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Entry Level Government Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Yellowstone County

$87K - $101K/yr

Performs entry-level professional legal work that is designed to introduce the Deputy to the ... or local government law; or Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training ...

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Entry Level Government Attorney information

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$46K

$108.2K

$172.5K

How much do entry level government attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level government attorney in the United States is $108,160.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $130,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of cases and responsibilities can an entry level government attorney expect to handle in their first year?

As an entry level government attorney, you can expect to work on a variety of cases that may include legal research, drafting memoranda, assisting with litigation, and helping senior attorneys with document review. You might also represent the government in administrative hearings or help prepare legal opinions for agency staff. Collaboration with colleagues from different departments is common, providing valuable experience in teamwork and public service. The workload is often fast-paced, but offers excellent opportunities to develop foundational legal skills and gain exposure to a broad range of public sector legal issues.

What is the difference between Entry Level Government Attorney vs Entry Level Public Defender?

AspectEntry Level Government AttorneyEntry Level Public Defender
Required CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), Bar AdmissionJuris Doctor (JD), Bar Admission
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, legal departmentsPublic defense offices, courts
Employer & IndustryFederal, state, or local governmentPublic defender offices, criminal justice
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for entry-level government legal rolesRelated to criminal defense in government

Entry Level Government Attorneys and Entry Level Public Defenders both require a JD and bar admission, working within government legal settings. While government attorneys may work in various agencies handling diverse legal matters, public defenders focus specifically on criminal defense for indigent clients. Both roles serve public interests but differ in their specific responsibilities and work environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Government Attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Government Attorney, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, a valid state bar license, and a solid understanding of legal research, writing, and litigation procedures. Familiarity with legal databases (such as Westlaw or LexisNexis), case management software, and government compliance systems is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help in interpreting laws, drafting documents, and advising government agencies. These skills ensure accurate legal guidance, uphold public policy, and support the effective operation of governmental legal functions.

What does an entry level government attorney do?

An entry level government attorney typically provides legal advice, drafts legal documents, and represents government agencies in court or administrative hearings. Their duties may include conducting legal research, reviewing regulations, interpreting laws, and ensuring compliance with government policies. These attorneys often work on cases involving public interest, regulatory enforcement, or administrative law, and they may assist more senior attorneys on complex legal matters. Entry level roles are ideal for recent law graduates seeking experience in public service.
More about Entry Level Government Attorney jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Government Attorney jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Government Attorney job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Government Attorney jobs? The most popular types of Government Attorney jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Government Attorney jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Government Attorney jobs include:
Entry Level Government Attorney jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Government Attorney job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 88% Full Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,160 per year, or $52 per hour.

Deputy/Senior Deputy County Attorney

Yellowstone County

$87K - $101K/yr

Other

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Description *See Schedule A Pay Band in supplemental information below for details* The County Attorney will hire based on the experience level of the candidate. Promotion to Senior Deputy Pay Band within 3 years of employment. Deputy County Attorney: Performs entry-level professional legal work that is designed to introduce the Deputy to the practice of law in the County Attorney's Office.

Senior Deputy County Attorney: Responsible professional work performing the widest variety of legal work as assigned in the County Attorney's Office; develops, prepares, and presents issues and cases requiring appearance before administrative, legislative and judicial tribunals along with associated work and trial work; and performs related work as required. The employee must be able to handle a high caseload and must be able to work with independence within departmental guidelines. Examples of Duties Deputy County Attorney: Reviews reports and files appropriate charges; Prepares cases including identifying issues, drafting relevant and case specific pleadings and motions, conducting investigations when necessary, identifying and subpoenaing witnesses, preparing witnesses for testimony, and preparing any exhibits for court presentations, and preparing any jury instructions; Prepares and files responses to discovery requests and other correspondence in a timely fashion; Maintains organized case files, documenting court actions, prosecutor's action and any plea offers or other agreements; Negotiates cases with attorneys and pro se defendants; Meets with attorneys, victims, witnesses, and pro se defendants during scheduled appointments; Appears in court on behalf of Yellowstone County and represents the County at arraignments, appearance dockets, evidentiary hearings, pretrial conferences, bench trials, jury trials and oral arguments; Demonstrates a firm grasp of the law and rules of court and fundamental trial skills, the presentation of relevant and necessary evidence, the ability to present persuasive, legally, and factually accurate arguments, and the ability to prepare relevant jury instructions, including not-in-MAI instructions.

