State employee benefits and stability, including retirement and leave benefits

• Hands-on federal courtroom experience prosecuting cases in the Eastern District of North Carolina

• Direct involvement in significant federal investigations impacting communities across North Carolina

• A collaborative role bridging state and federal prosecutorial efforts

• The ability to serve the public at both the state and federal level while remaining rooted in North Carolina’s prosecutorial system

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies:

Knowledge of: federal, state, common, and constitutional law; judicial procedures and rules of evidence; case, statutory, and common law; NC General Statutes to prosecute criminal cases; judicial and quasi-judicial procedures; legal research methods, techniques, sources, databases, and other research tools; the principles and protocols for the evidentiary gathering of information, documents, financial records, and other data that may be used in trial court processes, protocols, and strategies; the operations of the NC court system; and ethical and professional standards of conduct.

Skill in: interpreting and applying complex criminal laws to information, evidence, and other data; listening techniques used in interviewing witnesses; using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of case facts; researching and identifying precedence in case law; utilizing and evaluating electronic legal research and online systems; negotiating plea agreements; organizing work; setting priorities; meeting critical deadlines; and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.

Ability to: analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and related written documents and apply applicable law to those facts; conduct legal research; plan, develop, and execute an effective litigation strategy to achieve desired results; prepare, organize, and conduct witness examinations; deliver opening statements, closing arguments, and evidentiary objections; express complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear and concise manner; argue clearly, logically, and persuasively; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and other participants in the criminal justice process; recognize and solve problems; produce legal interpretations in a quick and responsive manner for court officials; write reports, motions, briefs, and other legal documents; deal tactfully with sensitive situations; communicate both orally and in writing; and work independently.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants must complete an on-line application by clicking the above APPLY link. Mailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Before applying, please read the Online Employment Application Guide for instructions on creating your profile and applying for specific postings.

It is important your application includes all of your relevant education and work experience and that you answer all questions associated with the application to receive proper credit. Résumés are not accepted in lieu of fully completed applications.

*NOTE* Many job postings require certain documents be attached to an application. Verify your application is complete and uploaded documents are attached to your application before submitting it. Applications may not be altered after they have been submitted.

All NC Judicial Branch agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.

The North Carolina Judicial Branch participates in E-Verify, an internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from the US Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.


Charmaine J. Leeks
NC Administrative Office of the Courts
Human Resources Division

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Mandatory Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina and in good standing

• at least 1 year post J.D. legal or other relevant experience

• Strong trial advocacy, legal writing, and analytical skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience prosecuting criminal cases, preferably including felony or complex litigation

• Ability to manage a caseload independently and exercise sound prosecutorial judgment

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with law enforcement, prosecutors, and court personnel across jurisdictions

Please submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample. 

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Email:

[email protected]