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)
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.