Deputy District Attorney Jobs
Deputy District Attorney jobs are open across county, city, and state government offices at every level from entry-level junior deputy to senior and supervising attorney, with specializations in felony prosecution, juvenile justice, and white-collar crime. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Brief Description
ABOUT THE JOB
Attorneys are assigned to perform some or all functions of the District Attorney's Office, including criminal case intake, guidance to law enforcement, appearances before the grand jury, circuit and juvenile courts, and to serve in other areas as directed. Primary caseload responsibility involves misdemeanor and simple felony criminal cases from submission of reports to final resolution.
WORK SCHEDULE
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from an accredited school of law. Member of the Oregon Bar at the time of appointment and remain in good standing. Prefer some experience in the practice of law; or any equivalent combination of experience and training.
REQUIRED SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Must possess and maintain a valid Oregon driver’s license and automobile insurance, and have access to and use of a personal automobile as a condition of employment. Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background check.
General Statement
Polk County, the Organization:
Polk County takes pride in knowing that our employees are what makes the County a great place to work. We have a strong desire for each employee to feel respected; connected to the department they work for as well as other County departments and the community at large; and know that they are critical to County business. We understand that work may be necessary, but not what should define each individual. We all have diverse personalities and interests away from the job, and at Polk County we encourage our employees to be connected to something bigger than work.
Benefits:
Polk County offers generous employee benefits including, but not limited to:
- 11 paid holidays per year
- 8 hours of vacation earned monthly with increases every 5 years
- 8 hours of sick leave earned monthly
- 4-5 Personal Leave Days earned each fiscal year (Depends on position; prorated depending on date of hire)
- PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) - 100% employer funded contributions
- Full health benefits for the employee and qualified family members with the employee paying only 10% of the premium
- Basic life Insurance - employer paid
- Optional benefits such as additional life insurance, short term disability, deferred compensation savings program and flexible spending accounts for unreimbursed medical and dependent care expenses
- Qualifying employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Our Community:
Polk County is located in the Willamette Valley just an hour from the Pacific Coast to the west and an hour from Portland to the north. The population is approximately 87,000 and the area spans about 744 square miles, with two thirds of the western part of the county being forest. National protected areas include the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Siuslaw National Forest.
The County is part of the agricultural richness the Willamette Valley has to offer. In recent decades, the valley has also become a major wine producer, with Polk County being one of the best in the area. The valley is often known as the “Oregon Wine Country.” Polk County has over 25 wineries alone.
Polk County also houses the beautiful liberal arts college, Western Oregon University (WOU), and is only 30 miles from Oregon State University. WOU was an inaugural winner of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award. This award recognizes universities and colleges that have demonstrated the highest level of commitment and action towards fostering a campus community that celebrates all the many facets of diversity. WOU is one of the most diverse universities in Oregon and has a higher percentage of Latino students in the Oregon University system.
Qualifications
Please refer to the Class Specification for the full job description and minimum experience, education and training requirements for this position.
Supplemental Information
** A cover letter is required. If you are a military veteran and want to apply for Veterans' Hiring Preference, you must attach supporting documentation and complete the Veteran’s Preference Form. **
** DO NOT ATTACH ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS (transcripts, letters of recommendation, certificates, etc.) They will not be considered at the application stage. You may bring them to the interview if you are selected to interview. **
Polk County is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities will be provided upon request.
Benefits Overview:
- Polk County offers a generous benefits package to support employees' physical, financial and emotional well-being. Benefits are available to regular status employees working 20 or more hours per week.
- Part time employees receive pro-rated benefits.
- Benefits will vary according to bargaining unit.
- Temporary employees are not eligible for benefits.
Health Insurance (medical, dental, Rx and vision): We offer Kaiser Permanente and PacificSource. Coverage varies according to bargaining unit. Employee share of the premium will vary according to bargaining unit and full-time or part-time status.
Paid Leave:
- Vacation: New full-time employees generally earn 12 vacation days per year; this increases with years of service. Part-time employees earn a pro-rated amount.
- Holidays: A generous number of paid holidays annually. This will vary according to bargaining unit.
- Personal Leave Days: These are floating holidays. The number of Personal Leave Days varies according to bargaining unit.
