Working with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Legal Extern Program - Criminal Division

If you are enrolled in Seattle University School of Law's evening program and are interested in an Extern position, but unable to work full-time, please email Lebryna Tamaela at lebryna.tamaela@kingcounty.gov for other options. Externs must be able to work full time, 8 am to 5 pm for a minimum of 10 weeks.

Purpose

The externship program is designed to give students a meaningful experience and exposure to our law practice. It is an excellent way to become acquainted with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, pursue an interest in criminal law, and determine whether trial practice is a future career path. The extern positions are unpaid, but many law schools offer credit for externship programs. A small weekly stipend will be provided to cover travel expenses.

Program description

Externs will be assigned to one or more deputies and assigned to a unit in the Criminal Division. More information about the Criminal Division.

Duties may include witness contact, coordination, and interviews; legal research and writing; and general preparation and support during trial.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a genuine interest in criminal law and procedure, basic legal and writing skills, and willingness to work under frequent deadlines in the fast-paced environment of criminal litigation. All externs are required to complete an application and pass a criminal history check prior to working.

Summer externships are reserved for students between their first and second years of law school. Students in their second and third years of law school are eligible to apply for externships during the school year. Please be sure to include in your cover letter your current year of law school (1L, 2L, 3L) and whether you are applying for a summer or school-year externship.

Consideration for future employment

Summer externs applying for our 2L summer intern program will be evaluated carefully by their supervising attorney. There is no guarantee that an externship will lead to a Rule 9 intern position or a future position with our office.

Selection process

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, list of 3 references, and a 5 to 10 page writing sample, using the job posting on the King County Careers website.

Qualified candidates will be interviewed by an extern selection committee.

2L Legal Intern Program

The Criminal Division of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is looking for highly motivated law students to join our office.

The mission of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is to do Justice. The hallmarks of service in the office are Integrity, Compassion, Leadership, and Professionalism. King County provides more than 2 million residents with excellence and equity in the essential services that make this one of the nation's best places to live, work, play, and raise a family. 

This is a 13-week program for students during the summer between their second and third years of law school. The legal intern program is permitted under Rule 9-A limited license to practice in Washington State. Interns are paid $950 per week (2022 rates) with no benefits.

Requirements

Eligible for a Washington State Rule 9 Status. This typically requires a completion of the second year of a three-year program. Part-time students and those in four-year programs are encouraged to check with their school and WSBA before applying. See Licensed Legal Interns.

You must pass a criminal background check.

Contact

Cover letters and any questions related to the application process should be addressed to:

Lebryna Tamaela (she/her)
Executive Assistant, Criminal Division
King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
516 3rd Avenue, Ste W554
Seattle, WA 98104

lebryna.tamaela@kingcounty.gov
206-477-1162

Applicant process

All candidates should use the King County Careers website to submit their:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• List of 3 references
• Unofficial transcript
• Writing sample of 5 to 10 pages

When a position is open, that posting can be found on the King County Careers website.

This website will require you to setup an account. Once an account is created, please fill out the online application for the internship.

Students

If you are a Seattle University, University of Washington, or Gonzaga University student, you must apply via the King County Careers website. We also ask that you apply via your school's job listing systems in addition to the King County Careers website. This is so your school can track its students' progress during OCI. And it also takes advantage of the interview slots the KCPAO has committed to your school during OCI.

If you are eligible to apply via the Northwest Minority Job Fair or another minority job fair that the KCPAO is attending, please do so. But be certain to submit your application and materials via the County's website above.

Because of limited funds, out-of-state, on-campus recruiting is not anticipated, and no funds are available to support candidates' trips to Seattle.

Interviews

• After we review all resumes, you are notified if you are selected for an interview. 
  • If you are in the greater Seattle area, your interviews are held in person at the King County Courthouse. If you would prefer an interview through Teams or Zoom, contact Lebryna Tamaela.
  • Out-of-state candidates will have their interviews on Teams or Zoom.

District Court

Rule 9 interns assigned to the District Court Unit practice in the King County District Courts, which are located throughout King County. District Court locations include Kent (Maleng Regional Justice Center), Redmond, and Seattle. Interns assigned to these courts handle every stage of the prosecution of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses from arraignment to jury trial. Each intern is responsible for providing their own transportation to the district court where assigned. In some courts, interns represent the State in contested traffic infraction hearings. Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor statutes cover a myriad of offenses, for example, Driving Under the Influence and other criminal traffic violations, Assault, Theft, Criminal Trespass, and Indecent Exposure.

An intern in the District Court Unit is assigned to a specific court location for the duration of the internship. They will work with current deputy prosecuting attorneys, paralegals, and Legal Service Processionals. Supervision is provided by the district court Team Leader, who is a deputy prosecuting attorney with trial experience and by current deputy prosecuting attorneys assigned to the specific court location. The District Court Unit Chair, the Filing Unit and an Appellate deputy are all available for consultation. The entire District Court Unit meets periodically, and each location has regular team meetings. Rule 9s have access to an online resource center that includes stock briefs on many of the recurring issues, templates, and training videos.

After 2 weeks of intensive training and observation, the interns will be responsible for every aspect of criminal prosecution at the district court level. This includes case investigation, witness interviews, negotiations, brief writing, arraignments, pretrial motions, trial preparation, bench trials, jury trials, sentencing, and probation reviews. The intern will cover regular calendars that are set by the court and spend out-of-court time preparing upcoming cases. The constitutional and evidentiary issues are many, the caseloads are substantial, the calendars are heavy, and the trial work is intense.

An internship on the District Court Unit is an excellent opportunity for exposure to criminal trial practice. The intern works closely with the Prosecutor's Office Legal Service Professionals and law enforcement, and is in regular contact with judges, the defense bar, and the general public. The position is demanding, but provides in-court practice, educational experience, and rewards rarely duplicated by other internship programs.

Deputy Assistant Attorney

The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office intermittently hires term-limited deputy assistants (contract lawyers). Contracts are initially for 6 months and are often extended for up to a year.

Potential work assignments include handling misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases in District Court, handling misdemeanor and felony cases in Juvenile Court, assisting with drug and mainstream felony filings, covering felony calendars and covering hearings in Involuntary Treatment Court. These positions provide excellent courtroom experience, especially for new or inexperienced lawyers or lawyers who are new to the jurisdiction.

Over the past few years, the PAO has hired many of our contract lawyers into regular positions as openings became available.

Requirement

Candidates must be bar qualified in the State of Washington at the time of application.

Application process

Interested applicants should check the King County jobs webpage throughout the year. Deputy assistant jobs are posted to that webpage when openings are available. 

Questions?

Contact Hazel Kerkemor Johnson, Deputy Director of Human Resources at hazel.johnson@kingcounty.gov.