Careers

Legal Staff Employment

We are committed to the recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion of a diverse staff.

 Current Opportunities for Admitted Attorneys >>

Each year several hundred law school graduates and practicing attorneys apply for positions as Assistant District Attorneys. There are approximately sixty-five openings each year for legal staff positions. Most of the staff is hired directly out of law school, while some of the staff join the office as laterals or after clerking. Given the diverse nature of our community, the ability to work with people of different backgrounds is critical. In addition, the office seeks to have a legal staff that reflects the diversity of the community that we serve.

New Assistant District Attorneys commit themselves to serving the office for three years. Most stay well beyond their commitment. Traditionally, the new class joins the office several weeks after taking the bar examination. After completing a six-week orientation and training program, ADAs begin work in their bureaus.

Assistant District Attorneys are given substantial responsibility early in their careers. ADAs start in the Trial Division, Special Victims Division, Appeals Bureau, or in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. As they gain experience, they have the opportunity to handle more serious and complex cases. They are also afforded the opportunity to transfer to the office’s Investigation Division, which is comprised of experienced attorneys who prosecute fraud, corruption, white-collar crimes, and rackets cases. Unlike many other prosecutor’s offices, we prosecute cases vertically, meaning that one ADA handles a case from its inception to final disposition.

We offer a generous benefits package. Attorneys receive five weeks of paid vacation and twelve sick days. After two years of service, all attorneys are eligible for up to six months of childcare leave, which, depending on the circumstances, may be with full pay. Loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPS) relieve the debt burden of law school graduates. Various types of LRAPS are available to prosecutors in public service, including the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA), NYS Bar Association, NYS Higher Education Tuition Reimbursement Program. Click here for additional information on loan forgiveness programs. As a current or prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. Please review the notice to see if you may be eligible for programs and how to apply at nyc.gov/studentloans.

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, as is New York State residency. A three-year commitment to serve in the office is also required from newly graduated law students.

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.

Please review all the FAQs below. If you have additional questions about our application process please contact the Legal Hiring Unit at 212-335-9361.

Application Process

The successful applicant will complete four rounds of interviews:

  1. First interview with one Hiring Board member
  2. Panel interview with three Hiring Board members
  3. Executive review by an Executive Assistant District Attorney
  4. Interview with District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr.

The office considers academic achievement as only one indicator of an applicant’s potential. Equally important are qualities of personal character; the office seeks applicants with integrity, judgment, and maturity. Prior leadership experience and a demonstrated commitment to public service are also valued qualities. Assistant District Attorneys are selected solely on the basis of merit, without regard to political affiliation. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted online. Applicants will be required to attach a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample, and the names and telephone numbers of three professional references. Only complete applications are reviewed. Cover letters should be addressed to:

Ms. Robin R. Edwards
Director, Legal Hiring Unit
New York County District Attorney’s Office
One Hogan Place
New York, NY 10013

Please read all instructions carefully and hover over the question mark for more information. Documents should be in Word or PDF format. We strongly encourage you to review the FAQ section for more information about our application process.

Graduating Law Students

  • Graduating Law Student Application
  • Eligibility: Third-year day students and fourth-year evening/part-time students. Only law students graduating in 2025 may apply through this online portal.
  • The application link will open on July 15 and close on November 1 at 5:00 pm (EST). All submissions must be received by the deadline.

Law Clerks

  • Law Clerk Application
  • Eligibility: Current judicial law clerks who started their clerkships immediately after law school graduation
  • Applications are accepted at any time. We strongly encourage clerks to apply before January 1st of the year they are eligible to begin employment

Lateral Hires

  • Lateral Hires Application
  • Eligibility: Experienced attorneys who are currently practicing law. All attorneys who practiced law immediately after graduation and are currently clerking are considered lateral applicants.
  • All lateral candidates must have passed the NYS Bar Examination prior to submitting an application. Lateral applicants may apply online.
  • Attorneys must be admitted in New York State by the time of appointment and reside in New York State throughout the tenure of their employment.
  • Current Lateral Openings: The New York County District Attorney’s Office is currently seeking experienced attorneys for positions in various Bureaus & Units within the office. We have openings in the Trial Division, Investigation Division, and Appeals Division.