Deputy District Attorney 1

The Benton County District Attorney's Office is seeking a Deputy District Attorney 1 to join our team.

If you wake up every morning with a desire to do the right thing for the right reason, the Benton County District Attorney’s office is where you should be.   As a DDA 1, you will protect victims’ rights, promote community safety, hold offenders accountable, and ensure the constitutional rights of all in the system.  You will have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of others.  Working as a prosecutor is more of a calling than a job. Law school was only the beginning.

Pay:

• Annual salary range of $96,194.59  - $131,175.20 
• You will receive a salary increase at 6 months, then again at 12 months, as long as your performance is in good standing!  If, for example, your starting pay is $96,194.59, your first raise will be to $100,567.17 and your second to $104,939.74.  See DDA 1 Salary Schedules - Benton County Human Resources, Oregon) (click on Management and Non-Represented tab)  

What You will Learn:

You will quickly learn all the ins and outs of criminal law by taking on a variety of cases from the very beginning. In your first year, you will learn:

• How to navigate the court system: Some days you’ll be assigned the docket for all the cases coming before a judge that day.  You will learn the nuances of working within the system efficiently and professionally as you represent the entire office.
• The influence of a prosecutor: You will review criminal cases, decide whether to charge and, if so, what charges are appropriate; decide what plea offer best serves the community and, when negotiations fail, how to win your case at trial.
• Plea negotiation with defense attorneys: You will become an expert in negotiation techniques, judgment, fairness and seeking “justice through the truth” (our motto!).
• The thrill of preparing for and conducting trials: You will experience firsthand the excitement and complexity of preparing for trial: witness preparation, jury selection and trial presentation, and helping the jury reach a just and appropriate verdict.

How We will Support You:

We will support you at every step. You’ll be supported by some of the best, brightest and most seasoned prosecutors in the State of Oregon. You will have true and trusted mentors who will help you to be your best.   We do not endorse a sink or swim environment.   All of our DDAs and our elected have an open door policy, and are there to teach, advise and cheer you on.

Our Prosecution Approach:

We use a vertical prosecution model, where a DDA handles all aspects of a case, from review and charging through trial and sentencing – providing you with the opportunity to always advocate for what is ethically, morally, and legally right. Opportunities to take on more challenging cases, including felony prosecutions, will be readily available once experience is gained.

We strive to obtain justice in every case.  To that end, in addition to the traditional prosecution model, we also utilize alternative resolutions such as deflection, diversion, drug treatment court or  restorative justice.

Why the Benton County DA’s Office?

In the words of one of our DDAs:

“The Benton County DA’s Office is a tight-knit community committed to justice and lifting each other up. The work we do is fulfilling but difficult. We are a team of kind, friendly, caring, and supportive individuals, committed to supporting each other as we strive to improve the wonderful and beautiful region that we serve. The Benton County DA’s office is the perfect place to work if you want to make the world a better place and enjoy yourself doing it.”

Click Here for a complete list of the duties, responsibilities and physical requirements of the District Attorney 1 position.

All are Welcome

The strength of our organization lies in the diversity of our workforce and the varying perspectives our employees bring. We encourage all to apply, including members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQIA community members. 

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (DA1)

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position: 

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law; AND
  • Active member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar by time of hire, or within 6 months for transfers from other states; OR
  • Ability to qualify for and complete the Oregon State Bar Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination in a timely manner, upon being hired.

Special Requirements

• Must have or obtain a valid Oregon Driver’s License within the first 30 days of hire (travel required).  Must maintain a good driving record, and the use of a personal vehicle. 
• Benton County residency is not required. However, due to the nature of the work, must live within a commute of 60 minutes from the Benton County Courthouse (a reasonable transition period will be allowed).
• Successful completion of a criminal background investigation.
• Ongoing compliance with all Federal, State and Local statutes.

The Ideal Candidate

Salary Placement

Your application will be used to determine salary placement based on a pay equity assessment. Please ensure you have provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. For further information, please click on the link Oregon Pay Equity Law for more details. 

BENEFITS

• 10 Paid Holidays 64 Personal Leave Hours 2 Floating Holidays 8 hours of vacation accrual every month sick leave! Vacation accrual increases with years of service.

• Medical, Dental and Vision - cover your eligible family members without additional premium.
• In addition, the County contributes up to $1,400 per year to your Health Savings or Health Reimbursement account!
  • Apart from your deductible, you can use this money for things that aren’t traditionally paid by insurance – i.e. Ibuprofen, Tylenol and other preventative type medications.
  • You never lose your Health Savings Account funds as it rolls over from year to year.
• Dependents up to age 26 are covered!

• After 6 months of employment:
  • The County makes a retirement contribution of 6% of your salary towards Oregon PERS!
  • The County makes a deferred compensation 457b plan contribution of 3% of your salary! You can add more if you wish.

• Interactive and personalized approach focused on your whole health.
• Onsite and virtual seminars, wellness challenges and fun activities. 
• Monetary incentives and cool prizes to engage everyone and meet your individual needs!

• Supplemental plans are available at reasonable rates.

• $96,194.59  - $131,175.20 
• This position is eligible for up to two salary raises within your first year. An Increase may be given at the end of the 6-month probationary period, depending on starting salary, and at the 1-year anniversary, as long as your performance is in good standing! Annual performance-based increases are given until the maximum of the salary range is reached.

• Reach out to us anytime: recruiting@bentoncountyor.gov

The first review of applications will be on February 18, 2025.

Applications that are submitted after this date may or may not be considered for interviews. The posting may close without notice after the first review date when a sufficient number of qualified candidates are received.  

 Questions regarding this position can be directed to

Kim McDermid, Executive Assistant

Benton County District Attorney Department

Telephone: (541) 766-6190

kim.mcdermid@bentoncountyor.gov

Working and Living in Benton County

Being a part of Benton County means you will be surrounded by highly educated neighbors and colleagues, with college-town amenities and resources.  Our jury pools are often comprised of professors, engineers, and even rocket scientists.  The Willamette Valley offers beautiful scenery, and is an outdoors person’s dream. The mountains, coast or larger cities are just a short drive away.

• To apply for this position, click on the "Apply" button to fill out all information in the online application and complete the questionnaire. Failure to do so may result in your application being removed from consideration.
• Only complete applications received by the posted application deadline date, or the first review date will be considered. 
• Answer all supplemental questions.

• You will get an email stating your application has been submitted. Log in to your NeoGov account before the job announcement closes to see if you have any pending tasks or notifications, and make sure to complete these tasks before the job announcement closes. These can be found under the “My Applications” section.
• Be sure to check both your email and NeoGov account for updates regarding this recruitment. 

• This is a FLSA exempt position.
• This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions.
• This position requires driving and may require use of a personal vehicle. 
• Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.
• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources. NOTE: If claiming veterans’ preference please be sure to attach your DD214 or Disability letter from the VA.
• Benton County does not offer VISA sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. Benton County will review these documents to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
• If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and will be requesting accommodation, please contact the Benton County Human Resources Department by calling 541-766-6081.

Salary : $96,195 - $131,175