State’s Attorney, Clay County, South Dakota
Interviews to begin the week of April 17, 2023
The Clay County Board of Commissioners invites applications for full-time State's Attorney to perform professional legal services on behalf of the State of South Dakota, Clay County and county departments in criminal and civil court, as well as administrative proceedings. The State’s Attorney serves as the chief prosecutor of all adult and juvenile crimes occurring in Clay County and provides advice and legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners and all county departments.
This position will be appointed by the County Commission to fill the remaining term of office vacated by the resignation. Appointment to commence June 1, 2023. Selected candidate required to maintain residence in Clay County on or before June 1, 2023. Subsequent terms of office must be filled by general election.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Prepare and manage an office, including two other attorneys and two paralegals with a caseload of misdemeanors, felonies, juvenile offenses, and juvenile abuse and neglect cases.
- Responsible to present cases for legal proceedings. Perform legal research. Prepare, draft, and file legal documents and correspondence.
- Review offenses, police reports, and evidence to make charging determinations on all criminal offenses occurring within the county. Prepare, send, and track subpoenas for witnesses and records. Prepare and interview witnesses for legal proceedings. Appear regularly in court. Select jurors.
- Communicate, correspond, and collaborate with parties involved in cases including victims, parents, school personnel, attorneys, court personnel, and law enforcement regarding procedures and actions for those cases. Respond to inquiries from the public.
- Ensure protocols for victim notifications of proceedings.
- Make recommendations for custody, parental rights, sentences, and restitution for juvenile, magistrate and felony files.
- Stay informed on changes in relevant law, statutes, proposed legislation and policy pertaining to criminal law, juvenile matters, and county government.
- Provide routine representation to county officials including the Board of County Commissioners and regularly attend meetings accordingly.
- Provide civil legal advice and representation to county officials, department heads and staff, including but not limited to matters of: property tax appeals, indigent matters, and zoning issues.
- Represent the County at public, private, and inter-governmental programs and events.
- Oversee compliance with grant funding and reporting requirements by the State’s Attorney’s office.
- Respond to inquires from the public regarding matters addressed by the office.
- Perform other job-related duties as statutorily required.
Qualifications:
- Graduation from a college of law.
- Attainment of a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
- Admission by the Supreme Court of South Dakota to practice law in the state of South Dakota (licensed to practice law in South Dakota).
- Working knowledge of: civil and criminal law and methods and practices of pleadings; court procedures and rules of evidence; principles, methods, materials, and practices utilized in legal research; and general law and established precedents.
- Ability to prosecute cases.
- Ability to speak and write effectively in the preparation and presentation of legal matters.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, other agencies and the public.
- Ability to maintain professional appearance and demeanor.
- Must successfully complete pre-employment background process.
- State’s Attorney is barred by statute from engaging in private practice and may only appear in the courts of this state when acting on behalf of the county or the State of South Dakota.
- Strong written and oral argument skills. Experience supervising employees.
- Experience working with local government entities.
Salary: Statutory minimum $71,534 annually (Commission may authorize additional DOE).
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and communicate detailed and important information to others quickly and accurately; keyboarding and extended viewing of a computer screen; crouching; reaching; climbing; and lifting. Occasionally lifts and/or moves objects weighing up to 25 pounds such as tools, equipment, supplies, etc.; move around construction sites; driving or riding on extended trips, airplane travel. Communicates verbally and in writing. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
*This is a full-time, exempt position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday with other occasional evening and/or weekend meetings if necessary.
Clay County, South Dakota is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status or disability except as required by law. To be considered for this position, any and all candidates must be able to certify that he or she can perform with or without reasonable accommodation all the essential functions listed above.
Applicant Requirements:
