Closing Date: 4th June, 2026
Description:
Job Information:Exempt; full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; full benefits
This professional position is assigned to the Juvenile Division of the State's Attorney's Office, with responsibility for presenting assigned cases and trial work in the Juvenile Court. This position must coordinate investigations with law enforcement investigating crimes committed by juveniles. This position is supervised by the Chief Assistant State's Attorney (Juvenile).
NOTE: The upper pay range reflects possible wage rates for internal County transfers and promotions, which are calculated per County policy. For external hires, offers are made at the base wage rate, with limited exception.
The State's Attorney's Office strives to ensure equal opportunities and access for its workforce, applicants, and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for residents, apply to the State's Attorney's Office today.
Total Compensation Package:
Frederick County offers an extensive compensation package to reflect how highly we value our employees. The following is what you can expect in your first year as a full-time benefited Frederick County Government employee.
- 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
- 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
- 11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays (10 and 11 month employees may not receive all holidays)
- Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
- Employee Health Center with no or low-cost primary and urgent care
- 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
- County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan
- Vesting after 5 years of service
- Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc.
- Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
- Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Other employee-paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan
Note: Benefited employees will accrue service and leave based on the FTE and/or hours worked per calendar year.
For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage.
Essential Duties And Job Responsibilities
- Preform all case preparation and litigation for juvenile matters
- Analyze juvenile charging documents for appropriate charges and evidentiary needs for trial
- Assist law enforcement and multi-disciplinary teams in the resolution of crimes against children which involve juvenile perpetrators; prosecute these cases in court as well as handling all pre-charge options for these youth
- Follow cases from petition through adjudication, disposition, violations of probation, and review hearings when applicable
- Prepare for disposition hearings which requires multiple communications with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services case managers and defense counsel, as well as review of psychological and psychiatric evaluations and disposition reports from counselors, school officials, etc.
- Assist & provide legal advice and training to police agencies regarding charging decisions, including school resource officers, patrol officers and detectives calling for guidance)
- Litigate waiver hearings to adult jurisdiction when appropriate
- Litigate shelter and detention hearings
- Litigate adult violation of probation matters and assist if requested in adult felony matters
- Negotiate resolutions for juvenile respondents and victims with law enforcement pre-charge, and with our diversion programs as well as after petition in the courtroom
- Draft plea offers, pleadings, consent orders, and/or court orders
- Participate in community education events and public speaking on behalf of the office, to include regular education classes with the Frederick County Public Schools
- Perform other related duties as assigned
To perform this job successfully, an employee must be able to perform all essential functions satisfactorily. Any employee's position may not be assigned all functions or equipment listed above, and the examples may not cover all functions or equipment that may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform their essential functions.
Qualifications and Requirements:
The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical requirements or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Assistant States Attorney I ($88,654.69 - $150,712.97):
- Graduation from an accredited law school
- Admission to the Bar of the State of Maryland
- Some work experience in case analysis, trial preparation and preparation of case documents
Assistant States Attorney II ($94,860.52 - $161,262.88):
- Graduation from an accredited law school
- Current Bar Admission in the State of Maryland
- Minimum 2 years of work experience in criminal Law, litigation, case analysis, trial preparation and preparation of criminal and/or juvenile court documents
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
A successful incumbent operating in this role displays the following:
- Considerable knowledge of legal principles and procedures
- Experience with juvenile witnesses
- Experience working with victims and or perpetrators of sexual offenses and/or violent crimes
- Ability to effectively evaluate and try a case
- Ability to effectively obtain information through interview and interrogation
- Ability to conduct legal research
- Ability to draft legal memorandum and court orders with appropriate legal references and research
- Ability to make quick and well-reasoned case decisions under pressured circumstances
- Discretion and good judgment in working with sensitive information, with ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, attorneys and others in the judicial system and the general public
- Ability to give knowledgeable and practical advice to individuals who are emotionally distraught
- Strong and effective spoken and written (English) communication skills, including the ability to maintain clear, accurate case files
Preference May Be Given For
- Law experience as a litigating criminal or juvenile law attorney in the State of Maryland
- Experience communicating and working with families in crisis
- Experience working on issues related to sexual violence and offending
- Bilingual skills in Spanish
Physical Requirments/Working Conditions:
- While working in this position, the employee is frequently sitting, lifting up to 20 pounds and making repetitive motions
- While working in this position, the employee is constantly indoors
- This position is subject to random drug testing, to include testing for marijuana
- As a representative of the people of Frederick County, it is imperative that the Assistant State's Attorney maintain competent and professional relations with the public
- This position will be full-time without a private practice
- Failure to meet or maintain the minimum qualifications or additional requirements may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination
Kind of Examination (may include):
- An evaluation of experience and training
- One or more interviews
- Pre-employment drug test, to include testing for marijuana
- Pre-employment background investigation conducted by the State's Attorney's Office
