How to hire an assistant prosecuting attorney

How to hire an assistant prosecuting attorney, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant prosecuting attorney hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant prosecuting attorney job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant prosecuting attorney
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the assistant prosecuting attorney you need to hire. Certain assistant prosecuting attorney roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect assistant prosecuting attorney also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of assistant prosecuting attorneys.

   Type of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Prosecuting Attorney	Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes.	$27-60
   General Counsel	A general counsel, also called a chief legal officer, is the chief lawyer in the legal department of an organization. The counsel represents an enterprise for any pending legal matters... Show more	$36-100
   Legal Counsel	A Legal Counsel supervises the legal aspects of a business. They give accurate and timely counsel to executives on a variety of legal topics, such as labor law, partnerships, or international ventures.	$38-103

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Jury Trials
   • District Court
   • Child Support Orders
   • Felony Cases
   • Appeals
   • Litigation
   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Child Abuse
   • Criminal Cases
   • Circuit Court
   • Crime Victims
   • Defense Counsel
   • Bench Trials
   • Criminal Law

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage, train and mentore newly hire ADA's in courtroom management and trial advocacy.
   • Argue motions, take depositions, and prepare briefs, appeals, search warrants and subpoenas.
   • Perform all aspects of trial preparation, including issuing subpoenas, witness preparation, and exhibits.
   • Issue and enforce investigative subpoenas and review thousands of responsive documents for discovery disclosure.
   • Draft dispositive motions, discovery motions, pleadings, initial disclosures, respond to discovery requests and interrogatories.
   • Participate in opening and closing argument and direct and cross-examination training.

   More assistant prosecuting attorney duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the assistant prosecuting attorney job description is a good way to get more applicants. An assistant prosecuting attorney salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an assistant prosecuting attorney in South Carolina may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level assistant prosecuting attorney. Additionally, an assistant prosecuting attorney with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average assistant prosecuting attorney salary

   $85,469yearly

   $41.09 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant prosecuting attorney salary

   $57,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average assistant prosecuting attorney salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$97,449	$47
   2	Colorado	$90,515	$44
   3	Michigan	$78,670	$38
   4	Florida	$76,149	$37
   5	Georgia	$75,454	$36
   6	North Carolina	$71,543	$34
   7	Nebraska	$65,474	$31
   8	Missouri	$52,326	$25

   Average assistant prosecuting attorney salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Wayne County, Michigan	$85,379	$41.05	6
   2	Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma	$85,230	$40.98
   3	City of Atlanta	$82,281	$39.56
   4	CSKT Tribal Health	$79,008	$37.98
   5	My Florida Regional Mls	$78,699	$37.84
   6	Livingston County	$77,195	$37.11	2
   7	City of Renton	$76,931	$36.99
   8	Franklin County	$75,793	$36.44	4
   9	Summit County	$71,249	$34.25
   10	Jackson Services Inc	$70,397	$33.84
   11	State Of Florida	$65,105	$31.30	190
   12	Florida Department of Transportation	$60,580	$29.13

4. Writing an assistant prosecuting attorney job description

   An assistant prosecuting attorney job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an assistant prosecuting attorney job description:

   Assistant prosecuting attorney job description example

   Performs prosecution legal work for the Justice Division of the District Attorney's Office at the highest skill level. Works independently and applies professional judgment and skill in the preparation and presentation of cases. Monitors the legal work of District Attorney staff. Demonstrates broad knowledge of criminal law. Work is performed in accordance with policies and is reviewed by the District Attorney, Chief Deputy District Attorney, and/or their designee.
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Graduation from a recognized college of law with a Juris Doctor (JD).
   
   Member in good standing with the Utah State Bar Association or other state bar association with the ability to become a member of the Utah State Bar Association on the first day work.
   
   Due to the nature of this position, the successful applicant must successfully pass an initial criminal background check as well as every two years thereafter and continuously meet the requirements of the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI).
   
   Grade 17
   
   Entry positions require between zero (0) and eight (8) years of full-time paid employment in the practice of law.
   
   Grade 18
   
   A minimum of eight (8) years of full-time paid employment in the practice of law. Employment as a full-time paid judicial clerk in a court of record or appellate court may be credited as full-time legal employment.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
   
   Reviews investigative reports and screens requests for prosecutions to determine validity of facts. Meets with law enforcement officers, complainants, victims, and witnesses as may be required for screening decisions. Prepares or directs the preparation of screening worksheets, fact sheets, "information's," declinations, arrest warrants, or summons. Prepares or directs the preparation of search warrants and investigative subpoenas using knowledge and understanding of the law of search and seizure. Reviews case files in preparation for trials and hearings and meets with law enforcement officers, citizens, and expert witnesses to determine evidence of cases prosecuted. Reviews cases regarding possible plea negotiations, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of cases, and negotiates plea agreements within the guidelines and office policies and procedures. Prepares cases prior to court appearances, research laws pertaining to case facts, and prepares witnesses for court appearances. Appears in appropriate courts conducting trials or hearings, presenting evidence and/or arguments as an advocate for the County and/or the State. Maintains current knowledge and skill in all phases of trial including knowledge of rules of procedure and evidence. Prepares judgments, orders, findings of fact, and conclusions of law as directed by the court. Reviews for appeal and prepares appeals where necessary to protect the interests of the County and/or the State. Participates in office training programs and other legal professional development programs for continuing legal education as required by the Utah State Bar Association directives and the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office. Provides educational services and trainings to law enforcement agencies and the public within the guidelines of the Code of Professional Conduct and the policies and procedures of the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find assistant prosecuting attorneys for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any assistant prosecuting attorneys they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level assistant prosecuting attorneys with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant prosecuting attorney job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant prosecuting attorney candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting assistant prosecuting attorneys requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant prosecuting attorney

   Once you've decided on a perfect assistant prosecuting attorney candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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