Assistant District Attorney (Lateral Hiring)

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office is currently seeking experienced, practicing attorneys for its:

Litigation Division:
County Court Bureau - responsible for the prosecution of felony-level criminal cases
Special Victims Bureau - responsible for handling felony-level domestic violence and child physical/sexual abuse cases
Vehicular Crimes Bureau - responsible for handling felony-level driving while intoxicated/drug impaired and vehicular homicide/assault cases. 

Investigations Division: 
Multiple Bureaus - responsible for the prosecution of fraud, corruption, financial crimes, narcotics/firearms/gangs, organized crime and rackets cases

Appeals Bureau - handles appeals and post-conviction motions filed by defendants, serves an important role in advising ADAs throughout the Office on legal issues that arise during the investigative and trial stages of a case, and houses the Office’s Mental Hygiene Unit and Freedom of Information Law Unit.

Information Technology: This role leverages legal training along with technology skills, inclusive of coding, development, case management analysis, database administration and cyber security administration. 

Thank you for your interest in applying to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office as a lateral applicant! A lateral applicant is an experienced attorney who is currently practicing law.

Nassau County was named the “Safest Community in America” by U.S. News & World Report for the third consecutive year. This distinction is not a coincidence – it is the direct result of the superb work of the talented, well-trained prosecutors at the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.

With nearly 200 lawyers and a total staff of more than 400, the Nassau DA’s Office is one of the largest DA’s Offices in the country. Because of our proximity to New York City, we enjoy a unique blend of suburban idyll (miles of oceanfront beaches, hundreds of parks and award-winning schools) and easy access to NYC’s robust cultural, nightlife and restaurant scenes.

Members of our legal staff are provided with training, mentorship and ongoing opportunities for professional development. In our collegial and collaborative environment, Assistant District Attorneys cultivate a professional home within the world of criminal justice and enjoy a rewarding and exciting position as a prosecutor.  Our diverse staff of Assistant District Attorneys is recruited and selected from a competitive pool of applicants nationwide. Our prosecutors bring with them passion and talent for courtroom advocacy and litigation, a commitment to pursuing justice and the ability to provide support to crime victims in need. Our Assistants choose to work in Nassau County because of its safety and vibrancy, and their personal dedication to preserving that environment for all its residents. 

Qualifications and Requirements

All lateral candidates must:

• have passed the NYS Bar Examination and be admitted to the practice of law in NYS, in good standing, prior to submitting an application.
• Reside in New York State as of the effective date of employment with the NCDAO.
• For Litigation and Investigations Division positions: have at least five (5) years of experience in handling all aspects of criminal investigation and prosecution, including significant grand jury and felony jury trial experience (Litigation Division) and long-term investigations experience, as well as grand jury and felony jury trial experience (Investigations Division). 
• For Appeals positions: have significant experience as a prosecutor and/or as an appellate attorney, and have superior analytical, research and writing skills.
• have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• have strong organizational and analytical abilities.
• make a two-year commitment to employment at the NCDAO.
• be a United States citizen by the effective date of employment. Public Officers Law §3(1).

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Day to day life for an ADA in the Litigation and Investigations Divisions requires organized management of an active criminal case docket, which includes: 

• preparing and filing pleadings, handling discovery, briefing and arguing motions;
• conducting witness preparation, grand jury presentations, hearings and trials;
• evaluating cases to formulate and negotiate appropriate dispositions;
• conferencing cases with defense counsel and judges;
• making court appearances pertaining to all phases of litigation;
• investigating cases using various types of legal process (subpoenas, court orders, search warrants, and/or eavesdropping warrants), cooperating defendants, and traditional and electronic surveillance; and
• collaborating with the NCPD and Nassau County’s local police departments, as well as a variety of local, state and federal law enforcement partners.

Responsibilities of an ADA in the Appeals Bureau include, but are not limited to:

• researching, writing and arguing briefs in intermediate appellate courts and the NYS Court of Appeals addressing issues of criminal and constitutional law;
• answering collateral post-conviction motions seeking vacatur of convictions under Article 440 of the Criminal Procedure Law; conducting evidentiary hearings related to these motions
• answering petitions for writs of habeas corpus filed in federal court, and briefing and arguing appeals arising from such cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit;
• counseling ADAs throughout the Office on questions of law arising at pre-trial, trial, and sentencing stages;
• reviewing adverse decisions for potential People’s appeals; researching, briefing, and arguing such appeals
• conducting conviction integrity reviews of post-conviction cases whenever such treatment is warranted;
• litigating specialized civil proceedings, including state habeas corpus and Article 78 petitions; and
• engaging in motion practice related to all stages of the appellate process.

Responsibilities of an ADA in Information Technology include, but are not limited to:

• executing operational directives of the Chief Technology Officer;
• consulting with legal staff in order to translate legal needs to technological and programming solutions;
• providing specialized guidance for case investigations that involve digital or complex technological evidence;
• assisting the Case Management Team with development and reports, including crime strategies analyses;
• assisting with cyber security policy formulation and systems monitoring;
• formulating and assisting with litigation and trial presentation strategy.

Job Benefits

As an ADA, you will receive the following benefits (waiting periods may apply):

• 13 paid holidays each year
• Paid vacation, personal and sick days each year
• Contributory medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents
• New York State Employees Retirement Plan
• Optional Deferred Compensation Plan
• Flexible benefits plan for medical and child-care expenses
• Childcare leave
• County Credit Union
• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience 

Application Process

Lateral applicants will complete two rounds of interviews:

1. Panel Interview with two supervisory Assistant District Attorneys from the Hiring Committee
2. District Attorney Interview with DA Donnelly and the Chief Assistant District Attorney. 

If you have questions call (516) 571-3387.