From the county attorney to investigators, clerks, and secretaries, county attorney jobs are diverse. The county attorney’s office employs a large number of people. Typically, several paralegals are assigned to each case to conduct research for the attorneys, ensuring that all relevant material and facts are prepared for trial. There are also deputy county attorneys who are in charge of the actual courtroom work and are supervised by a county attorney. Many county attorney positions are filled by people who do not have a law degree.
A county attorney is typically an elected position that is filled to complete the legal work of the county’s residents in many parts of the world. Trials, county politics, and other aspects of the office’s work are usually handled by people hired by the elected official. Assistant or deputy attorneys are among the county attorney jobs, and they handle the vast majority of the office’s casework. Typically, the county attorney will review the facts of the case and advise the assistant on the best course of action for the office. Other county attorney employees, such as investigators and researchers, begin gathering evidence, information, and witnesses to support the assistant attorney’s case at this point.
Some county attorney positions are frequently filled by mental health officials and experts, who can provide a background sketch of a suspect’s mental state at the time of the crime. These professionals also assist bereaved victims of sexual, mental, and physical abuse. Several positions in the county attorney’s office are filled by typists and telephone operators who keep the office running smoothly by scheduling appointments, meeting business contacts, and filing legal papers and documents with the court clerk. Even in the smallest of county attorney offices, providing the level of service required for the sitting county attorney to be re-elected often necessitates a small army of employees.
A press or marketing person is occasionally employed by the county attorney to handle news interviews, distribute press releases, and maintain a positive public relations atmosphere with county residents. During an election year, the number of county attorney positions may be increased to include people who will help the county attorney win reelection. During this critical period, poll takers, census takers, and others who are experts on winning elections can be found in the county attorney’s office.