Deputy Attorney General II/III

Section:                      Criminal Prosecutions Section/Criminal Law Division

Class:                         Deputy Attorney General II/III

Location:                   Philadelphia

Telework:                  Limited ad-hoc telework opportunities available with supervisor approval and based on business need  

Position Type:           Full-time, Non-civil service, Non-union

Work Hours:             8:30 – 5:00      

Salary Range:            DAG II: Pay Range 9 – Starting salary of $75,208

                                    DAG III: Pay Range 10 – Starting salary of $85,966 

Basic Function

This Deputy Attorney General position is an advanced prosecutor position in the Office of Attorney General’s (OAG) Criminal Law Division.  The Criminal Prosecutions Section investigates and prosecutes a complete spectrum of crimes ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree felonies including aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, aggravated assaults, robberies, crimes with handguns, and first-degree murder cases.  This position focuses on the investigation and prosecution of criminal matters involving alleged violations of the laws of the Commonwealth occurring within a public transportation authority that serves as the primary provider of public passenger transportation in a county of the first class (Philadelphia).  The cases stem from a review of investigations and arrests made by Transit Authority police officers and referrals from the Southeastern Public Transit Authority (SEPTA) Police Department.  The position will conduct reviews of Transit Police Department investigations and arrests to determine cases appropriate for handling by the OAG’s Special Prosecutor.  This position requires an attorney who has experience in handling a range of cases from misdemeanors to first-degree felonies.  Seasoned selection of cases will be as important as experience in a broad range of criminal cases.  Grand Jury experience would also be beneficial for this role.

The assigned attorney 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.  The assigned attorney 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.  As a Deputy Attorney General II (DAG II) gains experience, work increases in complexity and is performed with more independence.  A Deputy Attorney General III (DAG III) will work independently on most matters.  

• Communicates and coordinates with SEPTA police and all law enforcement agencies involved in investigating crimes within the public transit authority
• With assistance from detectives, analysts, and/or criminal investigators, reviews investigations and cases to determine which cases shall be pursued for prosecution by the Special Prosecutor
• Directs investigations determining what investigative steps to take and investigative tools to use to achieve appropriate/just investigative outcome
• Monitors investigations, assessing progress and adjusting investigative strategies when needed
• Keeps supervisor informed of the progress and potential outcome of investigations and prosecutions
• Determines, along with police officers, detectives, and agents, and in consultation with superiors, whether to pursue a prosecution
• Prepares, reviews, and approves charging documents in conjunction with police officers, detectives, and 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
• Assists in drafting periodic reports on the work and quantitative results of the Special Prosecutor
• Performs additional and related work as required

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
• Two to five years of progressively responsible experience in professional legal litigation work or criminal prosecution preferred

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
• Four to seven years of progressively responsible experience in professional legal litigation work or criminal prosecution preferred