Assistant District Attorney
Office: Kenai District Attorney's Office
Location: Kenai
Job Description
Looking for career advancement and new opportunities in a fun and exciting location? The Kenai District Attorney Office has the perfect situation for you! We are recruiting for an Assistant District Attorney. In this position you will prosecute criminal cases in the Kenai District and Superior Courts, which includes frequent trials, significant pre-trial motion practice, daily court hearings and some post-conviction and appellate work. You will need strong oral advocacy skills. Prior trial experience and experience in the practice of criminal law is a plus, but is not required. This position requires the ability to think critically and reason logically; the ability to communicate clearly verbally and in writing; the ability to organize, prioritize, and work effectively in a deadline controlled atmosphere; and the ability to manage numerous matters simultaneously.
Kenai is one of Alaska’s mid-sized District Attorney Offices, currently employing eight attorneys and nine support staff. The Kenai office prosecutes cases throughout the Kenai Peninsula, as well as several communities “across the Bay.” In addition to serving the local Kenai court, the office also handles cases in the Homer and Seward courts, providing the opportunity for travel assignments to these unique and interesting seaside communities. The office is perfectly sized to allow ample opportunities to learn and grow from your colleagues, while still maintaining a close-knit family-like atmosphere. The team mentality and strong sense of camaraderie are a couple of the many things that make “Fort Kenai” such a great place to work. The office was recognized at the 2017 Alaska District Attorney Conference by being awarded the “Team Award.” The people in the office are great to work with, and do quite a bit together outside the office as well. Who knows, you might even be the next winner of the “Golden Bootie” trophy for winning the friendly office competition to see who hikes the most each summer.
Hiking the nearly limitless number of trails on the Peninsula is just one of the many exciting outdoor activities you will find. The boating, fishing and camping opportunities are also practically endless. Surrounded by Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay and Resurrection Bay, and with lots of inland lakes, there are plenty of options for being on the water; from boating, kayaking, beachcombing, and exploring, to fishing one of the many world-class freshwater trout or salmon fisheries, or saltwater salmon or halibut fisheries. And the fun does not stop when the snow flies in Kenai. Winter offers good cross country skiing, reasonable proximity to downhill skiing at Alyeska and several back-country locations, in addition to great snow machining, snowshoeing, and ice skating. The Kenai Peninsula is known as “Alaska’s Playground” for many reasons, and Kenai is simply a great place to live.
In addition to all of the outdoor activities, the Peninsula also offers a wide variety of more leisurely activities. From the weekly concert in the Soldotna Park, to the numerous weekend community festivals, to the vibrant artistic communities of Homer and Seward, and the various theater, concert, and speaking events found on the Peninsula, there are always activities of a more relaxed nature to be found. The active presence of a number of Native Alaskan tribes on the Kenai Peninsula also provides for a number of uniquely rich, educational, and engaging cultural activities, experiences and friendships.
In all, Kenai is a nice balance between the busier city atmosphere of Anchorage and the limited opportunities of a small town. The weather is temperate: not as hot in the summer, or cold in the winter as the interior or western Alaska, and not as rainy as Southeast. It is also reasonably close to Anchorage if you want to head to a bigger city for additional activities, shopping, cultural events, and travel. Cost of living is reasonable, with moderate housing costs and enough local stores to provide good access to more than just the necessities.
Apply now to join the Kenai District Attorney Office as our new Assistant District Attorney, and come experience all the exciting opportunities that the Kenai Peninsula has to offer both at work and play. Salary is determined by the legal background and experience of the selected candidate. Regular salary increases are provided every 1-2 years. A comprehensive state benefits package is provided, including health, dental, vision insurance and life insurance; a retirement annuity plan that takes the place of the federal Social Security Plan, in which the state provides a 6.13% match of your gross pay; a separate retirement investment portfolio in which the state matches pre-tax contributions of up to 5% of your gross eligible salary; options for deferred compensation; 21 days of personal leave for new employees, which increases over time; and assistance with moving expenses.
Contact
Individuals who would like more information may contact District Attorney Scot Leaders at (907)283-3131, or by email at scot.leaders@alaska.gov.
Benefits & Compensation
State Benefits Package
- Health benefits (including dental and vision), life insurance and voluntary supplemental benefits
- Generous leave accrual
- 12 paid holidays
- A variety of retirement plans
- Potential eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Loan Forgiveness Program.
- 37.5-hour workweek
- Eligibility for part-time teleworking, alternate workweek, or a flex schedule after an initial training period.
Estimated Compensation
The table below gives an estimate of compensation based on a combination of judicial clerking and licensed legal experience. The compensation listed in the table represents the base pay. Several locations around Alaska have geographical pay differences. Upon a job offer, you would receive a firm salary quote based on location of position and qualifying experience. Attorneys are eligible to promote from Attorney 1 through 4 with service and acceptable job performance.
| Attorney level | Experience level | Pay range and step | Base pay* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney 1 | Unlicensed attorney | 18 D or E | $87,282-$90,012 |
| Attorney 2 | Less than two years of licensed experience | 20 C or D | $96,349.50-$99,840 |
| Attorney 3 | More than 2 but less than 4 years of licensed experience | 22 B or C | $106,684.50-$109,960.50 |
| Attorney 4 | More than 4 years | 24 B through F | $121,836-$139,542 |
*Summary of Geographical Pay Rate Differences.
| Location | Base pay + geographical difference |
|---|---|
| Anchorage, Kenai, Palmer, Ketchikan | Base pay / no geo dif |
| Fairbanks | Base pay + 3% |
| Juneau, Sitka | Base pay + 5% |
| Kodiak | Base pay + 11% |
| Nome, Dillingham | Base pay + 37% |
| Bethel, Utqiagvik | Base pay + 50% |
| Kotzebue | Base pay + 60% |
Application Instructions
Candidates must submit:
- A resume that includes a complete history of education and professional work experience.
- At least three professional employment references.
- A professional writing sample.
- A cover letter which includes the position of interest.
Preferably applications may be submitted electronically to:
CriminalLawRecruit@alaska.gov
or via hard copy to:
Department of Law
Criminal Division Central Office
P.O. Box 110300
Juneau, AK 99811-0300
The Department of Law is an equal opportunity employer and complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants needing accommodation to apply may contact the Relay Alaska at (800) 770-8973 or Criminal Division Central Office at (907) 465-3600.
All interested and qualified applicants will be considered, but not every applicant will be interviewed. A preference will be given to applicants with the ability to fluently speak another language that is commonly used in the geographic locations related to this position.
