Criminal Attorney (At-Will) - County Attorneys Office
Salary: $82,344.00 - $167,537.00 Annually Location: AZ 85132, AZ Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 202600118 Department: County Attorney Opening Date: 02/24/2026 Closing Date: Continuous
Benefits Description
What are you seeking in a new position? If you're like many others, doing something meaningful is important to you. How about work/life balance? Affordable healthcare? Comprehensive well-being programs? An excellent retirement plan with significant employer contributions? If you answered "yes" to these questions, keep reading. You can find it all right here in Pinal County. It might be time for a change of scenery, where you can make a difference and benefit from an employer who cares for and values its people. Pinal County proudly invests in the future of our 2000 employees every day, and we have the best team! We offer a wide range of impressive benefits, including retirement plans that are among the best Arizona has to offer!
Benefits
• Paid Vacation And Sick Leave • 15 Vacation Days Accrued Annually Starting Day One • After Three (3) Years of Service, 18 Vacation Days Accrued Annually • After Five (5) Years of Service, 20 Vacation Days Accrued Annually • Ten Paid Holidays + One Paid Floating Holiday to Use as You Wish • 13 Sick Leave Days Accrued Annually Starting Day One • Paid Sabbaticals Every Five (5) Years • Two-Week Sabbatical After Five Years of Continuous Service • Three-Week Sabbatical After Ten Years of Continuous Service • Four-Week Sabbatical After Fifteen Years of Continuous Service • Four-Week Sabbaticals Every Five Years After Fifteen Years of Continuous Service • Comprehensive Wellness Program • Quarterly Wellness Challenges • Vision Exams and Optometry Events Onsite • Vaccination Clinics Onsite • Skin Cancer Screening Events Onsite • Biometrics and Health Screening Events Onsite • Financial Health and Retirement Planning Events Onsite & Online • Fitness Resources and Onsite Sessions Like Yoga and Tai Chi • Retirement Plans with Generous Employer Contributions - Guaranteed Lifetime Benefit! • Variety of Top Tier Affordable Medical Plans - Six Different Medical Plans to Choose From • Some Medical Plans with Zero Employee Premium Cost • Dental and Vision Plans • Tuition Reimbursement Program • Alternative Work Schedules • Telehealth Qualified Employer - Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program through the Dept of Education • Employee Assistance Program with Ongoing Training & Development Options • Civil Service Leave VanPool Options • Short-Term Disability - Employer Paid • Basic Life Insurance - Employer Paid • Flexible Spending Accounts for Dependent Care and Medical Expenses • Suite of Voluntary Benefits including additional Life, Accident, Critical Illness & Cancer Insurance
Job Summary
Perform legal work of greater complexity and difficulty, working under minimal supervision, exercising discretion, and independent judgment. Assess, prepare, prosecute, negotiate, and litigate civil and criminal cases, represent the Pinal County Attorneys Office (PCAO) in courtrooms, hearings, and negotiations, and learn PCAO guidelines and standards to effectively manage criminal and civil cases and case files under minimal supervision. May assist on highly complex cases and assist with training and mentoring less experienced attorneys.
This is the third level (senior) of a three-level series of Attorney classifications.