- Sick Leave: 8 hours per month (pro-rated for part time) with no maximum accrual.
- Other Leaves: Jury duty, bereavement, military.
Retirement: We participate in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Polk County picks up the employee's share of the retirement contribution (6% of wages.) See the PERS website for more information: www.pers.state.or.us
Employee Assistance Program: Provides a variety of counseling options and/or online information for emotional well-being, relationships, financial, health, legal and personal growth.
Optional Benefits Include:
- Deferred Compensation: Employees may elect to participate in a 457(b) deferred compensation plan through convenient payroll deductions. We offer the Oregon Savings Growth Plan and Nationwide.
- Life Insurance: Polk County provides basic life insurance and AD&D at no cost to employees. Additional insurance is available to purchase.
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Option to participate in this pre-tax plan to cover eligible health and dependent care expenses.
- Aflac: Employees have the option of participating in a variety of Aflac plans.
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Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in deputy district attorney jobs.
- Active bar membership in the hiring state required at time of appointment
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
- Prior criminal law experience including courtroom or trial work
- Demonstrated ability to manage a high-volume misdemeanor or felony caseload
- Familiarity with case management systems and electronic discovery tools
- Strong written and oral advocacy skills for motions, hearings, and jury trials
Tips for Your Deputy District Attorney Job Search
Tailor your resume to prosecution
List every courtroom appearance, case type, and conviction outcome you can quantify in your resume. Hiring managers at DA offices scan for trial experience first, so front-load felony jury trials, preliminary hearings, and plea negotiations rather than general litigation language.
Target offices by case volume
Large urban district attorney offices handle higher case loads and offer faster courtroom exposure, while smaller county offices often assign deputies to trial sooner. Match the office size to where you are in your career and what experience you need next.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists deputy district attorney openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Get your bar admission in order first
Most DA offices require active bar membership in the state where the office operates before your start date, not just at offer. If you've recently relocated or are awaiting admission results, state that explicitly in your cover letter so the hiring team knows your timeline.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
DA hiring panels routinely ask how you'd handle a victim who refuses to cooperate, a weak evidentiary case, or a conflict with a supervisor's charging decision. Practice answers that show prosecutorial judgment and ethical reasoning, not just procedural knowledge.
Negotiate your starting classification carefully
Many DA offices use tiered deputy classifications tied to years of experience. If you join at the wrong tier, advancement can be slow. Before accepting an offer, ask how years of prior criminal defense, public defender, or clerkship experience translates into your starting classification.
Deputy District Attorney Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most deputy district attorneys?
The companies hiring the most deputy district attorneys right now include County Of Mendocino, Multnomah County, OR, and 7th Judicial District Attorney's Office, with the largest share of openings in California, Oregon, and Colorado, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. County-level offices account for the majority of postings, with urban jurisdictions typically hiring in cohorts year-round.
How many deputy district attorney jobs are remote?
About 0% of deputy district attorney openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the in-court and in-office nature of most prosecution work. The sub-areas most likely to offer any remote flexibility include appellate work, legal research roles, and policy-focused positions within larger offices.
How do you become a deputy district attorney?
You need to earn a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, pass the bar exam in the state where you want to work, and gain active bar membership before applying. Most offices then require a formal application, a writing sample, and multiple interview rounds. Prior experience in criminal law through a clerkship, public defender work, or a law school clinic strengthens your candidacy considerably.
Can you get hired as a deputy district attorney with little experience?
Yes, many DA offices run entry-level hiring programs specifically for new attorneys. At that level, offices prioritize academic performance, criminal law coursework, judicial clerkships, and clinical experience over years of practice. Demonstrating courtroom comfort through mock trial competitions, externships, or law school clinics can offset a thin resume and move you into serious consideration.
What does the deputy district attorney interview process look like?
The process typically starts with a resume and writing sample review, followed by a phone or video screen with HR or a supervising deputy. Candidates who advance usually attend a panel interview with senior attorneys and sometimes an elected or appointed district attorney. Some offices add a written exercise presenting a charging decision or ethical scenario for you to analyze and defend.
Where can I find and apply to deputy district attorney jobs?
You can find and apply to deputy district attorney jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from offices across the United States. Find roles that match your experience level and jurisdiction, then apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 25 Deputy District Attorney Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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