ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY

Starting Salary: $75,000

Did you go to law school to make a difference? Do you desire to be a part of history in the making? Then our office is for you. The State Attorney’s Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is at the forefront of making sensible reforms to our criminal justice system. The mandate for our prosecutors is not to win at all costs, but to seek justice by standing up for what is right. We seek prosecutors who are dedicated to serving the people of Broward County and making our community safer and better for all who live, work and play here. Whether your goal is to become a career prosecutor or to gain valuable litigation skills that can translate to other areas of practice, a career with the State Attorney’s Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit will provide the necessary foundation for a rewarding legal career.

This position is open to entry level and experienced attorneys.

Applicants must be a graduating 3L or a member in good standing with The Florida Bar. Applicants must possess a strong interest in being a trial lawyer and have excellent communication and critical thinking skills. Applicants must have the time management and organizational skills required to manage a large volume caseload. Applicant must be able to work independently and as a team member.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal but are not limited for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Conduct jury trials, non-jury trials, preliminary and pretrial hearings, and other related courtroom proceedings
• Investigate, evaluate, and prepare cases for trial
• Legal research and writing
• Communicate with and serve as a liaison to victims, their family members, witnesses, and law enforcement personnel
• All other case-related tasks as needed

To Apply:

Please follow the instructions above and submit your completed application to Employment@sao17.state.fl.us Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants must complete the background check and employment application forms.

Support Staff Supervisor  

Salary: $50,000/year, plus full benefits
F/T Position: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in our Felony Trial Unit in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Education: High School
Experience: At least 5 years of supervisory and legal assistant experience

Description:

The Felony Trial Unit handles the prosecution of the majority of adult felony cases in the State Attorney’s Office. The unit staffs each of the fourteen general criminal divisions in addition to Drug Court and the Felony Mental Health Division. The support staff supervisor is responsible for motivating the support staff, ensuring efficient workflow, and providing guidance and support to team members. They also manage tasks like training, performance evaluations, and conflict resolution, acting as a liaison between management and staff.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day functions of the unit and coordinate and prioritize workload, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and accurately
• Ensure that each of the 30 support staff members are properly trained and understand their roles and responsibilities
• Complete clerical tasks when necessary due to staffing shortage and provide assistant state attorneys with appropriate assistance
• Responsible for reviewing time sheets, approving leave requests, and managing overall staffing needs of the unit
• Evaluate staff performance, provide timely feedback, and address performance issues
• Responsible for articulating, demonstrating, clarifying, and enforcing agency policies and procedures
• Help resolve employee conflicts and address concerns
• Act as a point of contact between management and support staff, communicating expectations and resolving issues
• Maintain effective communication with outside agencies such as the Clerk’s Office, jail staff, police departments, and other state agencies
• Other tasks such as preparing reports, participating in meetings or performing other administrative duties
• Special projects or other tasks as assigned by the assistant state attorneys

Qualifications:

• At least five years of supervisory and legal assistant experience
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system
• Outstanding clerical skills, excellent communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadline time constraints
• Must have an excellent attendance record and be flexible to work after 5:00 p.m. when needed
• Demonstrate leadership capabilities and handle confidential matters with the utmost discretion

 To Apply:

Submit the online support staff employment application, and submit with a cover letter and resume to Employment@sao17.state.fl.us

Witness Coordinator II  

Salary: $34,384/year, plus full benefits
F/T Position: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in our Witness Liaison Unit in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Education: High School
Experience: At least 2 years clerical or secretarial experience

Description:

