Senior Prosecuting Attorney - Criminal Division

City of Saint Paul, MN

$140K — $175K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctorate Degree and Minnesota bar license required
  • Minimum 7 years of legal experience with at least 4 years in a full performance capacity as an Attorney
  • Demonstrated knowledge of criminal law
  • Strong analytical and trial strategy skills
  • Exceptional legal research and writing abilities

Responsibilities

  • Screen cases for appropriate criminal charges
  • Represent the City in court, including arraignments and trials
  • Conduct case investigations, including evidence gathering
  • Prepare and submit legal documents and correspondence
  • Draft legislative ordinances and legal policies
  • Guide and mentor junior attorneys
  • Provide expert legal advice to city officials and departments

Benefits

  • Health insurance coverage
  • Paid vacation and sick leave
  • Retirement program contributions
  • Life insurance options
  • Subsidized transportation pass for commuting
  • Deferred compensation plans
  • Optional dental, long-term disability, and additional insurance plans
Full Job Description
Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Saint Paul, MN
Job Type: Unclassified
Job Number: 26-UNCL-02159
Department: City Attorney
Opening Date: 09/11/2026
Closing Date: 9/30/2026 11:59 PM Central

About the Position
The Saint Paul City Attorney's Office is currently accepting applications for two (2) full-time senior-level prosecutor positions in its Criminal Division. The pay range will be dependent on qualifications.
  • Senior Attorney: $67.47 - $84.54 Hourly.$140,337.60 - $175,843.20 Annually. (To be considered at the Senior Attorney level, candidates must have at least 7 years of directly related attorney experience.)
  • Attorney: $57.27 - $70.71 Hourly. $119,121.60 - $147,076.80 Annually. (To be considered at the Attorney level, candidate must have at least 3 years of directly related attorney experience.)
  • Associate Attorney: $54.00 - $61.42 Hourly. $112,320.00 - $127,753.60 Annually.

Attorneys in the Criminal Division represent the City and are assigned to handle high volumes of a variety of criminal cases from charging through appeal.
Here's what you can expect to do:

This position will involve prosecuting individuals charged with petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor, and gross misdemeanor offenses. Typical work performed includes:

  • Screening of cases for criminal charges by reviewing and evaluating reports from law enforcement, assessing evidentiary issues and the merits of cases, and recommending approval or declining of charges.
  • Representing the City by preparing for and making appearances at arraignments, pretrial hearings, jury trials, sentencing, and other court proceedings; keeping affected parties informed as to case status; negotiating resolution of cases, and recommending disposition of cases.
  • Conducting case investigations by identifying and researching legal issues, interviewing victims and witnesses, and obtaining evidence from sources such as phone records, business records, video, audio, or other digital evidence, background searches, and other evidentiary materials.
  • Drafting, filing, and/or submitting criminal complaints, memoranda, discovery requests, appeals, proposed court orders, pleadings, motions, letters, briefs, and other legal documents.
  • Drafting ordinances, resolutions, rules, and policies.
  • Drafting, reviewing, filing, and/or submitting appellate briefs and other legal correspondence to the Minnesota appellate courts.
  • Plans, organizes, mentors, and leads the work of lower-level employees within the Criminal Division as requested by the City Attorney, Deputy City Attorney, or Supervising Attorney.
  • Leads criminal prosecution activities and provides expert legal advice to the City Council, the Mayor's Office, City departments, boards, commissioners, and committees.

Information Specific to this Position:

This position performs wide-ranging, routine to expert level, highly complex professional legal work in the Criminal Division. The worksite for this position is at the Saint Paul City Attorney's Office located in downtown Saint Paul. While some telework may be possible upon approval of the City Attorney, this position is not a remote position.
Our Benefits: We offer competitive wages, and a variety of , including health insurance, retirement contributions and paid vacation and sick time.
Position Requirements
Job classification and salary will be commensurate with experience.

  • Candidates for this position must have a Juris Doctorate Degree and a license to practice law from the Supreme Court of the State of Minnesota, and at least seven years of progressive experience to include four years of experience as an Attorney at the full performance level with the City of Saint Paul or equivalent.
  • Continued employment as an assistant city attorney is contingent upon maintaining a license to practice law from the Supreme Court of the State of Minnesota.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Minimum of five years of experience practicing criminal law.
  • Excellent legal research and writing skills.
  • Strong analytical, communication, and trial strategy skills.
  • A demonstrated ability to maintain consistent professionalism.


How to Apply

  1. Submit a City of Saint Paul online application, including answers to the Supplemental Questionnaire.
  2. Upload the following required documents via the online application system. You will not be able to submit your application without these documents attached. (Zip files and web links will not be accepted. Each uploaded attachment is limited to 10MB.)
    • Resume
    • Writing Sample
    • A legible copy of your proof of license to practice law in the State of Minnesota (required at time of hire)

First time applying online? Read our .

Need technical support? For help with the online application, please call 1-855-524-5627.
Learn more about our Hiring Process

Unclassified Posting: This is an UNCLASSIFIED position and is therefore not governed by City Civil Service Rules. All who meet the criteria and requirements stated on the job posting will be placed on a hiring list for consideration. Hiring Managers may interview/hire anyone from the list.

Final Selection Process: You will be notified if you are invited to participate in the final selection process.

Human Resources Contact Information:Trisha Freiberger at 651-266-6481
E-mail:

The City of Saint Paul offers a competitive benefits package for permanent, certified positions. Temporary positions are not eligible for benefits.

Benefits vary with each position and the collective bargaining agreement. Benefits may include:

City Paid Benefits
  • Health Insurance
  • Vacation/Holidays
  • Sick Leave
  • Life Insurance
  • Subsidized Metro Bus Pass
  • Deferred Compensation
  • Retirement Program

Optional Benefits
  • Dental
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Disability Insurance
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
  • Long Term Care Insurance

For a detailed overview, visit
01

The thorough completion of the supplemental questions is very important in the screening process. Therefore, a lack of detail and explanation in the supplemental questions and in your application, may result in failure or disqualification for this position. In addition, documentation of work experience referred to in the supplemental questions must be included in the application. Your education, training, and experience are subject to verification.I understand that giving false information, failure to accurately represent myself, or not providing required documentation as listed on the job announcement will result in disqualification from this position.
  • Yes

02

At the time of submitting this application, are you licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota?
  • Yes
  • No

03

How many years of attorney level experience do you possess?
  • Seven years or more
  • Three years but less than seven years
  • One year but less than three years
  • None of the above

04

Please describe your legal experience related to criminal law.
05

Please describe your trial experience.
06

Please describe your appellate practice experience.
07

RECRUITMENT: How did you first find your way to our website to apply for this position? (check all that apply)
  • City of Saint Paul website
  • City of Saint Paul employee
  • City of Saint Paul job interest card
  • City of Saint Paul walk-in
  • City of Saint Paul Posted! newsletter
  • City of Saint Paul Gov.Delivery notifications
  • Friend or family member
  • League of Minnesota Cities website
  • Governmentjobs.com website
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • X (formerly known as Twitter)
  • Indeed.com website
  • ZipRecruiter
  • Pollen website
  • MinnesotaWorks.net
  • College or University
  • Community organization
  • Job fair
  • Professional association
  • Saint Paul Elevate Session
  • People of Color Career Fair
  • Other

08

RECRUITMENT: If not indicated above, please specify where you heard about the position (e.g., specific organization/website name, City of Saint Paul employee name).
Required Question

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