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Assistant district attorney skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Charity Rohlfs J.D.,
Mike Gunter Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical assistant district attorney skills. We ranked the top skills for assistant district attorneys based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.1% of assistant district attorney resumes contained felony cases as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an assistant district attorney needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 assistant district attorney skills for your resume and career

1. Felony Cases

Felony cases are regarded as serious and violent crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, burglary, and arson. Compared to misdemeanor and petty crimes, felony cases involve greater punishment such as incarceration and even the death penalty..

Here's how assistant district attorneys use felony cases:
  • Presented felony cases before the Grand Jury where responsibilities included conducting direct and cross-examination and providing instructions to the jury members.
  • Researched and prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony cases, while developing negotiation and litigation skills.

2. Criminal Justice

Here's how assistant district attorneys use criminal justice:
  • Support criminal justice programs that assist in the rehabilitation of juveniles and first offenders
  • Prepared accusatory instruments and other legal document in the criminal justice process.

3. Criminal Cases

A criminal case is a court proceeding in which a person is charged with committing a crime against the state or the community. Such individuals are brought for trials, to decide they are guilty or not. There are two kinds of criminal cases misdemeanors and felonies. A misdemeanor is a crime on a lower level like traffic offenses or minor assaults. While felonies are offenses on a higher level.

Here's how assistant district attorneys use criminal cases:
  • Investigated and evaluated criminal cases, including possible plea agreements.
  • Evaluated and petitioned charges against suspected juveniles in criminal cases.

4. Litigation

Here's how assistant district attorneys use litigation:
  • Managed a caseload of over seventy indictments and handled all aspects of criminal litigation.
  • Prosecuted misdemeanor caseload in criminal court through various stages of litigation up until trial

5. Crime Scenes

Crime scenes refer to places or locations of an offence where forensic evidence may get gathered.

Here's how assistant district attorneys use crime scenes:
  • Responded to crime scenes, supervised line-up identifications and interviewed felony defendants.
  • Deposed witnesses, investigated crime scenes, drafted complaints, motions, and other legal documents pertinent for successful prosecution.

6. Adas

Here's how assistant district attorneys use adas:
  • Screen cases for indictment to the Superior Court and work with Superior Court ADA's on indictment decisions.
  • Managed, trained and mentored newly hired ADA's in courtroom management and trial advocacy.

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7. Misdemeanor Cases

A misdemeanor crime is a type of criminal offense that is more critical than a citation but less serious than a felony charge. In this criminal charge, one can be punished with fines and prison time. Types of misdemeanors include destruction, trespassing, or public intoxication, and other actions that can land you in lawful dispute. Many attribute a misdemeanor as a crime having to do with a failure in one's moral judgment rather than something more serious like killing someone.

Here's how assistant district attorneys use misdemeanor cases:
  • Supervised arraignments for felony and misdemeanor cases, including determining bail requests and issuing and negotiating plea agreements.
  • Prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases including felony sex-offenses, burglary and drug cases.

8. District Court

Here's how assistant district attorneys use district court:
  • Represented the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in District Court criminal proceedings.
  • Research and wrote legal briefs, oral arguments before NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, and United States District Court.

9. Appeals

Here's how assistant district attorneys use appeals:
  • Researched and co-authored multiple briefs for interlocutory appeals regarding suppression of evidence.
  • Transitioned into Superior Court trying misdemeanor appeals.

10. Law Enforcement Agencies

Here's how assistant district attorneys use law enforcement agencies:
  • Designated office responsible for investigating alleged crimes in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies and filing criminal charges for prosecution.
  • Confer with law enforcement agencies and witnesses regarding case investigations, trial preparation and testimony.

11. Child Abuse

When a child who is under 18 is mistreated by an adult, it is considered child abuse. There are many forms of intentional harm and mistreatment for example physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, medical abuse, and neglect in providing adequate basic life necessities.

Here's how assistant district attorneys use child abuse:
  • Prosecuted numerous violent crimes including third degree murder, aggravated assault, rape, child abuse, and racial hate crimes.
  • Interview detectives, crime scene specialist, medical professionals, child abuse experts, and children who are victims of crime.