Join the State Attorney’s Office team as a witness liaison coordinator. The Witness Liaison Unit serves as a liaison between victims, witnesses, and the criminal justice system, providing support and information to individuals that are subpoenaed to appear in court. Witness coordinators also provide support to assistant state attorneys to ensure that civilian and law enforcement personnel appear in court when needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish contact with all parties involved on assigned cases, to include initial investigative activities in locating witnesses and victims and maintaining accurate addresses and telephone contacts
• Maintain effective verbal and written communication with attorneys, court personnel, victims, witnesses, law enforcement personnel, and other parties relevant to assigned cases
• Explain the court system, courtroom procedures, and expectations and responsibilities required for witnesses participating in court cases
• Keep victims/witnesses informed about case status, court dates, and legal processes
• Provide individual attention to victims and witnesses who may be reluctant, hesitant and/or afraid of the judicial system
• Obtain and organize subpoenas and ensure accurate logging of such documents for trial purposes
• Arrange transportation for victims and witnesses as needed and may have to escort them to court
• Maintain and file all records and reports on case activity
• Must handle confidential matters with the utmost discretion
• Other duties as assigned by the support staff supervisor

Qualifications:

• At least two years of clerical or secretarial experience
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Excellent time management skills and ability to meet daily deadlines
• Knowledge of legal terminology and local rules of court a plus

 To Apply:

Submit the online support staff employment application, and submit with a cover letter and resume to Employment@sao17.state.fl.us

Legal Assistant II  

Salary: $34,384/year, plus full benefits
F/T Position: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in our Felony Case Filing Unit in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Education: High School
Experience: At least 2 years clerical or secretarial experience

Description:

Join the State Attorney’s Office team as a legal assistant. This position involves complex and diverse tasks needed to support the assistant state attorneys with the preparation and filing of felony cases. The selected candidate must be organized, work well under pressure and time constraints, and be able to handle confidential matters with the utmost discretion.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepare and organize case files to be presented to the assistant state attorneys for filing decisions within the required time frames
• Request and obtain reports, statements, lab/drug reports, and other pertinent information from law enforcement agencies
• Enter all case information into our in-house case management software (SAFES)
• Scan and attach all required case-related documents into SAFES
• Search and retrieve case information from the Clerk of Courts Odyssey system
• File cases with the Clerk of Courts Office as instructed by the assistant state attorneys
• Extensive telephone/email communications with other units and agencies
• Receive/transfer and track the whereabouts of all case files to other internal units as needed
• Receive, sort, and distribute mail
• Other duties as assigned by the assistant state attorneys or the support staff supervisor

Qualifications:

• High School degree and at least two years of clerical or secretarial experience
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work well under pressure in a high volume environment
• Excellent time management skills and ability to meet daily deadlines
• Knowledge of case filing procedures between the State Attorney’s Office and the Clerk’s Office a plus

 To Apply:

Submit the online support staff employment application, and submit with a cover letter and resume to Employment@sao17.state.fl.us

Clerical Specialist II  

Salary: $34,384/year, plus full benefits
F/T Position: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Archives Warehouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Education: High School
Experience: Some prior clerical experience

Description:

Join the State Attorney’s Office team as a clerical specialist. This position supports the efficient operation of the archives warehouse by assisting with the organization, storage, and management of court case files. The ideal candidate will be responsible for handling both physical and electronic files, ensuring proper documentation and storage in warehouse setting.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Organize and store court case file boxes located at the records storage warehouse
• Move and transport file boxes as needed
• Use in-house case management software to track and update case file storage information
• Perform data entry tasks related to case file storage and management
• Preparing case files and documents for disposal
• Shred documents contained in case files
• Follow written and verbal instructions accurately and efficiently
• Handle confidential matters with the utmost discretion
• Other duties as assigned by the support staff supervisor

Qualifications:

• High School degree and some prior clerical experience
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and handle tasks with attention to details
• Capable of performing tasks requiring standing, walking, and lifting boxes weighing up to 40 pounds

 To Apply:

Submit the online support staff employment application, and submit with a cover letter and resume to Employment@sao17.state.fl.us

The State Attorney’s Office of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Persons needing special accommodation to complete and submit a state application to this agency should contact Human Resources at the above number or call 1-800-955-8770 (via Florida Relay Service) or call 1-800-955-8771 (for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services).