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Posted: February 17, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Deputy Prosecuting Attorney - District Court Unit (Term-Limited)

King County

PAO - Prosecuting Attorneys

Fresh

Location

Salary

$92,770 - $153,722

per year

Type

Closes

February 26, 2026

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a prosecutor in a district court, handling misdemeanor criminal cases through trials, negotiations, and court appearances in locations around Seattle.

It's a temporary role ideal for newer attorneys eager to build courtroom skills while serving the community with fairness and compassion.

A good fit would be someone motivated by justice, teamwork, and professional growth in a supportive public office.

Key Requirements

  • Active license to practice law in Washington State
  • Experience or strong interest in criminal prosecution, particularly gross misdemeanors
  • Ability to work at multiple courthouses in Seattle, Kent, and Redmond
  • Commitment to core values: integrity, compassion, professionalism, and leadership
  • Willingness to handle a large caseload with independent judgment and discretion
  • Availability for standard hours (8am-5pm) plus occasional weekends or holidays
  • Participation in equity trainings and social justice initiatives

Full Job Description

20250529115227_PAO_Mission_Logo_Transparent_10_2023.png

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (Term-Limited)
District Court Unit - Mainstream Criminal Division
Maleng Regional Justice Center, Kent

The Mainstream Criminal Division of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is seeking highly motivated attorneys with a commitment to justice, integrity, compassion, leadership, and professionalism to join our office as term-limited Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys in the District Court Unit. These are excellent opportunities to develop expertise and gain courtroom experience, particularly for new and less experienced attorneys. If you seek enriching, meaningful work and a chance to serve your community while working as part of a dynamic team, this opportunity may be for you.

About the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Guided by our core values of Integrity, Compassion, Professionalism, and Leadership, our mission is to do Justice:
  • We exercise the power given to us by the people with fairness and humility.
  • We serve our diverse community, support victims and families, and hold individuals accountable.
  • We develop innovative and collaborative solutions for King County and the State of Washington.
Our office is composed of six divisions that are further organized into specialized units:
20251029104535_Divisions.png
We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce that reflects the community that we serve. It is essential to our mission that we create and maintain an office that is diverse and inclusive. All PAO employees are expected to participate in PAO equity work and attend equity trainings and discussions. PAO employees are expected to comply with equity and social justice principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.

This is an open and continuous recruitment that will be used to fill openings over the next few months. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, and the post will remain up until open positions have been filled.

To learn more about the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO), please visit our website.

Requirements

The initial assignment (rotation) for these positions will be at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys (DPAs) cover work at courthouses in Seattle, Kent and Redmond. All deputies are expected to be able to work at any of those locations.

Attorneys hired into these roles are primarily assigned to work in our District Court Unit handling gross misdemeanor cases. As a new deputy, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills as a trial lawyer, negotiator, and to internalize the mission of our office, which is not just to win cases, but to serve the cause of justice. We are an office that relies on data to enhance and measure performance, allocate resources where they are most needed, and identify opportunities and challenges, while implementing efficiencies. You will have a large and meaningful caseload, exercise your best judgment and discretion, and join a community of Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys and Legal Service Professionals committed to integrity, excellence, and mutual support.


General work hours are 8:00am - 5:00pm, with court hours being 8:30am - 4:30pm. Occasional weekend or holiday calendar coverage is required. Other potential work assignments include:
  • Assisting with mainstream felony filings.
  • Covering felony calendars.
Term-Limited DPA contracts last 12 months (with the possibility of extension) and enjoy the same robust benefits package as non-contract employees. The 12-month timeframe serves as a probationary period to provide a mutual opportunity to confirm whether the position is a good match between a candidate's interests, skills, performance, and the requirements of the job. These positions are represented by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Association.

These positions are primarily in-person with some ability to telecommute each week as business needs allow, subject to a telecommuting agreement. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Qualifications

  • Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills.
  • Strong work ethic and commitment to working effectively in a team environment.
  • Strong commitment to race, equity, and social justice issues, including working on personal cultural competency.
  • Passion and eagerness to learn trial skills.
  • Strong ability to accept feedback and coaching, and to implement it into practice.
  • Must be Washington State Bar qualified.
Special Requirements:
  • Member in good standing with the Washington State Bar.
  • Able to work at any of our three locations (Seattle, Kent, Redmond), starting with being assigned to Kent.
  • Must submit to a criminal history check, which will include fingerprinting.
  • Must be a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident (per RCW 36.27 and 29A.04 and article VI of the WS Constitution).

Additional Information

Salary: $92,770 - $153,722 annually commensurate with experience Application Process:1. Fully complete King County application*2. Attach Cover Letter addressed to the Hiring Committee3. Attach Resume4.

Answer supplemental questions*Applications or supplemental questionnaires that state "see my resume" or that are blank are considered incomplete and will not be considered competitive.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:Selene Poulsen (she/her)Senior Human Resources Analyst spoulsen@kingcounty.gov

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is dedicated to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

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Posted on NEOGOV: 2/17/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/18/2026

Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-kingcounty-5240334