12. Defense Counsel

A defence attorney is a counsel representing the defendant in a criminal prosecution or lawsuit. A defence attorney aims to solve court cases as swiftly and satisfactorily as possible. Client representations at arraignments, hearings, and court trials along with preparing and drafting legal documents, including legal briefs and appeals is all part of their job description. They are responsible for presenting convincing evidence to a jury and/or judge if the case goes to trial.

Here's how assistant district attorneys use defense counsel:
  • Negotiated plea-bargains, appeared at calendar calls and prepared discovery materials for defense counsel.
  • Negotiated with defense counsel to establish probationary sentences for offenders.

13. Sexual Assault

Here's how assistant district attorneys use sexual assault:
  • Investigated and prosecuted a variety of serious crimes including firearm possessions, sexual assaults and gang-related offenses.
  • Participated in juvenile sexual assault interviews and facilitated further investigations.

14. Criminal Law

Here's how assistant district attorneys use criminal law:
  • Attended superior court cases and weekly information sessions presented by Assistant District Attorneys in different specializations of criminal law.
  • Negotiate plea deals Accomplishments Lead 4 jury trials and picked a jury in 4 trials Skills Used Advocacy, Criminal Law

15. Police Reports

Police reports, also known as "incident reports," are recorded by members of the police department and detail a (potentially) illegal incident or confrontation. The following information is usually found on a police report: the date and time of the incident, which officers were involved, the address of the incident, what kind of incident (theft, assault, etc.), and how the officers were alerted to the incident.

Here's how assistant district attorneys use police reports:
  • Evaluated police reports and filed felony charges in over 50 cases.
  • Reviewed police reports for filing criminal complaints and warrants.
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What skills help Assistant District Attorneys find jobs?

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What assistant district attorney skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Charity Rohlfs J.D.Charity Rohlfs J.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Paralegal Studies, Website

GenAI! Which means highlights the importance of skills like organization, communication, and consensus building. The legal field has historically been technology hesitant, but the pandemic and AI have forced the use and adaptation of technology. AI’s exponential growth will require new skills at a lightning fast pace. A bellwether in the legal field is eDiscovery as it requires the ability to organize massive amounts of information as well as clearly and concisely communicate the information. AI is helping paralegals and attorneys do just this! Finally, in a world that often hides behind screens, having the ability to build consensus and connect with others will be invaluable.

What hard/technical skills are most important for assistant district attorneys?

Mike Gunter Ph.D.

Director, Holt International Affairs, Rollins College

Good writing will always be crucial. There are all types of audiences, of course, so you need to adjust accordingly. But even as technology changes, good writing will remain a valuable asset.

List of assistant district attorney skills to add to your resume

Assistant district attorney skills

The most important skills for an assistant district attorney resume and required skills for an assistant district attorney to have include:

  • Felony Cases
  • Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Cases
  • Litigation
  • Crime Scenes
  • Adas
  • Misdemeanor Cases
  • District Court
  • Appeals
  • Law Enforcement Agencies
  • Child Abuse
  • Defense Counsel
  • Sexual Assault
  • Criminal Law
  • Police Reports
  • Pre-Trial Hearings
  • Subpoenas
  • Legal Issues
  • Juvenile Court
  • Bench Trials
  • Legal Research
  • Homicide
  • Court Decisions
  • Crime Victims
  • Motion Practice
  • Criminal Prosecution
  • Non-Jury Trials
  • Criminal Complaints
  • Domestic Violence Cases
  • Evidentiary Hearings
  • Oral Arguments
  • Pre-Trial Motions
  • Prosecutions
  • Plea Agreements
  • Plea Negotiations
  • Local Law Enforcement
  • Appellate Briefs
  • County Court
  • Legal Memoranda
  • Probate
  • DUI
  • Defense Attorneys
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Court Appearances
  • Motion Hearings
  • DWI
  • Legal Proceedings
  • Child Support
  • Jury Selection
  • DNA

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.