Employment Guidelines

SPECIAL NOTE TO ATTORNEY APPLICANTS:

Your cover letter, resume, three references, and a completed State of Florida application should be directed to: Human Resources Administrator – Attorneys 561-355-7085

Applications can also be mailed to our main office or emailed to HumanResources@sa15.org

SPECIAL NOTE TO INVESTIGATOR APPLICANTS:

Investigator Requirements:

At least five years prior law enforcement experience and
Current certification by the Florida (FDLE) Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

Your application should be directed to: The Chief Investigator

Applications can also be mailed to our main office or emailed to HumanResources@sa15.org

SPECIAL NOTE TO SUPPORT STAFF APPLICANTS:

Your resume and a completed State Application should be directed to: Human Resources Administrator – Staff 561-355-7085

Applications can be mailed to our main office or emailed to HumanResources@sa15.org

OFFICE ADDRESS:

State Attorney’s Office, 15th Circuit
401 North Dixie Hwy.
West Palm Beach, Fl. 33401

*While we may not currently have any open positions, we will always accept your application. As vacancies occur, our supervisors will review the open applications on file and schedule interviews accordingly.

APPLICATION

A completed State job application is required for both Attorneys and Staff positions. The application can be downloaded here: State of Florida Employment Application. Applications are reviewed by the office supervisors as openings become available.

INTERVIEWS

After you have submitted an application, it will be kept on file for review by the Attorney Interview Team, Chief Investigator or Support Staff Interview Team. You may be contacted in the future for an interview.

RETENTION

Your application will be kept on file for four years. Even if you are not offered a position after your interview, your application, and the Hiring Committee’s recommendations, will be retained in our active applicants file and you may still be considered for future positions.

DRUG TESTING / BACKGROUND CHECK

Candidates who have accepted a position with the Office are required to take a drug test at least one (1) week prior to their hire date. A criminal back ground check will be conducted by our investigative team and all applicants will be required to sign a background check authorization as a condition of hire.

STATE EMPLOYMENT

As a full-time permanent staff member of the State Attorney’s Office 15th Judicial Circuit, you are a State employee, eligible for all State employee benefits. State Attorney’s Office employees are not under the jurisdiction of civil service regulations. Personnel operations of the State Attorney’s Office are governed by the provisions of the Classification and Pay Plan of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

SALARY

The starting annual salary for an Assistant State Attorney is $68,000.00. For entry-level legal support positions, the starting annual salary is $32,760.00 and is based on education as well as work experience. This range is consistent with the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association (FPAA) Classification and Pay Plan. Specific positions are assigned based on an applicant’s previous training, schooling, interests and experience. Payroll is processed monthly. Your salary is deposited by electronic funds transfer, on the last working day of each month, into a bank or credit union account which you designate at the time of employment. Cost-of-living salary increases are governed by the State Legislature if the budget permits. Merit or promotional increases are processed as designated by the State Attorney, Executive Director and Chief Assistant State Attorneys.

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Employees are held to a high standard of professional conduct, as outlined in the Office’s Policy Manual, including strict requirements relating to interaction with victims, witnesses, and the public in general. Open files of State Attorney’s Office cases and investigations are confidential, and staff members are expected to maintain strict confidentiality, never discussing cases when outside of the office or sharing case information with anyone not currently employed by the State Attorney’s Office.

TRAINING

Our office uses a variety of computer systems on a daily basis. New staff members and attorneys receive one-on-one training on our computer systems, usually the day they are hired. They are also given written manuals for future reference. In addition to personal and written training materials, there are a number of audio/video training demos that will walk employees though various office procedures. The audio/video training guides are accessible from all office workstations.

WORK HOURS and OVERTIME

The office operates on a 40-hour work week. Support Staff observe work hours of 8:00 am – 4:30 PM or 8:30 AM-5:00 PM. Varying requirements within different divisions of the office may allow for varying work schedules, but overtime for support staff is not authorized.

VACATION and PAID LEAVE

New employees of the State Attorney earn leave benefits as follows: Annual Leave is earned at the rate of 8:40 hours per month (13 days/yr.) Sick Leave is earned at the rate of 8:40 hours per month (13 days/yr.) Leave is credited to the employee on the last working day of each month and cannot be taken prior to accrual. (Note: Annual Leave may be accrued to a maximum number of hours; no maximum accrual applies to Sick Leave.) Each employee is credited with an annual “Personal Day” upon hiring. The Office is closed for statutorily-mandated State holidays, usually eight or nine days per calendar year.

HEALTH and LIFE INSURANCE

Health, Life, and a limited Disability insurance plan are available to Assistant State Attorneys at a reduced cost. Through payroll deduction, the State offers Support Staff employees a PPO health insurance plan and several different HMO health insurance plans. Disability, Cancer, Supplemental Hospitalization, Vision, and Dental insurance plans are also available through payroll deduction, as are several Deferred Compensation plans. Most payroll-deducted insurance premiums and Deferred Compensation are part of a Pre-Tax Benefits program (deductions are made from the gross monthly salary before tax is computed.)

FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS)

Membership in the FRS is compulsory for anyone working in a regularly established position in a State agency. The employer pays a percentage of the retirement contributions necessary to earn service credit toward a future retirement benefit. The employee contributes 3% towards their retirement.

PARKING

Parking is provided by Palm Beach County Parking Facilities. Employees are required to register their vehicle and pay a one time deposit of $10.00 for a magnetic card access which allows entry to the parking garage from any entrance. Upon termination, the card access is returned to facilities and the deposit is refunded.

ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS

Except in extraordinary circumstances, support staff applicants will be considered to fill entry-level positions. Advanced positions are offered first to interested individuals currently on the SAO staff.

PARALEGALS

Our support staff includes very few positions which require a paralegal certification; however, applicants with paralegal training are encouraged to apply for other openings on the support staff. Many of our support staff members have a paralegal certification. The experience gained in another position can provide an excellent background in criminal procedure.

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES - SUPPORT STAFF

Highly motivated individuals on the State Attorney’s Office support staff are encouraged to develop their skills, knowledge and abilities and to seek advancement in the Office. We value and recognize for promotion those individuals who have an outstanding attendance record, who are “team players,” and who demonstrate a willingness to learn new tasks and take on additional responsibilities. Except in unusual circumstances, new support staff employees remain in their initial job assignment for at least one (1) year before being considered for promotion.

Thank you for applying for employment with the State Attorney’s Office, 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida! We are always seeking eager, motivated individuals to join our staff. The State Attorney, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).

Office of State AttorneyDave Aronberg

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