Assistant District Attorney

Orleans Parish District Attorney

• $65K — $105K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Member of the Louisiana Bar in good standing, or eligible law student planning to take the Louisiana bar exam
  • Proficient in legal research and analysis
  • Strong public speaking and communication skills
  • Tech-savvy, with ability to learn case management software
  • Willingness to work flexible hours, including overtime
  • Reliable attendance and consistent work quality

Responsibilities

  • Represent the State of Louisiana in criminal matters across various courts
  • Review felony and misdemeanor cases for prosecution
  • Engage with law enforcement, victims, and witnesses
  • Draft legal documents, including motions and pleadings
  • Conduct legal research and prepare discovery
  • Argue cases in court regularly and develop trial strategies
  • Facilitate jury selection and manage trials

Benefits

  • Health insurance plan (medical, dental, vision) through the City of New Orleans
  • Accrual of sick and vacation leave, approximately 10 days per year
  • Participation in the Louisiana District Attorneys' Retirement System
  • Options for Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Eligibility for Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  • Generous paid holiday schedule
  • Access to free Continuing Legal Education and training opportunities
Full Job Description
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:

To represent the State of Louisiana in all criminal matters before courts with jurisdiction in Orleans Parish. These courts include, but are not limited to: Municipal and Traffic Court, Juvenile Court, Criminal District Court, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, the Louisiana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

ADAs are generally assigned to one of OPDA's five primary legal divisions: Juvenile Division, Screening Division, Trials Division, Appeals Division, and Civil Rights Division. Within the Juvenile and Trials Divisions, ADAs are generally assigned to specific sections of court. ADAs may also be assigned to one of several specialized, in-house units: Domestic Violence Unit, Narcotics Unit, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Unit, and Violent Crimes Unit.

Typical duties include: reviewing felony and misdemeanor cases for prosecution; interacting with law enforcement, victims, and witnesses; drafting bills of information, motions, and other pleadings; preparing discovery; performing legal research; appearing and arguing in court with regularity; developing trial strategies and conducting plea negotiations; and conducting jury selection and trials.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
  • Member of the Louisiana Bar in good standing, or 3L student or recent law school graduate planning to take the Louisiana bar exam
  • Ability to conduct legal research and apply legal analysis to factual scenarios
  • Public speaking ability and effective communication skills
  • Comfort with technology, including ability to learn case management software
  • Ability to work flexible hours, including some weeks of over 40 hours
  • Dependability in both attendance and work product

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary commensurate with experience.

Entry Level ADA: Ranges from $65,000 (no litigation experience) to $70,000 (may have some litigation experience, but no substantial criminal prosecution experience).

Intermediate ADA: Ranges from $71,000 to $82,000. Hires in this range are expected to have litigation experience and proficiency in criminal law.

Experienced ADA: Ranges from $82,000 to $105,000 starting salary. Hires in this range are expected to hold a high degree of proficiency in criminal prosecution, with substantial jury trial experience handling all levels cases.

New ADA hires may be eligible for:
  • Enrollment in the City of New Orleans health insurance plan Includes:(medical, dental, vision)
  • 6.44 hours of sick leave and no fewer than 6.44 hours of vacation leave per month (6.44 hours per month = approximately 10 days per year)
  • Enrollment in the Louisiana District Attorneys' Retirement System
  • Enrollment in the Louisiana Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
  • A generous paid holiday schedule
  • Frequent, free opportunities for Continuing Legal Education and other relevant training

CLASSIFICATION:

Full-time, exempt

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