Description:

General Summary:
Pre-Bar Admission/Assistant Prosecutor I
Under the direction of the Prosecuting Attorney and the Chief Assistant, reviews and authorizes requests for warrants, determines the appropriate charge and prosecutes criminal cases. As an entry level Assistant Prosecutor, is assigned to a District Court docket covering misdemeanor criminal trial docket, felony preliminary examinations, and civil infraction hearings. Assists in more complex felony matters.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney II and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney III
Under the direction of the Prosecuting Attorney and the Chief Assistant reviews and authorizes requests for warrants, determines the appropriate charge and prosecutes criminal and civil cases. An intermediate level Assistant Prosecutor independently manages a juvenile delinquency or misdemeanor criminal trial docket, or with supervisory assistance manages an appellate docket or a felony trial docket in Circuit Court. May be assigned more complex felony matters.

Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Under the direction of the Prosecuting Attorney and the Chief Assistant, reviews and authorizes requests for warrants, determines the appropriate charge and prosecutes criminal cases. As an experienced Assistant Prosecutor, independently manages a felony docket of a Circuit Court, as well as District and Probate Court matters as necessary. Is assigned more complex or sensitive cases including sexual assault, violent crimes, and homicides, and is expected to be able to prosecute such matters with limited assistance.

Position Levels

Salary*

Experience Requirements:
Pre-Bar Admission/Assistant Prosecuting Attorney I

(Bottom of Grade 10)

Annually

Up to $65,936

We are hiring recent graduates and can help you get experience as you prepare to sit for the State Bar or await results**.

Hourly

Up to $31.70

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney I

(Top of Grade 10)

Annually

Up to $85,716

Attorney's with up to one (1) to two (2) years of experience practicing law.

Hourly

Up to $41.21

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney II

(Top of Grade 11)

Annually

Up to $92,144

Attorney's with up to three (3) to four (4) years of experience practicing law.

Hourly

Up to $44.30

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney III

(Top of Grade 13)

Annually

Up to $99,153

Attorney's with up to five (5) of experience practicing law.

Hourly

Up to $47.67

Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney

(Top of Grade 14)

Annually

Up to $101,670

Attorney's with up to six (6) years of experience practicing law.

Hourly

Up to $48.88

Starting pay is dependent on an applicant's relevant experience or specializations as determined by the Prosecutor. Listed salaries include a cost of living adjustment scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2025.
Pre-Admission Candidates will have up to one year to become fully licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan.

Starting pay is dependent on an applicant's relevant experience and the position level they are offered.
Applications are accepted until there are sufficient numbers of qualified applications or a qualified candidate is identified. This position could close at any time.**

Under the direction of the Prosecuting Attorney and the Chief Assistant, reviews and authorizes requests for warrants, determines the appropriate charge and prosecutes criminal cases. As an experienced Assistant Prosecutor, independently manages the felony docket of a Circuit Court, as well as District and Probate Court matters as necessary, and may be assigned some of the more complex or sensitive cases. Attempts to resolve and dispose of criminal cases or tries case in court. May serve as project director for child support, sexual assault or other target areas.

Essential Functions:
  • Reviews criminal warrant requests from State and local law enforcement agencies, analyzes police reports, collects input from the law enforcement officers(s), researches the law as necessary to determine applicable statutes and determines whether adequate grounds exist to authorize a warrant.
  • Researches and prepares criminal cases for trial, motions, sentencings, and other proceedings. Includes the research of applicable law, interviewing witnesses and investigating claims, developing trial strategies and directing law enforcement officers in further investigation.
  • Appears in court for arraignments, motions, trials, sentencings, and other proceedings to represent the Prosecutor. Selects juries, presents arguments, examines and cross-examines witnesses, introduces physical exhibits, confers with Judge and defense counsel on points of law and procedure and argues factual conclusions to a Judge or jury.
  • Works cooperatively with law enforcement officers from various agencies to ensure investigation and reporting of assigned cases are accomplished in accordance with professional and judicial rules and standards. Provides advice and instructions to police agencies.
  • Attempts to resolve and dispose of pending criminal cases by conferring with attorneys and parties involved in order to reach agreement on pleas and potential sentences.
  • Drafts motions, briefs and other legal documents.
  • Researches the more difficult legal issues through the use of Westlaw and other research sources. Assists other Assistant Prosecutors in resolving difficult legal questions.
  • Reviews requests for search warrants and authorizes warrants as appropriate.
  • Researches and renders opinions on a wide range of legal issues involving the County and advises county agencies and departments on legal issues.
  • Serves in an on-call status to respond to request for arrest and search warrants. Includes responding to police requests for search warrants for blood from suspected drunk drivers and review of lodged charging requests on weekends and holidays.

This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or modified at any time.

Other Functions:
May be designated to prosecute criminal sexual conduct cases involving minor child victims. Such prosecution will involve meeting with and preparing child victims to testify in court proceedings. It will also necessitate extensive knowledge of the forensic interviewing protocol and observation of forensic interviews of child victims.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Law degree from an accredited law school.
  • Licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan.
  • In good standing with the Michigan State Bar.
  • 2-3 years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney or a closely related capacity.
  • Extensive criminal trial experience.
  • Extensive knowledge of Michigan law, court rules, and rules of evidence.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:
Physical Requirements [This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements]:
  • Ability to access all courtrooms within the County.
  • Prolonged sitting and standing while in the courtroom.
  • Proficient in the use of computers and other technological devices for file management and case presentation.

Working Conditions:
  • Works in office and courtrooms.
  • Exposure to individuals charged and/or convicted of a variety of criminal offenses.