Senior Deputy County Attorney: Assigns and leads the work of staff in the preparation, presentation and, if necessary, the appeal of criminal cases; Prepares cases including identifying issues, conducting any necessary legal research, drafting relevant and case-specific pleadings and motions, conducting additional investigation when necessary, identifying and subpoenaing witnesses, preparing witnesses for testimony, preparing any exhibits for court presentations, and preparing any jury instructions; Leads training sessions for local and state law enforcement on various aspects of criminal law; Advises and counsels staff on available options or strategies to accomplish assigned tasks; Defends civil lawsuits against the County filed under state or federal laws frequently involving substantial sums of money; Provides legal advice and representation to a wide variety of assigned County agencies and districts, including the Board of County Commissioners, County Superintendent of Schools and school boards, County Hospital Board, MetraPark Board, and an array of special-purpose districts in the areas of fire, conservation, weed control, rural improvements, road improvements, planning and zoning, drainage, grazing and irrigation under the direction and supervision of the Chief Civil Deputy and Chief Civil Litigator; Represents the County in cases involving the County's self-insurance program under the direction and supervision of the Chief Civil Deputy. Minimum Qualifications Deputy County Attorney: Education/Experience/Training: Graduation from a college or university of recognized standing with a Law Degree/Juris Doctorate. Certifications: Membership in the Bar of the State of Montana is required at the time of application or Completion or passage of the Bar Exam within 6-month probationary period.

Valid driver's license issued by the State of Montana. Senior Deputy County Attorney: Education/Experience/Training: Graduation from a college or university of recognized standing with a Law Degree/Juris Doctorate; and A minimum of two (2) years of criminal prosecution and trial experience as a Deputy County Attorney or two (2) years' experience practicing law including civil litigation, criminal litigation and/or local government law; or Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training totaling six (6) years; Demonstrated ability to litigate and try cases and effectively handle a heavy caseload.Required Certifications: Membership in the Bar of the State of Montana is required at the time of application. Valid driver's license issued by the State of Montana

Supplemental Information SCHEDULE A COLA FY27/FY28 3.00% COLA FY29/FY30 3.25% FY2026 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Deputy County Attorney $87,500.00 $89,031.25 $90,589.30 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 $92,174.61 Senior Deputy County Attorney $93,500.00 $95,136.25 $96,801.13 $98,495.15 $100,218.82 $101,972.65 $103,502.24 $105,054.77 $106,630.59 $108,230.05 $109,853.50 $110,952.04 $112,061.56 $113,182.18 $114,314.00 $115,457.14 $116,611.71 $117,777.83 $118,955.61 $120,145.17 $121,346.62 $122,560.09 $123,785.69 $125,023.55 $126,273.79 $127,536.53 FY2027 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Deputy County Attorney $90,125.00 $91,702.19 $93,306.98 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 $94,939.85 Senior Deputy CountyAttorney $96,305.00 $97,990.34 $99,705.17 $101,450.01 $103,225.39 $105,031.83 $106,607.31 $108,206.42 $109,829.52 $111,476.96 $113,149.11 $114,280.60 $115,423.41 $116,577.64 $117,743.42 $118,920.85 $120,110.06 $121,311.16 $122,524.27 $123,749.51 $124,987.01 $126,236.88 $127,499.25 $128,774.24 $130,061.98 $131,362.60 FY2028 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Deputy County Attorney $92,828.75 $94,453.25 $96,106.18 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 $97,788.04 Senior Deputy County Attorney $99,194.15 $100,930.05 $102,696.33 $104,493.52 $106,322.16 $108,182.80 $109,805.54 $111,452.62 $113,124.41 $114,821.28 $116,543.60 $117,709.04 $118,886.13 $120,074.99 $121,275.74 $122,488.50 $123,713.39 $124,950.52 $126,200.03 $127,462.03 $128,736.65 $130,024.02 $131,324.26 $132,637.50 $133,963.88 $135,303.52 FY2029 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Deputy County Attorney $95,845.68 $97,522.98 $99,229.63 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 $100,966.15 Senior Deputy County Attorney $102,417.96 $104,210.27 $106,033.95 $107,889.54 $109,777.61 $111,698.72 $113,374.20 $115,074.81 $116,800.93 $118,552.94 $120,331.23 $121,534.54 $122,749.89 $123,977.39 $125,217.16 $126,469.33 $127,734.02 $129,011.36 $130,301.47 $131,604.48 $132,920.52 $134,249.73 $135,592.23 $136,948.15 $138,317.63 $139,700.81 FY2030 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Deputy County Attorney $98,960.66 $100,692.47 $102,454.59 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 $104,247.55 Senior Deputy County Attorney $105,746.54 $107,597.10 $109,480.05 $111,395.95 $113,345.38 $115,328.92 $117,058.85 $118,814.73 $120,596.95 $122,405.90 $124,241.99 $125,484.41 $126,739.25 $128,006.64 $129,286.71 $130,579.58 $131,885.38 $133,204.23 $134,536.27 $135,881.63 $137,240.45 $138,612.85 $139,998.98 $141,398.97 $142,812.96 $144,241.09 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ DCASteps-%Change 1.75% 1.75% 1.75% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% SDCASteps-%Change 1.75% 1.75% 1.75% 1.75% 1.75% 1.50% 1.50% 1.50% 1.50% 1.50% 1.00%

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