Come Join Our Team!

The Lincoln County State's Attorney's Office is accepting applications for a Deputy State's Attorney to join our team. You are an integral part of the criminal justice system closely collaborating with law enforcement, probation, parole, juvenile justice centers, and numerous community agencies. This opening will be working primarily with our magistrate court cases. 

By joining one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, you will find a caseload that keeps you engaged and provides you the opportunity to make a difference in the community. 

In addition to a thriving work environment, you will enjoy an extensive benefits package that includes 12 paid holidays; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous PTO program; extended sick leave program; matching inclusion into the South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS); and a deferred compensation plan!

Please include a cover letter and resume alongside your online application.

The hiring range is $3,581.93 - $3,953.55/biweekly with full earning potential up to $5,300.79/biweekly.

The posting will remain open until the position is filled.

How You Will Make an Impact

•    Prepare and manage a caseload of predominantly misdemeanor cases, low-level felonies, juvenile violation cases, and juvenile abuse and neglect cases. Present cases for legal proceedings. Perform legal research. Prepare, draft, and file legal documents and correspondence.

•    Review offenses, police reports, and evidence to make determinations on charges. Prepare, send, and track subpoenas for witnesses and records. Prepare and interview witnesses for legal proceedings. Select jurors.

•    Stay informed on changes in relevant laws, statutes, and proposed legislation and policy pertaining to criminal law, juvenile delinquency, and juvenile abuse and neglect. Draft proposed legislation and appear before legislative committees.  

•    Communicate, correspond, and collaborate with parties involved in cases including victims, parents, school personnel, attorneys, court personnel, and law enforcement regarding procedures and actions for those cases. Respond to inquiries from the public and the media.

•    Make recommendations for custody, parental rights, sentences, and restitution.

•    Represent the State’s Attorney’s Office at public, private, and inter-governmental programs and events, communicate with the media, prepare press releases, and serve on boards, panels, and task forces.

•    Train and educate volunteers, law enforcement, and social workers on their roles and duties on legal issues and the court process duties. Train interns. Supervise clerical staff and interns.

•    Answer, handle, or direct phone calls and walk-in traffic from clients and the general public regarding legal concerns and questions.

•    Occasional travel between work sites.

Minimum Qualifications

•    Graduation from a college of law, attainment of a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school, and admission by the Supreme Court of South Dakota to practice law in the state of South Dakota or be licensed to practice law in any other state and able to take the next available South Dakota bar examination or be a recent or imminent law school graduate, eligible to sit for the next available South Dakota bar examination. 

A comparable combination of education and experience may be considered. 

•    Working knowledge of civil and criminal law and methods and practices of pleadings, court procedures and rules of evidence, principles, methods, materials, and practices utilized in legal research, and general law and established precedents. 

•    Ability to prosecute cases. 

•    Ability to work under strict time constraints. 

•    Ability to speak and write effectively in the preparation and presentation of legal matters. 

•    Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, other agencies, and the public. 

•    Ability to maintain professional appearance and demeanor.

Ideal Candidates Will Have

Previous experience in and a working knowledge of civil and criminal law and methods and practices of pleadings, court procedures, and rules of evidence.