Deputy Prosecuting Attorney/Experienced Torts Litigator (County Attorney 4)

About the Department

Position Duties

Why It's a Great Opportunity:
The Civil Division of the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is looking for an experienced, highly motivated Deputy Prosecuting Attorney whose work will focus on civil torts litigation. If you seek challenging, meaningful legal work and a chance to give back to your community while working in a collegial office, this is a great opportunity.
  
Learn more about the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office here.

Why It's a Great Department:
The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is committed to the recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion of a diverse staff. Our commitment to diversity creates a strong and collegial office that promotes respect for the community we serve.    
  
Our Department takes great pride in the collegial environment we have created.  We are supportive of one another, highly competent, and thrive on the collective teamwork of those who work in our office.  We have high standards in our work product and for the support we provide.
 
How to be Successful in this Role:

In this position you will support general tort defense litigation with a focus on juvenile sexual assault claims. You will work closely with the juvenile sexual assault team, which is focused on careful, trauma informed investigation and litigation of juvenile sexual assault claims against the county. This team is comprised of experienced deputy prosecutors, a skilled investigator, knowledgeable legal assistants, and a business analyst. Attorneys in this group work closely with the team, from early resolution to litigating cases in superior court.  

  
Your Future in this Role:
This is a great opportunity to give back to the community in which you live and help make Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.

Minimum Qualifications

• Handles complex legal matters and litigation on behalf of Pierce County, both in State and Federal Courts.  Initially involved at the claim stage, the attorney will remain involved through pre-trial preparation, trial, and any appeals taken therefrom.
• Works directly with elected officials and appointed department heads to provide legal advice and drafts, and prepares legal opinions and memoranda.
• May be called upon to perform the duties and functions of either the Chief or Assistant Chief Civil Deputy in the event of the absence of one or the other, or both. 
• Frequently relied upon by other attorneys within the office for both legal and strategic advice.
• May assist the prosecutor in formulating policy for the office.
• May assist the prosecutor in setting goals for the office and in recommending the best personnel to fulfill those goals. 
• Analyzes, appraises, organizes facts, evidence, and precedents derived from case law; makes presentations before courts, legislative bodies, and administrative agencies.

This classification is distinguished from the County Attorney 3 classification by being predominantly assigned to the most complex civil tort cases. This classification may also have supervisory responsibility for a unit in the department’s Civil Division and may be requested to assist in formulating policy for the department and providing recommendations on personnel issues. A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Other Qualifications

How to Apply:

Our Recruitment Practices:

This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style. 

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews. 

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity. 

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment: 

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service. 

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.

Benefits

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our Leadership Training Program, and a County Book Club. 

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Our benefits:

Vacation (Annual Leave)
After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave. 
Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:

Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20 Days
During years 14-18, 23 Days
During years 19, 24 Days
During years 20, 25 Days
During years 21, 26 Days
During years 22, 27 Days
During years 23, 28 Days
During years 24, 29 Days
During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days

A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.
Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.

Military Leave:
Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.

Holidays:
Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:   

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information