Most lawyers are hired after being licensed to practice law in Texas. If you are a licensed attorney and you wish to
apply for a position as an Assistant District Attorney, send a letter, resume and completed application to
ADAResumes@dao.hctx.net. Upon our receipt of this information, a
senior staff member may interview you, or you may be asked to come visit our office and observe a morning docket
and speak with an Assistant District Attorney about work here at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
The time this interview process takes varies upon the volume of applications and the schedules of our interviewers.
The interviewer will return the application to the Public Services Bureau Chief with a recommendation whether or
not the applicant should proceed for a further interview with the Hiring Committee. If your application is referred
to the Hiring Committee, you will receive a letter informing you of that. The Hiring committee meets every few
months, depending on the vacancies that arise, and the number of suitable applicants available. After Hiring
Committee interviews, those applicants that are offered jobs are notified by phone of the offer of employment.
If you are not offered a position, you may receive a letter informing you that your application may be held for
future vacancies, or you will be notified by letter that your application has been denied.
If the applicant is not referred to the Hiring Committee, the applicant is informed that we will not grant them
any further interview. Any applicant may reapply after one year has passed.
During the fall semester, we interview second year law students on selected law school campuses. The initial
interviews are conducted on campus and a number of students are referred on for further screening interviews.
We offer "precommit" positions to a few students for employment as Assistant District Attorneys when they are
licensed. They are also offered Intern positions for the time between graduation and passing the bar.
Normally we do not accept applications from individuals (other than the precommit process) before they are licensed
in Texas. However, our precommit class of 2006 is smaller than usual and we are accepting applications from
graduates that are taking the July 2006 Texas Bar Examination.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office employs investigators who are certified peace officers as defined
in Chapter 2.12 of The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. These investigators are assigned throughout the Office
of the District Attorney. Investigators assist the prosecutorial staff in the preparation of criminal cases that
occur in Harris County, conduct formal investigations, conduct investigations directly for the District Attorney,
and assist law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis.
An investigator must hold an Advanced or Masters Certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
Standards and Education.
The investigator must live within 50 miles (G.P.S.) of the District Attorney's Office and be able to pass the
firearms qualification course as prescribed in the Harris County District Attorney's Office Operations Manual.
An application for the position of investigator can be obtained in person at 1201 Franklin Street, Suite 600,
Houston, Texas 77002-1923. Mail application to the Chief Investigator at the above address.
The Asset Forfeiture Division investigators provide assistance to any law enforcement agency in their seizure
of property connected to illegal activity.
Bond Forfeiture investigators assist the prosecutors in criminal investigations of bondsmen and assist the
prosecutors, paralegal, interns and secretaries in the location of assets for individuals. The investigator
also acts as a liaison with the Texas Department of Insurance, the Secretary of State and Citizenship and
Immigration Services to procure information regarding personal history of bondsmen or defendants.
Check Fraud investigators are responsible for the investigation of bank fraud cases and theft by check cases,
both felony and misdemeanor. These investigators also work cases of identity theft that relate to bank
fraud.
Investigators in the Child Abuse Division serve subpoenas, obtain records for Grand Jury and trial, review
cases prior to Grand Jury presentation, locate witnesses, pursue "no arrest" defendants, accompany prosecutors
to crime scenes, and assist outside agencies with investigations.
Consumer Fraud investigators investigate criminal violations of Texas laws and consumer protection statutes.
Specifically, the Consumer Fraud Division will undertake investigations and prosecutions of persons or businesses
engaging in criminal consumer fraud within Harris County.
The Family Criminal Law Division investigates and prosecutes cases involving family violence, child abduction,
criminal non-support, bigamy cases and executes criminal arrest warrants. FCLD investigators assist in obtaining
protective orders for victims locate and serve subpoenas for witnesses and victims, conduct follow-up family
violence scene investigations, assist in gathering evidence and liaison with victim shelters throughout Harris County.
FCLD investigators also handle long-term child abduction cases and assist other law enforcement agencies in recovering
missing children.
