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What is an assistant state attorney and how to become one
Assistant state attorneys are members of law enforcement. They conduct criminal prosecutions on behalf of the state or city attorney's office. However, there are various specialties. As an assistant state attorney, you could decide to specialize in either civil or criminal law. Primarily, one of your duties is to review every piece of evidence in a specific criminal case and decide if or not to continue with a criminal prosecution against the defendant. Also, you are to manage every phase of criminal investigations, such as witness testimonies and grand jury subpoenas.
Provision of immediate and effective representation to illiterate, uncooperative clients is also a part of your duties. In addition, you are also to handle petty crime and so many bench trials. It is expected that you coordinate the representation of bulky caseloads with support staff and other attorneys. You are also to maintain communication with victims and their family members throughout the case process.
Usually, as an assistant state attorney, you must major in law. Nonetheless, you could also study political science or criminal justice. You are to have at least a bachelor's degree in any of these fields, even though 49% of attorneys have a doctoral degree. You will make an average of $62,621 in a year.
What general advice would you give to an assistant state attorney?
Hanna Royce
Assistant Dean of Career Services, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
Many graduates are securing remote positions. To be successful in a remote environment, employees need to make the extra effort to communicate and stay connected with colleagues. Even when employees are telecommuting, they should dress as if they are going into the office. This can help them with productivity and illustrate their professionalism when meeting with colleagues or clients.
Avg. Salary $82,255
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 10%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%
Asian 6.34%
Black or African American 5.51%
Hispanic or Latino 7.74%
Unknown 4.37%
White 75.73%
Genderfemale 45.93%
male 54.07%
Age - 45American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 45Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Assistant state attorney career paths
Key steps to become an assistant state attorney
Explore assistant state attorney education requirements
Start to develop specific assistant state attorney skills
Skills Percentages Litigation 15.53% Criminal Cases 9.57% Appeals 6.67% Law Enforcement Agencies 5.24% Criminal Division 4.79% Complete relevant assistant state attorney training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant state attorneys learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant state attorney based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant state attorney resumes.Research assistant state attorney duties and responsibilities
- Manage all phases of criminal investigations including grand jury subpoenas and witness testimony.
- Provide training to other assistant state's attorneys on DUI topics and general trial technique
- Prosecute misdemeanor and felony traffic offenses that include DUI, narcotics, and fleeing/eluding police.
- Draft appellate responses to misdemeanor appeals
Prepare your assistant state attorney resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant state attorney resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant state attorney resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable assistant state attorney resume templates
Build a professional assistant state attorney resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assistant state attorney resume.
Apply for assistant state attorney jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an assistant state attorney job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first assistant state attorney job
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Average assistant state attorney salary
The average assistant state attorney salary in the United States is $82,255 per year or $40 per hour. Assistant state attorney salaries range between $55,000 and $122,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do assistant state attorneys rate their job?
Assistant state attorney reviews
As a civil litigation defense attorney I love the fact that every day is different. I enjoy assisting clients who have a problem to solve that problem in the most cost effective way, and how to avoid such problems in the future. I like that I basically set my own work schedule (other than court dates).
Billing hours. Unscrupulous opposing counsel. Occasional biased judges who do not follow the law.
Updated January 8, 2025
