Step into a role where your legal expertise directly strengthens the safety and well-being of our community. As a City of Bellingham Prosecuting Attorney, you will lead the prosecution of misdemeanor and municipal ordinance violations in Municipal Court. If you’re motivated by public service and eager to support justice in our community, we’d love to hear from you.
We welcome applications from candidates who sat for the February 2026 Washington Lawyer Bar Exam and are currently awaiting admission, as well as those planning to sit for the July 2026 exam. Please note that employment is contingent upon admission to the Washington State Bar as outlined in the Experience and Training Requirements.
JOB SUMMARY:
Responsible for the prosecution of misdemeanor and municipal ordinance violations in Municipal Court.
WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?
Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
This position will be filled at the appropriate level based on requisite experience and training.
Prosecuting Attorney I: The current full salary range for this position is $9,127/month - $11,093/month.
Prosecuting Attorney II: The current full salary range for this position is $10,062/month - $12,230/month.
Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the E-Team Handbook and City policy.
The City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience as listed on the application material, in accordance with City policy. Candidates who exceed the minimum experience requirements shall be given credit for advanced step placement at the rate of one additional pay step for each two full years of directly related or equivalent professional experience beyond the minimum requirements. Candidates who meet minimum qualifications or have experience that is not directly related or in a lower-level position will be placed at step one in the salary range. For positions that require a bachelor’s degree, one additional step may be granted for applicants with a master’s degree in a related field when the master’s degree is not required to meet minimum qualifications. The City's HR Department regularly evaluates minimum qualifications to provide equitable employment opportunities. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.
At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.
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13.33 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
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12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
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40 hours of sick leave upon hire + 8 hours accrued monthly
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Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
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Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
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Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
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Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
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Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
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Optional 457 deferred compensation savings plan and 401(a) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. This position is open until filled and may close at any time.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:-
Prosecutes misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, traffic offenses and other municipal ordinance violations in Municipal Court, which includes determining what charges to file and deciding whether to plea bargain or reduce charges.
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Provides advice to police officers regarding appropriate charges and methods of law enforcement by determining current status of law based on legislative and judicial changes.
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Contacts victims, which includes requesting subpoenas, gathering information, evaluating evidence, determining whether a victim will assist in prosecution, and monitoring the victim’s safety.
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Conducts legal research, interviewing witnesses, deciding discovery methods to pursue, and making settlement suggestions for pursuing the defense of the City in conducting the prosecution of criminal cases and motion hearings.
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Conducts criminal jury and bench trials which includes presenting the City’s case, instructing the jury, determining sentencing recommendations, and resolving evidentiary issues, voir dire questions, and trial procedures.
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Prepares and conducts arraignments by reading police reports, summarizing factual elements of crimes, evaluating probable cause, determining bail amounts and sentencing recommendations, presenting factual basis for plea, making offers to defendant, and determining whether a reduction or dismissal is merited.
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Prepares and investigates pretrial cases by reviewing reports, evaluating evidence, locating missing information or evidence, contacting and negotiating with defense attorneys, determining the likelihood of success, and making sentencing recommendations.
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Conducts pretrial hearings by setting motions, trial dates, or offering guilty plea to the court.
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Conducts no-contact order rescission hearings and contested infraction and motion hearings by presenting the City’s case, determining whether the rescission of a no-contact order threatens victim safety, and evaluating legal issues and relevant case law.
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Prepares and responds to appeals of trial court decisions including direct appeals after trial, habeas corpus petitions, and infraction appeals.
ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:-
Performs other related work of a similar nature or level.
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Prosecutor II assists in civil projects in a limited basis as workload allows.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed primarily in an office environment with frequent court appearances. Extensive work at a computer workstation. Travel to court, seminars and meetings as needed. This is a sedentary position with minimal physical exertion requirements.
Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including:
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Frequently operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, and fax machine;
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Occasionally move between worksites;
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Remain stationary for long periods of time;
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Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others.
Prosecuting Attorney I:
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Admission to the Washington State Bar and a member in good standing throughout duration of employment.
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Some experience in the practice of municipal law or civil discovery and procedure preferred.
Prosecuting Attorney II:
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Admission to the Washington State Bar and a member in good standing throughout duration of employment, and
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Two years of professional work experience as an attorney in criminal law; experience in prosecuting criminal cases preferred, or
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Two years of experience as a Prosecuting Attorney I at the City of Bellingham.
Note:
Incumbents appointed to Prosecuting Attorney I are expected to perform the full range duties operating under the direction and guidance of more senior staff and are intended, over time, to demonstrate the competencies necessary to progress to the Prosecuting Attorney II level.
Incumbents appointed to the Prosecuting Attorney II level are expected to perform the full range of assigned duties independently under general supervision and guidance after an initial training period.
Incumbents appointed to Prosecuting Attorney I may receive a non-competitive promotion to Prosecuting Attorney II when they meet minimum experience and training requirements and demonstrate capability, provided adequate work and funding is available.
- Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, local background check, and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years.
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Incumbents may not engage in the private practice of law while employed.
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Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
**You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**
Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.
As part of the application process, a cover letter and writing sample is required.
Within the cover letter, please address why Prosecuting Attorney at the City of Bellingham is the next right step in your career and describe your education and experience that has prepared you for this role.
A relevant 10-page writing sample is required as part of the application.
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. This position is open until filled and may close at any time.
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.
Equal Opportunity:
Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.
Fair Hiring Practices
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The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
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The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
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The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
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The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.
