Assistant Solicitor General

Position Information

The purpose of this classification is to prosecute misdemeanor traffic cases in arraignments, hearings, jury trials, and bench trials.

Essential Functions

• Covers daily work activities of investigators, trial assistants, and administrative staff; coordinates work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with staff, assists with complex/problem situations, and provides technical expertise.
• Consults with Solicitor General or other officials to review department operations/activities, review/resolve problems, receive advice/direction, and provide recommendations.
• Manages assigned caseload of cases; investigates, prepares, and prosecutes misdemeanor traffic cases in arraignments, hearings, jury trials, and bench trials; prosecutes cases through final disposition and through appellate courts.
• Reviews case records and related documentation; reviews warrants, citations, incident reports, traffic accident reports, criminal history reports, crime laboratory reports, drug/alcohol test reports, bond orders, witness statements, and other records; interviews witnesses and victims; reviews videotapes of police actions in DUI and other cases; reviews cases with staff investigators and trial assistants.
• Evaluates evidence and determines applicable crimes to charge against a defendant; lists crimes and witnesses for inclusion on criminal accusations.
• Researches, prepares for, and conducts motion hearings or other court hearings.
• Evaluates strengths/weaknesses of cases; determines/recommends whether to try a case or seek other sources of resolution.
• Negotiates cases prior to trials; conducts plea negotiations, plea bargaining, and plea recommendations; prepares draft/written plea recommendations for negotiations with defense attorneys and presentation to court; conducts negotiations with attorneys and/or with defendants without legal representation.
• Conducts jury trials and bench trials; prepares court documents, exhibits, jury charges, and opening/closing statements for jury trials; prepares witnesses for trials; determines trial strategies and determines best method of obtaining favorable resolution of cases.
• Determines and prepares sentencing recommendations.
• Drafts/prepares legal pleadings, briefs, court orders, bench warrant recall orders, and other court documents.
• Communicates with attorneys, Judges, victims, witnesses, and other individuals regarding cases; answers questions in court from Judge, defendants, or other individuals.
• Assists Clerk of Court’s office with case management; retrieves files from Clerk of Court.
• Performs legal research to identify current law and changes in law, to locate case authorities or other law, to identify precedents, or to locate other information; conducts research of law library, electronic data sources, Internet sites, hardcopy materials, or other sources as needed.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, legal documents, legal pleadings, briefs, court orders, bench warrant recall orders, plea recommendations, opening/closing statements, court documents, jury charges, or other documents.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, warrants, citations, criminal history reports, crime laboratory reports, witness statements, depositions, briefs, bond orders, court calendars, court orders, legal documents, laws, statutes, policies, procedures, manuals, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data; verifies accuracy of entered data and makes corrections; utilizes word processing, database, case management, legal research, e-mail, Internet, or other computer programs.
• Communicates with supervisor, employees, other departments, Judges, court personnel, attorneys, defendants, victims, witnesses, jurors, law enforcement personnel, government agencies, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, resolve problems, or give/receive advice/direction.
• Attends meetings and makes presentations as needed.
• Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations; maintains an awareness of new trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; participates in continuing education activities; attends bar meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate required from an accredited college or university; member of the Georgia Bar Association; supplemented by one (1) year previous experience and/or training involving general law practice, municipal prosecution, courtroom procedures, legal research, and personal computer operations; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
• Must possess and maintain valid State Bar of Georgia Law License.

BENEFITS PROVIDED BY FORSYTH COUNTY TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES:

• Personal Leave Accrual: 0 - 4 Years - 20 days per year - 6.16 hours per pay period; 5 - 14 Years - 25 days per year - 7.70 hours per pay period; 15+Years - 30 days per year - 9.24 hours per pay period.
• Observed Holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving (2), and Christmas (2).
• Medical Insurance: Aetna Choice POS II - $2000 Individual Deductible (Basic Plan); Aetna Choice POS II - $1000 Individual Deductible (Plus Plan); Kaiser Permanente HMO- $0 Individual Deductible.
• Dental Insurance: Base $1,000 Plan; Buy-Up $1,500 Plan.
• Vision Insurance: Office visit copays for exams, as well as copays for lenses, frames, and contacts.
• Basic Life & AD&D Insurance: Term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) protection for each full-time employee.
• Disability Insurance – Short Term and Long Term: 100% paid by Forsyth County. Eligibility begins date of hire. Short Term Disability – 60% of weekly earnings to a maximum of $1,000.00 a week. Eligibility begins 14 days after an accident or sickness and has a benefit period of 24 weeks. Long Term Disability – 60% of monthly earnings to a maximum of $5,000.00 a month. Eligibility begins at 26 weeks to coordinate with the end of Short Term benefits and continues 24 months (Own Occupation).
• Additional Life Insurance and AD&D: Rates vary based on amount of coverage selected. Additional life insurance may be purchased for employee, spouse, and children.
• Retirement Plan (401K): Fully vested at five years of employment – 20% graduated vesting annually. Eligible to begin contributions immediately upon hire. Six Months through One Year of County Service: Forsyth County matches your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to 5% of your pay. That’s a 100% return on the first 5% of pay you save. Years One through Five: Forsyth County “seeds” your account with 5% of your pay each year, and matches 100% of what you contribute, up to 5% of your pay. Years 5 through 10: The County continues its automatic “seed” contribution of 5% of pay, matches up to the first 5% of pay that you contribute, then adds a 50% match up to the next 5%. After 10 Years of Service: You continue to receive a 100% County match on the first 5% of pay you contribute, and 50% on the next 5% of pay you save. But now, the automatic contribution the County makes to “seed” your account each year increases to 7.5% of your pay.