Pierce County

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney/Experienced Torts Litigator (County Attorney 4)

Pierce County$137K — $177K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in civil tort litigation, preferably in juvenile justice.
  • Strong understanding of trauma-informed legal practices.
  • Ability to engage in complex legal matters in both state and federal courts.
  • Experience working with elected officials and executives on legal advice and policy formulation.
  • Competence in managing and analyzing legal evidence and case law.

Responsibilities

  • Support general tort defense litigation with a focus on juvenile sexual assault claims.
  • Collaborate closely with a specialized juvenile sexual assault team.
  • Provide legal opinions and drafts to elected officials and department heads.
  • Participate in all stages of litigation, from claim stage to trial and appeals.
  • Analyze and present legal evidence and precedents in various settings.

Benefits

  • 12-30 days of vacation leave, increasing with tenure.
  • Paid military leave up to 21 days per fiscal year for service members.
  • Comprehensive health insurance for employees and families, with multiple plan options.
  • Participation in a robust retirement and deferred compensation plan.
  • Flexible spending accounts available for health and dependent care expenses.
Full Job Description
Salary: $137,706.70 - $177,361.38 Annually
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Regular - Other
Job Number: 26-00950
Department: Prosecutor
Division: Prosecutor
Opening Date: 09/14/2026
Closing Date: 10/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Summary
How to be Successful in this Role:
In this position you will support general tort defense litigation with a focus on juvenile sexual assault claims. You will work closely with the juvenile sexual assault team, which is focused on careful, trauma informed investigation and litigation of juvenile sexual assault claims against the county. This team is comprised of experienced deputy prosecutors, a skilled investigator, knowledgeable legal assistants, and a business analyst. Attorneys in this group work closely with the team, from early resolution to litigating cases in superior court.

Your Future in this Role:
This is a great opportunity to give back to the community in which you live and help make Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.
Minimum Qualifications

  • Handles complex legal matters and litigation on behalf of Pierce County, both in State and Federal Courts. Initially involved at the claim stage, the attorney will remain involved through pre-trial preparation, trial, and any appeals taken therefrom.
  • Works directly with elected officials and appointed department heads to provide legal advice and drafts, and prepares legal opinions and memoranda.
  • May be called upon to perform the duties and functions of either the Chief or Assistant Chief Civil Deputy in the event of the absence of one or the other, or both.
  • Frequently relied upon by other attorneys within the office for both legal and strategic advice.
  • May assist the prosecutor in formulating policy for the office.
  • May assist the prosecutor in setting goals for the office and in recommending the best personnel to fulfill those goals.
  • Analyzes, appraises, organizes facts, evidence, and precedents derived from case law; makes presentations before courts, legislative bodies, and administrative agencies.

This classification is distinguished from the County Attorney 3 classification by being predominantly assigned to the most complex civil tort cases. This classification may also have supervisory responsibility for a unit in the department's Civil Division and may be requested to assist in formulating policy for the department and providing recommendations on personnel issues. A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found .

Supplemental Information
How to Apply:

  • Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
  • If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team at [email protected] and include the job number and title.
  • Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need.
  • Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Our Recruitment Practices:

This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the positionPierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.
During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.
Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.
Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.
Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment:

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.
Guided by the County Executive's Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our , and a County Book Club.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and , , staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Our benefits:

Vacation (Annual Leave)
After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.
Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:

Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20 Days
During years 14-18, 23 Days
During years 19, 24 Days
During years 20, 25 Days
During years 21, 26 Days
During years 22, 27 Days
During years 23, 28 Days
During years 24, 29 Days
During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days

A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.
Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.

Military Leave:
Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.

Holidays:
Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:
New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January
President's Day - Third Monday in February
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Juneteenth - June 19
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Veteran's Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after
Christmas Day - December 25

Personal Holidays:
Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.

Furlough:
Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.

Sick Leave:
Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.

Insurance Benefits:
Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the website.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation:
Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security:
All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
ORCA Passport Program
Pierce County employees may participate in the County's ORCA (One Regional Card for All) Passport program.
Your Pierce County issued ORCA card is loaded with an annual Passport pass. The pass automatically renews every year. The pass will provide you with free transportation on regularly scheduled service on several public transit systems.

Miscellaneous Benefits:
Please visit website for more information.

Telework/Remote Options:
Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy
**All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.
01

Have you attached a resume? Failure to attach it will result in an incomplete application.
  • Yes
  • No

02

What prior experience do you have in civil torts litigation?
03

After closely reviewing this job announcement, why do you believe you would be an outstanding candidate for this opportunity?
Required Question

About Pierce County

Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 795,225, making it the second-most populous county in Washington behind King County. The county seat and largest city is Tacoma. Pierce County is included in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Pierce County is notable for being home to Mount Rainier, the tallest mountain and a volcano in the Cascade Range. Pierce County was created from Thurston County by the legislature of Oregon Territory on December 22, 1852, and was named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce. Pierce County is home to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the largest joint base on the West Coast of the United States and the third-largest in the U.S. Department of Defense.
Learn more about Pierce County

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