Assistant District Attorney Positions
Click here to apply for current Assistant District Attorney Positions/Internships
Investigative/Administrative Positions
Click here to apply for current Investigative/Administrative Positions
Assistant District Attorney Positions
The Next Generation of Assistant District Attorneys
The Queens District Attorney’s Office is privileged to represent the most diverse county on the planet – Queens. Each year hundreds of law school graduates and practicing attorneys apply for positions as Queens County Assistant District Attorneys. Applicants hail from all corners of the country and globe, seeking to serve the citizens of “The World’s Borough.” While most of our attorneys are hired directly out of law school, some are hired as laterals.
New Assistant District Attorneys complete an intensive six-week Incoming Orientation Training Program and are thereafter placed into a rotation of bureaus aimed to provide them with the foundational knowledge of a successful attorney. As ADAs gain more experience, they are given the opportunity to handle more complex cases, participate in targeted training, and transfer to more specialized bureaus.
District Attorney Katz is a true daughter of Queens County, and she has created initiatives and policies that focus on fairness, safety, and justice for everyone involved in the criminal justice system. The Office values candidates who not only have a strong academic record, but who have a demonstrated commitment to public service and interest in criminal law. Candidates must have an ability to empathize, exercise good judgment, and possess a mature understanding of the needs of the community.
Entry level ADAs commit to working for the office for a minimum of three years; however, many spend their entire careers here. Embark upon a fulfilling and rewarding career by joining the dynamic team at the Queens County District Attorney’s Office.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Non-admitted entry level ADAs: $85,000
Admitted entry level ADAs: $90,000
Lateral ADAs: Salary varies depending upon position and experience.
Benefits offered include a comprehensive health plan, generous vacation time, parental leave, deferred compensation plans, and pension benefits.
Each seat in the Fall and Spring classes is highly competitive. All applications are thoroughly reviewed, and successful candidates undergo three rounds of interviews as follows:
- Initial Interview with an Assistant District Attorney.
- Panel Interview with two Assistant District Attorneys.
- Final Interview with the Director of Litigation Training and Legal Hiring and the Senior Deputy Bureau Chief of Legal Hiring. The performance of an opening statement (fact pattern provided) is also required.
Lateral candidates are experienced attorneys who are currently practicing law and have the requisite experience for a particular position.
Yes. The number of interviews and persons with whom a lateral candidate will interview with is dependent upon the position.
There is a 3-year commitment for entry level ADAs. There is a 2-year commitment for Lateral ADAs.
Yes. Public Officers Law Section 3(1) requires that all persons holding civil office be citizens of the United States. Accordingly, United States citizenship is required of all Assistant District Attorneys upon commencement of their employment.
Yes. New York State requires all Assistant District Attorneys to be residents of New York State as of the first day of your appointment and throughout your employment.
Letters of recommendation are not required but will be accepted if sent on your behalf.
Yes. We required at least 3 references who can speak to your professional abilities. References and/or prior employers will be contacted during the hiring process. Please let us know if you do not want your current employer to be contacted.
Unless otherwise indicated in our posting, the application period will remain open until the class is filled. While applications are accepted on a rolling basis until that time, it is strongly recommended that you apply as early as possible.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office hires two classes of entry level ADAs a year. The Spring class typically begins in late March or early April. The Fall class typically begins the day after Labor Day.
Yes. A background check is conducted after the acceptance of our offer. The list of required documents will be sent to you when an offer is made.
If you have received an offer from another agency prior to receiving an offer from the Queens District Attorney’s Office, please contact us so that we may expedite the interview process.
Try to interview through On Campus Interview at your school. If you do not get an interview, apply to us directly.
Applicants who were summer legal interns and who received a favorable evaluation from their supervisors will be exempt from the initial interview stage. Thus, those individuals will only participate in a panel and final round interview. Please note that this applies to summer intern only.
- Do your homework and learn everything you can about the Queens District Attorney’s Office and Queens County.
- Be prepared to discuss in detail what is expected from the role of a prosecutor.
- Be prepared to discuss why you want to become a prosecutor in Queens County.
- A high level of understanding on topics such as ethics, evidence, and criminal procedure is expected.
- It’s vital to show the reasoning behind your answers, whether you know the applicable law or not.
- Taking initiative is highly valued. We encourage you to make your case as to why you should become a prosecutor for the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
- Be yourself and be genuine in your responses. We welcome diversity of thought and opinion.
- Don’t feel pressured to ask questions at the end of your interview. Genuine questions are of course welcome.
- In the event of a virtual interview, try to neutralize your background so that nothing is distracting the participants.
Training for New Entry Level Prosecutors
The Legal Training Department is responsible for all tiered training of assistant district attorneys as well as the continuing legal education of the office's professional staff. The department administers career-oriented training programs which include an intensive four-week Incoming Orientation Training Program for new hires, a Felony Assistant/Grand Jury Training Program, meant to develop prosecutors as they progress in their career and begin handling felonies, as well as trial advocacy training for both Criminal Court and Supreme Court assistants. In addition to the career programs, the Legal Training Department administers Monthly Office-Wide CLEs and weekly CLEs designed to address issues specific to individual divisions and bureaus.
Brave Justice Summer Legal Internship
The Brave Justice Summer Legal Internship Program, established by District Attorney Melinda Katz, is designed to provide law students with an outstanding opportunity to learn about the Queens District Attorney’s Office, which serves the most diverse county in the country. Summer Interns have the unique experience to see the transformation in progress as District Attorney Katz continues to take on a bold new course to achieve a more forward looking and progressive office. Interns will be assigned to a specific bureau under newly created Divisions and will work with Assistant District Attorneys.* Depending on the assignment, they engage in many aspects of prosecutorial work, such as:
- research and writing assignments, including briefs to be heard by the Appellate Division, Second Department of New York State Supreme Court
- motion and discovery practice
- civilian and police interviews
- court appearances pursuant to the student practice order
- crime scene visits
- participation in community outreach through the Community Partnerships Division
Interns are also exposed to the inner workings of the Alternative Sentencing initiatives which give selected defendants a second chance to redirect their lives.
The Brave Justice Summer Legal Internship Program also includes numerous events and multiple presentations throughout the summer to introduce Interns to the various bureaus in the office, and most importantly, to the community of professionals in the criminal justice system who work in their respective roles to achieve justice for everyone.
Investigative/Administrative Positions
A number of key functions for the office are performed by the Office's support staff, including vital support for trial divisions, as well as other community services and office functions.
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.