To become a county attorney in the US, one needs a law degree, community involvement, and a good reputation for fairness and integrity. Criminal law and procedure are required courses in law school, and internships at prosecutor’s offices can be helpful. Starting as an assistant attorney and working up to handling misdemeanor and criminal cases can lead to advancements and opportunities for jury trials. Personal integrity is essential for becoming a district attorney.
To become a county attorney, one must first have the right educational background, which consists of four years of undergraduate and graduate degrees from an accredited law school. A county prosecutor is the highest law enforcement officer for the county being served. Once the necessary education has been completed, hands-on experience and community involvement in the chosen municipality can be important factors in securing the position. In most US jurisdictions, prosecutors are elected by county citizens. Experience and reputation for fairness and integrity in the community and among legal colleagues are essential.
No specific field of degree is required to be accepted into a law school. But a course of study that emphasizes verbal and written communication skills and logical thinking could prove useful in the future. Whichever undergraduate course you choose, academic performance during your undergraduate years is an important step toward gaining admission to law school.
At most US law schools, criminal law and procedure are required courses. Instruction in legal research and writing is now mandatory in virtually all programs of study. There are many internship opportunities available at prosecutor’s offices. If your goal of becoming a public prosecutor includes a particular municipality, this could be the ideal place to register or work as an intern. It gives you the chance to gain a working knowledge of the office and meet some of the judges in front of whom you can practice.
Depending on the size of the county, the time it will take to become a county attorney will vary. An attorney’s career arc usually begins as an assistant attorney or, as some jurisdictions refer to it, as an assistant state attorney or district attorney. Generally, a new assistant district attorney’s first assignment is the traffic court. It’s a way to learn courtroom procedures and rules of evidence in situations where freedom or public safety is usually not at stake.
While not considered glamorous, early tasks like the traffic court can be a good place to make an impression. Most people, at some point or another, will appear in traffic court. The way they were treated by the Assistant District Attorney will likely be remembered.
For someone who has chosen to become a county attorney, staying in the same office will lead to advancements and experiences in misdemeanor and then criminal cases. This presents opportunities for jury trials, during which a prosecutor’s skills can be evaluated by community members. A reputation for personal integrity can be the most important asset to becoming a district attorney. An old legal saying goes that the prosecutor “represents all people,” including the defendant.
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