Job Announcement Friday, March 1, 2019
Applicants must submit: Cover Letter, Ward County Application Form, Resume, and a writing sample to the HR Department, PO Box 5005, Minot ND 58702-5005. This will need to be received no later than
April 1st, 2019 4:30 PM.
The Ward County Application Form can be downloaded from this Ward County web page
ASSISTANT STATE’S ATTORNEY
- GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:
As assigned by the State’s Attorney, an Assistant State’s Attorney assists by fulfilling all statutory duties of the State’s Attorney’s Office. This includes representing the State of North Dakota in the prosecution of criminal complaints, including case preparation and court appearances, trial presentation, and appeals. Also included may be assignments to Juvenile Court and mental health proceedings, child protection cases, and providing legal consultation to certain local government officials.
- POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and eligible for licensing by the State Bar Association North Dakota OR eligible to be licensed OR awaiting admission results.
Knowledge of the legal system, the laws of the State of North Dakota, and judicial system rules, particularly in the area of criminal law is preferred.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (“●” Indicates essential function)
- Prepare criminal complaints by reviewing reports, interviewing police officers,
preparing pleadings, preparing motions, and responding to defense motions.
- Represent the State in master calendar court at initial appearances, bond
hearings, arraignments, preliminary hearings, extradition hearings, and pre-trial
conferences.
- Prepare and make oral presentations.
- Represent the petitioner in Juvenile Court by reviewing investigative reports,
drafting pleadings, working with the Juvenile Court staff, and presenting at formal
hearings.
- Represent the State in criminal trials by preparing and responding to motions,
preparing witnesses, organizing exhibits, and presentation at trial.
- Represent the petitioner at mental health commitment proceedings by reviewing
petitions, consulting with petitioners, and presenting at hearings.
- Engage in correspondence, phone conversations, and meetings with defense
attorneys, other government agencies, judges, law enforcement officers, and
others regarding cases handled by the State’s Attorney’s Office.
- Work with Ward County Social Services by providing general legal consultation
and opinions, particularly regarding child protection cases.
- Respond to inquiries by County and township officials on matters of governmental operations and represent them in court actions.
- Answer public inquires and makes referrals to appropriate agencies.
- Research and prepare appellate briefs to the Supreme Court, travel to Bismarck
and participate in oral argument.
- Visit crime scenes, examine surrounds, and be available to assist in obtaining
search warrants.
- Represent and assist District Court in all proceedings to enforce compliance for
payments of child support obligations.
Advise and represent the County Reorganization Committee and the County
Superintendent of Schools on matters relating to school district annexations,
reorganizations, dissolutions, and tuition waiver.
Serve as legal advisor to the County Planning Commission on zoning and
subdivision matters.
Bring civil actions to forfeit property obtained in criminal cases.
Represent indigent petitioners on court appointment in voluntary terminations of
parental rights.
- SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED:
This position is supervised by the State’s Attorney and exercises no supervision
over other positions.
- POSITION QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
(“●” indicates essential functions)
- A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and eligible for licensing by
the State Bar Association North Dakota is required.
- Knowledge of the legal system, the laws of the State of North Dakota, and
judicial system rules, particularly in the area of criminal law is preferred.
- Skill in written and oral communication, particularly in formal, oral presentations.
- Skill in analyzing complex information in the preparation and prosecution of
criminal complaints.
- Skill in preparation of all papers filed with the courts and in independently
initiating and following through with all details necessary for the successful
preparation and completion of cases and work assigned.
- Ability to work closely and cooperatively with people from a wide variety of
backgrounds and circumstances, often in highly emotional situations; to
successfully coordinate many details at one time; to work under intense pressure
related to time and deadlines as well as high emotions; to remain current on
changes in court rules and procedures and changes in the laws; to be flexible in
circumstances which can change rapidly.
- Ability to learn and effectively use the County’s computer software, organize
assigned work and perform work productively, learn and effectively use new
methods, procedures, and technologies in carrying out the functions of the
position.
- Ability to work cordially and effectively with victims and witnesses, defense
attorneys, co-workers, law enforcement and service agencies, public officials,
and the public.
- Strong work ethics.
- PHYSICAL and MENTAL DEMANDS: These support the essential functions of the position.
This position works primarily in an office or courtroom environment using
dictation equipment and a personal computer.
This position is frequently called upon to file and retrieve various files and
records, which can involve climbing, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling,
stretching, carrying and lifting up to 30 pounds.
This position spends long periods of time sitting with little or no close supervision
doing research, preparing presentation, both oral and written, using books,
reports, and electronic data access, as well as through personal interviews.
This position requires making oral presentation and written presentation under
deadlines and in difficult situations all of which may contribute to high stress
levels.
Must be able to climb stairs, have good balance and be able to climb ladders.
Frequent verbal communication is required including telephone communication.
Ability to withstand the physical and emotional stress associated with a position
in the State’s Attorney’s office over extended periods of time during pretrial and
trial times.
Ability to sit or move about for extended periods of time.
Must be able to read fine print and handwritten documents.
Must be able to see close and medium distances.
Must be able to speak clearly.
Must be able to discriminate speech.
Must be able to grip and sort papers with hands.
- WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is normally performed in environmentally controlled areas. Work may be
very stressful due to the nature of the office and types of work done at the office.
When doing crime scene investigation and assisting with search warrants, work may
be required at unusual hours and at any location in the County. This work may require visits to locations involving difficult terrain or access, inclement weather, or other unpleasant and dangerous conditions.
Work is primarily done on weekdays between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. Research
and case preparation often involve work well beyond office hours. Assistant State’s Attorneys will be on-call from time to time. When on-call Assistant State’s Attorneys can expect to be called upon or called out at all hours and on any day.
- OTHER ASSIGNMENTS:
County department heads and supervisors reserve the right to amend the functions or work schedule assigned this position, either temporarily or permanently, at any time as they determine the best interests of their departments. Further, employees may be assigned other or additional functions to fill-in during the absence of other employees or vacancies in other positions.