The Pinal County Attorneys Office is seeking applicants for these specified positions:
• Special Victims Unit - Felony Prosecution of Sexual Offenses (adult and child victims) and Domestic Violence Offenses • Major Offender Bureau - Felony Prosecution of Homicide, Aggravated Assault, Gang and Prison Offenses, and Drug Sales • Community Protection Bureau - General Felony Prosecution (Aggravated Assault, Forgery, Drug Possession, Burglary, Fraud, and Property Related Offenses) • Justice Court Bureau - Misdemeanor Prosecution
Typical Classification Essential Duties
• Represent the department in the prosecution, defense, and resolution of civil and criminal cases brought for and against the County, resolve assigned cases within policy, learn department guidelines and standards, and perform duties within scope of authority • Assist in the prosecution or defense of criminal and civil cases, review legal documents, and compile and analyze case facts • Prosecute or defend the most serious and complex cases, including non-capital homicide cases • Evaluate criminal cases of newer attorneys, suggest lines of investigation, appropriate trial tactics and legal motions to use, and give advice as to appropriate dispositions • Review evidence, interview witnesses, prepare pre-trial legal memoranda, select juries, prepare and present opening and closing statements, examine and cross-examine witnesses, make and meet legal objections, and request legal instructions • Evaluate criminal charges as filed and instruct investigators as to additional information needed to defend cases, evaluate the information, and determine the appropriate disposition of the case • Conduct research and provide consultation involving complex and difficult legal issues • Apply legal principles to determinations on individual cases and problems • Confer with and offer advice and counsel to County officials and employees and clients, apply legal expertise in a variety of legal fields including administrative, contract, tort, environmental, family, juvenile, immigration, real estate, regulatory, public records, tax issues, child support, and other fields of practice in public sector law • Represent the department or defendant at arraignments, hearings and trials, identify and subpoena witnesses, records, and other information required to present the case, compile and present evidence, bring cases before the court and argue facts of the case in relation to points of law, case law, and legal precedent, and interview and cross-examine witnesses • Manage assigned legal cases, confer with participants, negotiate agreements, and litigate and resolve cases • Review and develop recommendations for legal decisions, policies, regulations, resolutions, tax appeals, public disclosure requests, court orders, and other assigned legal matters • Evaluate case files and research missing and incomplete information and documents, manage collection and analysis of evidence, research files and computer databases, and update files and records • Review case status with supervisor and create, process, and file memoranda and legal documents • Cross-train in a wide variety of legal fields • Maintain the integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of the department by assuring that all rules and regulations are followed and that accountability and public trust are preserved • Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, customer records, and restricted County information • Perform other related duties as required
Minimum Requirements to Perform Work
• Juris Doctorate degree • Five (5) years' experience in practicing law • Must pass a thorough background investigation • Arizona residents must have a valid Arizona Driver's License upon hire; newly established Arizona Residents must have one within 30 days of hire • Must be licensed by the State Bar of Arizona to practice law in the State of Arizona, remain active with all annual requirements • Preferred Qualifications: Public Sector Attorney experience is preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of PCAO or Public Defender policies, procedures, organization, and operations • Knowledge of state of Arizona criminal and civil statutes, rules, administrative orders, and applicable Federal rules and regulations • Knowledge of operations, functions, procedures, rules, and policies of Pinal County Courts and Arizona Superior Court • Knowledge of procedures and protocols for trial court, arraignment, hearings, and other legal proceedings • Knowledge of principles and protocols for the evidentiary gathering of information and records for use in court and negotiations • Knowledge of the duties, powers, authorities, and limitations of a Public Defender or PCAO including rules of professional conduct and standards for ethical behavior • Knowledge of legal research methods, techniques, sources, and databases • Knowledge of legal case management procedures, ethics, and techniques • Knowledge of principles of record keeping, case files, and records management • Knowledge of the principles of criminal and/or juvenile law, rules of evidence, motion practice and rules of court • Skill in interpreting and explaining legal standards and procedures, applicable Federal and state rules and regulations, and PCAO or Public Defender policies and procedures • Skill in evaluating and applying criminal and civil laws to information, evidence, and other data compiled • Skill in reviewing legal documents, extracting relevant information, evaluating legal issues and legal system variables, and negotiating agreements • Skill in prosecuting and litigating cases in a legal hearing and courtroom setting • Skill in researching and identifying precedence in case law • Ability to operate a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software • Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in decision making • Ability to handle a large volume of work • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing • Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with clients, co-workers, attorneys, representatives of law enforcement agencies, courts, employees of other departments, the public, and other participants in the justice system
Physical Demands
• The work is light and requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects • The work also requires the ability to finger, reach, perform repetitive motion, lift, hear, speak, stand, walk, operate motor vehicles and demonstrate mental and visual acuity
Work Environment
• Work is performed in an environment where errors can lead to significant physical or mental consequences • This announcement may be closed as soon as a sufficient number of qualified applicants have applied • The hiring salary for this position is dependent upon experience, qualifications and position funding; starting salaries above the midpoint require additional approval • This position is an exempt position under