Description:
About the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office (OPDA):Jason Rogers Williams took office as the Orleans Parish District Attorney on January 11, 2021, and is building a 21st century prosecutors' office with a team of the best and brightest lawyers from around the country and a mission of being as smart on crime as the office has historically been tough on crime. New Orleans has led the world in convictions and incarceration for decades, without any corresponding decrease in crime. OPDA is simultaneously increasing safety and delivering justice with a laser focus on serious offense and a belief that every New Orleanian deserves the presumption of innocence.
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
