Assistant District Attorney- Special Victims Unit

ABOUT THE ORLEANS PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (OPDA)

Jason Rogers Williams took office as the Orleans Parish District Attorney on January 11, 2021, and is building a 21st-century prosecutors' office with a team of the best and brightest lawyers from around the country and a mission of being as smart on crime as the office has historically been tough on crime. OPDA aims to increase public safety through the ethical, consistent, and zealous enforcement of the law.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) represent the State of Louisiana in criminal matters before courts with jurisdiction in Orleans Parish. OPDA's Special Victim Unit (SVU) provides compassion, continuity, subject matter expertise, and vigorous prosecution on behalf of some of our most vulnerable victims. In this effort, ADAs within the specialized SVU are responsible for screening and prosecuting a range of human trafficking, sexual assault, and child sex abuse cases. This position reports to the Chief of SAKI/SVU and works closely with SVU staff and other divisions as necessary.

Typical duties include reviewing cases for prosecution; interacting with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement; consulting with medical and scientific experts; drafting bills of information, motions, and other pleadings; seeking indictments via grand jury presentations; preparing discovery; performing legal research; appearing in court with regularity; developing trial strategies and conducting plea negotiations; conducting jury selection and trials; participating in multidisciplinary team meetings; and performing other duties as necessary or required for effective public service.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

· Member of the Louisiana Bar in good standing

· Comfort with technology, including proficiency with Microsoft Office suite

· Ability to work flexible hours, including some weeks of over 40 hours

· Dependability in attendance and work product

· Public speaking ability and effective communication skills

· Commitment to seeking justice for victims of trafficking, sexual assault, and child abuse

· Ability to maintain a victim-centered approach

· Familiarity with Louisiana criminal law and procedure

· Extensive trial/courtroom experience

· Demonstrated ability to manage a high caseload and voluminous case files in a fast-paced environment

· Experience handling complex criminal prosecutions preferred

· Knowledge of medical terms, DNA and other forensic disciplines preferred

· Prior experience working with children a plus

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary commensurate with experience. ADA hires may be eligible for:

· Health insurance

· Life insurance

· Sick leave

· Vacation leave

· Paid parental leave

· Generous paid holiday schedule

· Employee Assistance Program

· Flexible spending account

· Enrollment in the Louisiana District Attorneys' Retirement System

· Enrollment in the Louisiana Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan

· Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

· Frequent, free opportunities for Continuing Legal Education and other relevant training

CLASSIFICATION

Full-time, exempt

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

OPDA is an equal-opportunity employer. The office values a diverse workforce and management reflective of the communities that it serves. Accordingly, OPDA adheres to a policy of making employment, promotion, and other personnel decisions without regard to race, culture, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, caregiver status, age, disability, or other legally protected status.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

OPDA is dedicated to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that OPDA employees invest in their work represents a significant part of the office's culture, reputation, and achievement. Accordingly, OPDA embraces and encourages employees' differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make its employees unique.