Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor

Assistant City Prosecutor – BU

Broadband ($51.93 - $59.71, hourly)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

With more than 200 attorneys and professional staff, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law offices in Seattle and is the third largest public law office in the state. Our office is committed to making Seattle a safe, healthy, empowered and thriving community for everyone. We strive to address historical injustices within the court system with self-examination and to pursue justice in Seattle with integrity, creativity, and fairness. We believe working transparently, innovatively, and in collaboration with our partners in the community is necessary to achieve outcomes that promote equity, accountability, and healing.

Are you passionate about impaired driving? If so, this opportunity may be for you!

The Seattle Washington Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) works collaboratively with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, other Washington TSRPs, and TSRPs around the nation implementing strategies aimed at reducing alcohol and drugged driving injuries and deaths, as detailed in the Washington Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Target Zero. The City of Seattle has held a TSRP grant since 2017.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The TSRP provides specialized leadership within the Seattle City Attorney’s Office and serves as subject matter expert on impaired driving for prosecutors, law enforcement, judges, hearing examiners, legislators, and government agencies across Washington state, and nationally. The TSRP provides training on impaired driving detection and investigation, the impairing effects of drugs, statutes and administrative rules, judicial opinions, court room procedure, legal strategy, legal and practical skills, technical issues, and many other impaired driving topics to improve the knowledge and skills of participants. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of this training involved travel to police departments and prosecutor’s offices across Washington state. Online training and assistance is a valuable tool and will continue to be used where it is helpful and useful. The TSRP will also collaborate with the Washington State Patrol, the Seattle Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies for statewide law enforcement training. This position involves significant in-state travel and virtual attendance for training, meetings, and conferences.

The TSRP will also regularly provide legal analysis, case updates, advisories, and general guidance on impaired driving topics. This is done by creating and maintaining content for the Washington TSRP website, collaborating with other TSRPs to publish the quarterly TSRP Newsletter, writing and updating Guide documents, and publishing articles/videos. The TSRP may also testify before the Washington House and Senate and participate in legislative work sessions during the legislative process.

The person selected for this role maintains their legal skills by assisting in prosecuting impaired driving cases as a part of the Seattle City Attorney’s Office and in other prosecutor’s offices statewide. The TSRP will be a key collaborator with the SCAO’s Review and Filing and Trial Team Units, serving as an impaired driving subject matter expert for the office. The TSRP primarily assists in impaired driving cases of regional and statewide interest. This includes legal research, brief writing, legal strategy, witness preparation, courtroom advocacy, sentencing, and post-trial duties, including appeals.

Technical Assistance—Prosecutors and law enforcement rely upon the TSRP for timely assistance on both mundane and complex legal issues. Queries arrive daily by email, text, and phone and often allow limited research before a timely reply. Other requests may occur during a hasty courtroom recess, at a roadside investigation at any hour of the day or night, or during preparation of a search warrant. The TSRP will also regularly work with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission staff on impaired driving policy and issues, with legislators and staff on impaired driving laws, and with other stakeholders. The TSRP is expected to manage these requests, assist, and look for opportunities to provide broader training and education.

Ongoing learning is critical to be successful in this role. TSRP grant funds support training at numerous impaired driving trainings programs offered in Washington and elsewhere. The TSRP is expected to expand their understanding of the state and national network of impaired driving resources by attending relevant local, state, and national meetings, such as roll-calls, the Washington Impaired Driving Advisory Committee, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). to the role provides a unique opportunity to expand your personal contacts and better understand state strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires:

Membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, or ability to complete the process of obtaining membership within 30 days of offer of employment. The TSRP must be and remain a member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.

Desired skills:

This TSRP position is designed to accommodate a wide range of skill sets, with the ideal candidate demonstrating time-tested courtroom ability and a solid background in prosecuting impaired driving cases in either courts of limited jurisdiction or felony courts. The ideal candidate should have excellent legal skills as demonstrated by prior briefs, memos, and appeals. The TSRP is expected to work independently to accomplish Washington’s traffic safety goals, while effectively working as part of a much larger combined effort.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Race and Social Justice Initiative – The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Benefits – The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, 12 official holidays, 2 floating holidays, sick, and paid parental leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees. Additional benefits include executive leave and eligibility for merit leave. City Attorney’s Office employees also have the opportunity to participate in a defined benefits retirement program. More information about benefits can be found at https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Bargaining Unit – This position is part of the Local 21-PA union.

COVID 19 Vaccination Mandate - City of Seattle employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination prior to your employment start date. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

Background Check – Applicants must successfully pass a background check. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.

Application Process – For your application to be accepted you must:

• Complete the online City Application.

• Attach a resume detailing your relevant experience.

• Attach a cover letter describing your interest in the position and how you meet the above listed qualifications.

• Attach a legal writing sample that is 5-15 pages in length. This can be an excerpt from a larger sample.

Who may apply – This position is open to all candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The Seattle City Attorney's Office encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Questions? Contact our Human Resources team at LAW_HR@seattle.gov.