Big city prosecutor, taking questions Forum

[Br3v]

tagging myself because I am particulary interested in the above question

[Anonymous User]

Do you know how much geographic mobility prosecutors or PDs have when they are changing jobs? Is it difficult to get another pros/PD job in a far away state after a few years? How about from medium city to neighboring big city (e.g. Richmond to DC or Sacramento to SF)

Basically, if I can't get my top city choice, should I go to some other big city or a suburb or surrounding city instead? Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

How much $$ are you making right now? And what kind of progression can you make in terms of salary?

[Anonymous User]

How much $$ are you making right now? And what kind of progression can you make in terms of salary?

Miami Here.
40K (county court) 1st year
41K (Juvie) 12-14 months in
43K ("C" Level)- 18-20 months in
45K ("B" Level)- 24-??? (most people leave around the "B" level at the end of 3 years)
48K ("A" Level)- ?? (I've heard mixed things about how long it takes)

There are other special positions you can take early on to bump your base K by about 4K, if you do all of them...but you'll advance slower. In felonies, the highest "basic position" you can get is a division chief which pays about 60.

[Anonymous User]

Do you know how much geographic mobility prosecutors or PDs have when they are changing jobs? Is it difficult to get another pros/PD job in a far away state after a few years? How about from medium city to neighboring big city (e.g. Richmond to DC or Sacramento to SF)

Basically, if I can't get my top city choice, should I go to some other big city or a suburb or surrounding city instead? Thanks.

Depends wildly on the state, your ties and experience and if you're going from big to small. It'd be a lot easier going from a felony PD in SF to another PD job in Sacremento, than the other way around. If they're in the same state it might be easier because someone higher up might be able to make a phone call for you.

[Anonymous User]

All I want to do is be a prosecutor but I'm really worried about jobs. I'm open to working anywhere that'll hire me. Do DA's look for connections in the same way that firms seems to?

How did you deal with taking the Bar and applying for jobs? Any strategies you'd recommend?

For the bigger offices I don't think ties matter that much. At Miami the class is comprised of mainly kids who went to the local schools in Miami and a few law schools in NY and Mass and LA.