Commonwealth Attorney

Job Announcement

This is an exciting time to join the Fairfax Commonwealth‘s Attorney‘s Office, as the office embarks on an ambitious criminal justice reform agenda aimed at mitigating mass incarceration while maintaining Fairfax County‘s track record as the safest community of its size in the nation. After taking office in January 2020, Commonwealth‘s Attorney Steve Descano‘s initiatives have included restructuring the office to produce accountability around reform, ending the practice of prosecutors requesting cash bail, and launching a dedicated Red Flag Team, among others. The office seeks team members who are passionate about justice reform and public service to continue delivering on CA Descano‘s commitment to build a more fair and just legal system in Fairfax County.

The Assistant Commonwealth Attorney II for Diversion will work alongside the office‘s current team of diversion specialists to: 1) optimize the functionality of current diversion offerings (foremost among the them the office‘s Taking Root program that is operated in conjunction with OAR NoVa), 2) liaise with internal and external diversion stakeholders to promote current diversion offerings, 3) ensure current diversion offerings are being availed to their capacity and that their capacity is being grown, and 4) identify and execute on opportunities for further diversion offerings. Depending on the level of experience, the ACA II for Diversion may also be assigned periodic misdemeanor or felony dockets.

The ideal candidate will have experience working on the development and implementation of diversion programs in the legal system and coordinating complex projects with diverse stakeholders. They will also be a self-starter adept at navigating complex bureaucracies, possess a keen eye for detail, and have experience working in Virginia courts.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants should submit a resume directly to .

Note: This job advertisement is open until the closing date OR until the position is filled, and may close prior to the advertised closing date. Interested applicants are advised to submit their resume as soon as possible. Resumes will be reviewed, and qualified applicants interviewed on a continuous basis. Interviews may be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your resume is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The resume review process will close when the position(s) has been filled or when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been reviewed.

Illustrative Duties

Represents the Commonwealth of Virginia in prosecutions of violations of criminal law;
Appears in General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to prosecute criminal misdemeanors and traffic offenses;
Appears in Circuit Court to prosecute the appeal of misdemeanor offenses in jury and bench trials;
Appears in Circuit Court to prosecute felony offenses in jury and bench trials;
Conducts legal research and writes memoranda regarding updates in the law and new issues arising in the prosecution of certain laws;
Assists higher level attorneys with legal research and writing on constitutional motions and appeal briefs;
Drafts correspondence on legal matters;
Advises County and State law enforcement officials concerning the investigation of criminal violations and trial preparation;
Reviews search warrants, affidavits and court orders submitted by law enforcement for the obtaining of evidence related to criminal cases;
Advises citizens of Fairfax County on issues relating to criminal law violations in the community and court procedure.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of the principles of law and their application;
Knowledge of trial procedure and the rules of evidence;
Knowledge of legal research methods;
Ability to learn the criminal laws under the Code of Virginia and Fairfax County Code and the court decisions affecting the prosecution of those laws;
Ability to present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically;
Ability to interview victims, witnesses and law enforcement to obtain the necessary information to prosecute cases;
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with associates, law enforcement, the judiciary and the general public.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar.
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for ‘Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to‘)
Graduation from an accredited law school; plus one year of experience as a practicing attorney.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
License to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
• Employment to this position is at-will, serving at the pleasure of the Fairfax Commonwealth‘s Attorney.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
The ACA II for Diversion must be able to:

• Communicate effectively and professionally with diverse stakeholders, including defense attorneys, judicial officers, and nonprofit partners.
• Effectively and professionally address, with sensitivity, victims of crime.
• Work proficiently in a collaborative team environment and engage people of various social, economic, cultural, ideological, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
• Remain organized in a fast-paced work environment and make decisions under pressure.

A successful ACA II for diversion will also:

• Be a self-starter adept at problem-solving across bureaucracies.
• Have an internal drive to sustain and scale programs.
• Have a strong sense of justice and passion for diversion in the legal system.
• Many of the desired skills can be developed in professional and personal contexts outside of the legal field. Candidates with unique or non-traditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Duties are generally sedentary in nature; however visual activity is required to read data on computer monitor. Incumbent must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment. Must communicate with others. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
May include a panel interview and practical exercise. This job advertisement is open until the closing date OR until the position is filled and may close prior to the advertised closing date. Interested applicants are advised to submit their resume as soon as possible. Resumes will be reviewed, and qualified applicants interviewed on a continuous basis. Interviews may be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your resume is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The resume review process will close when the position(s) have been filled or when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been reviewed.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact for assistance. TTY . . EEO/AA/TTY.
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