Arlington County's Commonwealth's (CWA) Office is seeking to fill a full-time Conviction Review Attorney to investigate and work to correct wrongful convictions, to train and advise line prosecutors on the causes of wrongful convictions in order to prevent wrongful convictions, to train and advise line prosecutors on developments in forensic science, and to represent the Office in expungement matters. The Commonwealth Attorney's Office is committed to transformative justice in the promotion of e... more details
Position Information
Arlington County's Commonwealth's (CWA) Office is seeking to fill a full-time Conviction Review Attorney to investigate and work to correct wrongful convictions, to train and advise line prosecutors on the causes of wrongful convictions in order to prevent wrongful convictions, to train and advise line prosecutors on developments in forensic science, and to represent the Office in expungement matters.
The Commonwealth Attorney's Office is committed to transformative justice in the promotion of effective and evidence-based diversion programs, racial justice, and victim services. We are dedicated to pursuing justice and protecting the rights and safety of citizens of the County and its visitors. As part of that mission, we work to enhance public safety and welfare through the vigorous enforcement of criminal laws in a fair, compassionate, ethical and just manner. We maintain a pro-active role in our community by working to prevent crime in addition to its mandate to prosecute with integrity, equality and excellence.
The conviction review process is a specialized, time-consuming legal process that involves the following specific duties:
Identifying and investigating cases which may be wrongful convictions and recommending courses of action based on review of these cases;
Responding to stakeholders’ identification of cases and issues which faulty testimony or unreliable analysis of forensic evidence was used;
Testing the validity of evidence with an emphasis on forensic science;
Determining acts and sources of any intentional or unintentional wrongdoing in the development and prosecution of these cases;
Determining if and when a victim should be contacted regarding the conviction review process;
Training and advising line prosecutors on best practices in interviewing suspects, eyewitness identification, Brady obligations, and forensic sciences – including helping to assist in major motions practice to ensure that prosecutions are reliable and fair;
Responding to motions for record expungement, appearing in court on behalf of the Commonwealth in those hearings, arranging the bi-annual expungement fair, and working on legislative projects to improve current expungement law;
Responding to FOIA requests and responsibility as FOIA Officer;
Reviewing law enforcement internal investigations to identify Brady/ Giglio issues; and
Performing other tasks that may be assigned as needed to ensure the accuracy and fairness of convictions.
Selection Criteria
Minimum: Completion of the requirements for graduation with a Juris Doctor; three years of professional experience in the legal field with knowledge of and experience in criminal law procedures and wrongful convictions; expertise in the causes of wrongful convictions and forensic science.
Applicants must be admitted to the Virginia Bar, waivable into the Virginia Bar, or prepared to take the bar exam.
Desirable: Preference will be giving to candidates with one or more of the following:
Experience with post-conviction review work;
Experience in the practice of Virginia criminal law;
Knowledge of expungement law; and/or
Experience training in areas of wrongful conviction.
Special Requirements
A background check will be conducted on all candidates who are finalists for the position. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit check and may require signing a release authorizing the County to obtain this information. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record and criminal history.
Additional Information
The pay ranges listed are effective June 30, 2024.
This position is part of a broad band, competency-based pay system. Starting salary within the band is based on a review of qualifications and experience. Pay potential will be based on performance and employee development with a yearly salary range of $101,420.80 - $139,672.00.
Work hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Opportunity for some telework.
The official title for this position is Commonwealth Attorney II.
NOTE:This position is listed as “open continuous.” Interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed, and qualified applicants referred on a continuous basis. Interviews will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The application process will close when the position has been filled or when enough qualified applications have been received.
Please ensure that you have included details of all relevant work experience on your application. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. A resume may be attached, however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
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Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.
The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.
Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email pers@arlingtonva.us.
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