Closing Date: 30th April, 2024
Description:
Basic Function:This Deputy Attorney General position is a prosecutor position in the Office of Attorney General's Organized Crime Section with a focus on investigating and prosecuting organized retail crime. The types of cases handled by this position include, but are not limited to, corrupt organizations, money laundering, and racketeering being committed by organized retail crime enterprises. These cases will encompass both complex, long-term investigations, as well as short-term investigations and arrests which will require working collaboratively with agents and outside law enforcement partners. In addition, the candidate may also be expected to handle other organized crime matters such as the investigation and prosecution of criminal enterprises engaging in theft, financial scams, bank fraud, financial exploitation of seniors, bookmaking, and loan-sharking.
As the assigned attorney on a case, an employee in this position is responsible for all phases of prosecution, including making charging decisions, arraignments, preliminary hearings, pretrial conferences, pretrial motions and hearings, trials (bench and jury), posttrial motions and hearings, and sentencing hearings. Additionally, the candidate will be expected to utilize the Statewide Investigating Grand Jury as a prosecutorial tool in many of their cases and will be expected to utilize provisions of Pennsylvania's Wiretap Act (Chapter 57) to further the assigned criminal investigations. This position is responsible for maintaining contact with victims throughout the aforementioned stages of proceedings. An intimate knowledge of criminal law and criminal procedure is necessary to perform these duties.
A Deputy Attorney General II (DAG II) provides varied legal services and advice on matters of moderate scope and complexity. As a DAG II gains experience, more complex work is assigned and is performed with more independence. A Deputy Attorney General III (DAG III) works independently on most matters, while a Deputy Attorney General IV (DAG IV) works independently except in extraordinary cases but is expected to regularly communicate with the Section Chief. A willingness to travel is an essential part of this position. The candidate should expect to appear in court in Southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding counties on a regular basis.
Examples of Duties:
- Develops investigative plans based upon the nature of the matter to be investigated (simple/complex) in conjunction with assigned agents
- Directs investigations, determining what investigative steps to take and investigative tools to use to achieve an appropriate/just investigative outcome
- Prepares and presents cases to the Statewide Investigating Grand Jury
- Monitors investigations, assessing progress and adjusting investigative strategies when needed
- Utilizes all tools available under Pennsylvania's Wiretap Act to further the investigative needs of the cases
- Keeps supervisor informed of the progress and potential outcome of investigations
- Determines, along with agents and in consultation with superiors, whether to pursue a prosecution
- Prepares, reviews, and approves charging documents in conjunction with agents if prosecution is pursued
- Represents the Commonwealth post arrest and throughout all stages of the criminal prosecution including arraignments, preliminary hearings, pretrial conferences, pretrial motions and hearings, trials (bench and jury), posttrial motions and hearings, and sentencing hearings
- Answers routine correspondence
- Performs additional and related work as required
Minimum Experience and Training
Deputy Attorney General II:
Graduation from an accredited school of law, admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and a minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in professional legal work
Deputy Attorney General III:
Graduation from an accredited school of law, admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in professional legal work
Deputy Attorney General IV:
Graduation from an accredited school of law, admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and a minimum of six years of progressively responsible experience in professional legal work
In addition to the above qualifications, the below experience is preferred, but not required:
- Grand Jury experience
- At least 5 felony jury trials
- Experience investigating and prosecuting complex organized retail crimes
- Experience with Pennsylvania's Wiretap Act
