Description

With more than 200 attorneys and professional staff, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law offices in Seattle and is the third-largest public law office in the state. Our office is committed to making Seattle a safe, healthy, empowered, and thriving community for everyone. We strive to address historical injustices within the court system with self-examination and to pursue justice in Seattle with integrity, creativity, and fairness. We believe working transparently, innovatively, and in collaboration with our partners in the community is necessary to achieve outcomes that promote equity, accountability, and healing.

The Criminal Division is seeking an experienced prosecutor to serve as Section Supervisor of the Review and Filing Team Unit, which will soon be joined with the Trial Team Unit as the office moves to a vertical prosecution model. This position will have overall responsibility for the operation and management of a team of Assistant City Prosecutors and will have the opportunity to serve as a formative leader in the transition of the unit to a vertical trial team. Initially, the position will lead the Review and Filing Unit and then transition to Supervisor of the additional Trial Team Unit once the move to vertical prosecution is complete. Additionally, this position will be part of the Criminal Division’s Senior Management Team and interface with the Seattle Municipal Court and other criminal justice stakeholders. 

This position reports directly to the Criminal Division Chief. 

Job Responsibilities 

• Supervise and train a team of filing and eventual trial prosecutors dealing with misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases in Seattle Municipal Court.  
• Supervise and mentor team leads and all members of the unit in every aspect of pre-trial and trial practice, including high-volume motions practice.
• Monthly review of data consisting of individual team members' performance, to ensure consistency in the unit. Deliver constructive feedback and coaching in a timely manner to improve trial performance and delivery.  
• Draft, modify, implement, and execute team unit policies, procedures, training, and filing and disposition standards.  
• Review and approve non-standard filing and disposition decisions.
• Conduct weekly case staffing meetings to review cases, develop case strategies, and allocate additional resources to higher-risk cases for upcoming trials.
• Manages a reduced trial caseload, including investigating, preparing, and prosecuting cases in SMC.
• Prepare schedules for attorney coverage of court calendars, review and assign cases set for motions or trials, and assign out-of-custody cases for filing decisions. Assist with court calendars when needed.
• Prepare written evaluations for the team.
• Participate in employee hiring interviews and new-employee orientations as directed.
• Respond to inquiries and complaints from the public, the media, and other city agencies.
• Coordinate with SCAO public disclosure attorneys to respond to Public Records Act requests.
• Represent the Criminal Division in cross-agency efforts, workgroups, and committees involving public safety issues.
• Collaborate with SMC, SMC Probation, and defense agencies to maintain functions of misdemeanor prosecutions.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Required Qualifications 

• 3+ years of general prosecution experience within the SCAO Criminal Division, or the equivalent in another jurisdiction. 
• Demonstrated experience in the core competencies or criminal prosecution, including review and filing decisions, motions practice, trial practice, negotiations, pleas, and review hearings.
• Demonstrated ability to provide training, mentorship, and professional development. 

 
Desired Qualifications 

• Specialist-level knowledge and skills in trial advocacy and case development (investigation, witness interviews, and filing charges) 
• Experience working with crime victims and witnesses, including expert witnesses. 
• Experience working with law enforcement. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage and supervise attorneys with a wide range of experience, including many attorneys with no criminal law experience. 
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and develop strong relationships with the Court, opposing counsel, law enforcement, community members, and other partner organizations.