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Requisition No: 880294 

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, 19TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY - 21004589

 Pay Plan: St.AttorneysJAC

Position Number: 21004589 

Salary:  $87,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 12/31/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Our Mission

We are the Mighty 19th!!  Do you want to make a difference with your law degree? Become a prosecutor!!

The critical duty of an assistant state attorney, as a minister of justice, is to do what is right.  Assistant state attorneys are responsible for representing the State of Florida in criminal proceedings before county and circuit courts.  Our office is responsible for doing justice for all by prosecuting all crimes committed within the circuit, from theft to murder. 

Your desire for immediate trial experience is required. Do not be an attorney merely on paper, be a trial attorney!  Rest assured, your skills and training will be put to the test in making fellow citizens safe and you will have great pride in this vocation.  Assistant state attorneys serve at the pleasure and direction of the elected State Attorney, Thomas R. Bakkedahl, 19th Judicial Circuit. 

Description of Office

The State Attorney’s Office of the 19th Judicial Circuit is located on the beautiful, historic Treasure Coast of Florida.  Three of our counties are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean where treasure laden Spanish galleons wrecked 500 years ago.  The circuit is comprised of four counties: Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee.  Okeechobee County is located on the northeastern shore of the largest freshwater lake within the Southeast and is known for its fishing and wildlife areas.  Saint Lucie County has the spring training facility of the New York Mets and Port St. Lucie is Florida’s seventh largest city.  Martin County’s city of Stuart is known as the Sailfish Capital.  Indian River County has citrus, nature, and shipwrecks to snorkel. Come raise a family in one of the safest and more affordable circuits in FL.

The circuit, while growing, still maintains a small-town identity, without the hassle of traffic and congestion.  Unlike our sister circuits, the Mighty 19th Circuit is not overdeveloped and has vast areas of natural space with miles of unspoiled beaches.  There are countless recreational activities like boating, surfing, hunting, fishing, the arts, history, shopping, and hiking.  Additionally, the 19th Circuit is within an easy 1-to-2-hour drive of both South Florida and Central Florida attractions. 

Applicant Credentials

We will consider the following applicants:

• Florida Bar Members in good standing,
• Law school graduates that have taken the Florida Bar Exam and are awaiting results, or
• 3L students from an accredited law school (preference may be given to those qualified as Certified Legal Interns or those that have already applied to take the Florida Bar and have successfully completed the background investigation).

Duties and Attributes

Typical duties of a prosecutor:

• Review of cases for felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile prosecution.
• Professionally interact with victims, police, and witnesses to make critical decisions.
• Draft indictments, informations and petitions.
• Prepare discovery and attend depositions.
• Develop trial strategy, conduct plea negotiations, and perform research.
• Make court appearances.
• Communicate with judges and court personnel.
• Prepare legal documents and materials for court proceedings.
• Argue motions in court.
• Select jurors, present evidence, and conduct trials.
• Present evidence and instruct grand juries.
• Organize and conduct lectures or workshops.
• Supervise support staff and train staff on legal issues.

Essential applicant qualities:

• Be committed and motivated.
• Dependable, in-office attendance.
• Ability to focus and be detailed.
• Ability to conduct legal research and apply legal analysis to factual scenarios.
• Possess public speaking skills.
• Efficient typing and computer skills and ability to operate office equipment.
• Generate sound work product in a timely fashion.
• Effective communication skills and ability to interact professionally with other employees and members of the public.
• Work effectively both as a team contributor and in an independent fashion.
• Ability to sometimes work more than 40 hours per week.  Attorneys may be required to attend court hearings conducted outside of normal office hours and are required to adequately prepare cases prior to court hearings.  
• Working knowledge of Florida’s Rules of Criminal Procedure and Rules of Evidence.

Training and Benefits

• A comprehensive benefits package including health and life insurance is provided.
• Our current entry level salary for members of the Florida Bar is $87,000. A generous benefits package, with insurance for health and life and retirement contributions, values the annual salary at approximately $126,966 with individual insurance coverage and at approximately $141,347 with family insurance coverage.
• Assistant state attorneys are members of the Florida Retirement System in the senior management class.
• Both vacation leave and sick leave are accrued monthly.
• Throughout the year, assistant state attorneys receive numerous paid state holidays.
• Assistant state attorneys are given extensive in-house training and statewide / national training opportunities.
• Assistant state attorneys receive monthly training sessions that provide Continuing Legal Education credits approved by the Florida Bar.
• Westlaw is provided to assistant state attorneys.

TO APPLY

• For more information about the State Attorney’s Office of the 19th Judicial Circuit, please visit: www.sao19.org 
• If you have questions regarding interviewing with the State Attorney’s Office of the 19th Judicial Circuit, please send your inquiry to: HRASA@sao19.org
• To apply, please complete an office employment application and send a cover letter and resume to: HRASA@sao19.org
• Office employment applications are in the career section of our website: www.sao19.org  (select “Career” & then “Assistant State Attorney Opportunities”).

Apply at SAO19.org.  (Please do NOT apply via People First - applications submitted via People First will NOT be reviewed.)

POLICIES:

The State Attorney's Office is a workplace free of harassment and discrimination.  Professional conduct is required.  Employees must practice safe workplace procedures and follow policies and procedures regarding confidentiality and honesty.  Employees must maintain satisfactory work attendance and job performance level.

Applicants considered for employment will be required to pass a comprehensive background check including fingerprinting.  We hire only U.S. Citizens and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.  As we want our attorneys to be invested in our circuit community, assistant state attorneys are required to reside in one of the four counties comprising the 19th Judicial Circuit. 

Nearest Major Market: Port St. Lucie / Fort Pierce / Stuart / Vero Beach

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.