The Gangs/Narcotics Division is responsible for coordinating investigations related to organized gang activity
and high-level narcotics investigations. Investigators assist in obtaining search/arrest warrants and grand jury
subpoenas for these investigations.
Juvenile Division investigators locate witnesses and victims in criminal cases when needed. They are also
responsible for executing search warrants, criminal warrants pertaining to juvenile criminal cases, assisting
prosecutors in preparing for trial and preparing for juvenile certification hearings.
Investigators in the Major Fraud Division investigate offenses involving white-collar crime such as embezzlement,
identity theft, theft of large sums of money, investment schemes, insurance fraud, Medicaid fraud and
forgeries.
The Major Offender investigators provide assistance to any law enforcement agency in their investigation of
major crimes, such as murder, capital murder, and solicitation of capital murder, sexual assault, robbery, auto
theft rings and arsons. MOD investigators obtain search and arrest warrants, grand jury subpoenas, court orders,
and provide assistance and technical equipment to local law enforcement agencies.
Investigators assigned to the Misdemeanor Division:
- Assist prosecutors in obtaining needed reports and documents
from law enforcement agencies,
- Review completed investigations, reports and case files of law enforcement agencies
to determine if all investigative avenues have been explored to prepare the case for successful prosecution,
- Evaluate and summarize investigative findings in written reports,
- Investigate crime scenes and collect evidence,
- Prepare and execute court orders, subpoenas, arrest warrants and search warrants,
- Locate and interview complainants, suspects, and witnesses, and maintain, transport and insure the
lawful and proper destruction of disposed criminal cases.
Police Integrity Division investigators conduct on scene investigations at the location and time of officer-involved
shootings anywhere in Harris County. This division also handles complaints of Official Oppression against police
officers and certified jailers.
The Public Integrity Division is responsible for handling complaints concerning conduct which a complainant alleges
is a criminal offense committed by an elected or appointed individual who is paid from public funds. Public
Integrity also investigates any violation of the Texas Election Code.
The Trial Bureau includes four court divisions, consisting of twenty-two felony courts. The assigned duties for
the Trial Bureau investigators include:
- Assist assistant district attorneys in their preparation of cases filed in Harris County for trial and/or
disposition,
- Locate and arrest defendants in non-arrest status cases,
- Locate witnesses previously identified by the originating case officers from the various police agencies
in Harris County,
- Locate and interview witnesses not previously identified or known by the originating officers,
- Accumulate records subpoenaed or requested by the court prosecutors,
- Execute search warrants and consent to search orders to obtain any possible new evidence for the courts,
- Liaison with police officers and police agencies to ensure that all reports and evidence are properly
prepared.
Victim Witness Coordinators shall be college graduates with experience
in criminal justice or a related field. They will be responsible for contacting all victims by mail
as soon as possible after the District Attorney has accepted charges.
The coordinators shall assist victims with case status information and the completion of
Victim Impact Statements, Crime Victims Compensation applications or Crime Loss Forms.
They will also provide referrals to social services in the community and an explanation
of the criminal justice system.
Academic intern applicants must first register for an academic externship offered by their law school.
Law students who have registered for an externship will then be informed by their professor of the date to
attend application/orientation at the District Attorney’s Office. Students attending a law school
that requires advance confirmation of an academic internship assignment may submit a cover letter and resume
via email to Assistant District Attorney Brian Rose (rose_brian@dao.hctx.net).
Law students may apply for a volunteer internship for the fall, spring, or summer semester by submitting
a cover letter and resume to Assistant District Attorney Brian Rose (rose_brian@dao.hctx.net).
Paid summer intern applicants must be on track to have 60 hours of credit prior to the summer so that
they can obtain a third-year bar card. Students may apply for a summer paid internship by submitting
a cover letter and resume to the Deputy Chief of the Misdemeanor Division. Please call (713) 755-3376
to confirm the proper email address and procedure for applying.
The District Attorney employs law students throughout the year. These paid interns work directly with
experienced prosecutors who are assigned to work in various specialty divisions. The assignments are
generally longer than one semester and therefore the positions open only sporadically.
Law students may contact the supervisors listed below to determine if a paid position is open.
|