General Summary:
Reviews criminal cases to determine offers; prepares for and argues criminal cases involving Brazos County, including filing appropriate paper work; consulting with other Assistant County Attorneys; discussing case with defense attorney and defendant, and interviewing and preparing victims and witnesses; and performs intake functions to determine probable cause affidavit filing.
Essential Duties:
Reviews criminal cases to decide the type of offer to be extended to defendants, including determining whether probation or jail time will be offered; setting fines; calculating court courts; determining restitution, and recommending any special conditions of probation;
Represents the State at all pretrial, trail, and post-trial settings;
Represents the State in applicable appellate situations including appeals of class C misdemeanors from Justice of Peace Courts, and appeals of class A and B misdemeanors to the Courts of Appeal and the Court of Criminal Appeals;
Prepares criminal cases for trial and determines trial strategy, including: assessing criminal history files; conferring with appropriate police officers; reviewing police actions and reports; reviewing any and all audio and visual evidence; visiting crime scenes and taking necessary photographs;
Interviewing victims and witnesses; preparing victims and witnesses for trial; preparing subpoena lists; researching case law; responding to defense pretrial motions, preparing any of the State’s motions for trial, preparing visual exhibits for the jury; and preparing expert testimony by reviewing relevant documentation; Consults with other Assistant County Attorneys, District Attorneys, and judges on legal issues, plea bargains, and disposition of cases;
Evaluates search and arrest warrants ;Performs intake functions to determine probable cause affidavit filing, including reviewing facts and investigation reports, preparing and entering warrants as necessary, and amending complaints as necessary;
Researches legal issues as requested by judges, magistrates, and the County attorney;
Assists citizens with complaints and requests for information as needed;
Assists with Receptionist duties including answering and routing telephone calls, and filing criminal folders as needed;
And Maintains current knowledge of criminal law and procedure as they relate to matters handled by the County Attorney’s Office.
Other Duties as assigned.
Supervision
Received: From 1st Asst. County Attorney
Given: This is a non-supervisory position.
Education
Required: Juris Doctor degree; or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Preferred:
Experience
Required: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Preferred:
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Required: State of Texas law license.
Preferred:
Physical Demands
Typical: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; bend and kneel; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds, such as books, stacks of records, or other similar objects. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Typical: Criminal law and rules of criminal procedure; civil law and rules of civil procedure as they relate to civil suits against the county; civil, criminal, and appellate trial procedures and statutory deadlines; standard office practices and procedures; and legal research tools and techniques. Operate computers, especially for word processing; perform legal research and prepare legal briefs and other documents; organize many details of cases; analyze and formulate independent judgments based on facts of a case; operate office equipment, such as copy machine and facsimile machine; communicate effectively orally and in writing, both in person and over the phone; make persuasive oral presentations; and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, defense attorneys, and judges.
Work Environment
Typical: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to work under time pressures to meet deadlines, to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, to perform tedious and exacting work; and to work closely with others as part of a team.
