About the Nassau County District Attorney

Nassau County was named the “Safest Community in America” by U.S. News & World Report for several consecutive years. This distinction is not a coincidence – it is the direct result of the superb work of the talented, well-trained prosecutors at the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.

With nearly 220 lawyers and a total staff of nearly 450, the Nassau DA’s Office is one of the largest DA’s Offices in the country.  Because of our proximity to New York City, we enjoy a unique blend of suburban idyll (miles of oceanfront beaches, hundreds of parks and award-winning schools) and easy access to NYC’s robust cultural, nightlife and restaurant scenes.

Members of our legal staff are provided with training, mentorship and ongoing opportunities for professional development. In our collegial and collaborative environment, new Assistant District Attorneys will cultivate a professional home within the world of criminal justice and enjoy a rewarding and exciting position. Every Fall, we welcome a diverse class of new Assistant District Attorneys, recruited and selected from a competitive pool of applicants nationwide. These new prosecutors all bring with them passion and talent for courtroom advocacy and litigation, a commitment to pursuing justice and the ability to provide support to crime victims in need. Our Assistants choose to work in Nassau County because of its safety and vibrancy, and their own dedication to preserving that environment for all its residents. 

Are you ready to join our pursuit of justice and serve our community as an Assistant District Attorney in the Fall 2026?  

Qualifications and Requirements

• Strong academic credentials
• A demonstrated commitment to public service and criminal law (e.g., Moot Court/Mock Trial, trial advocacy and/or clinical program) 
• Excellent verbal, writing and critical thinking skills
• Leadership abilities (e.g., confidence, integrity and ethics, motivation to achieve, time management skills)
• Maturity (e.g., empathy, good judgment, strong work ethic)
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Prior to effective date of employment with the NCDAO, candidates must have:
• Either (1) passed the NYS Bar Examination and are awaiting admission to the NYS Bar, or (2) are admitted to the practice of law in NYS, in good standing, or (3) if a recent law school graduate, must sit for first available UBE after graduation
• Reside in New York State;
• Be a U.S. citizen (Public Officer's Law §3(1).

Each seat in the Fall class is highly competitive. All applications are thoroughly reviewed, and successful candidates will undergo three rounds of interviews as follows:

1. Initial Interview with a senior-level Assistant District Attorney from the Hiring Committee.
2. Panel Interview with two or more supervisory Assistant District Attorneys from the Hiring Committee.
3. District Attorney Interview with D.A. Donnelly and the Chief Assistant District Attorney.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Day to day life for an entry-level ADA requires organized management of an active criminal case docket, including:
• Preparing and filing pleadings, handling discovery, briefing and arguing motions;
• Conducting witness preparation, grand jury presentations, hearings and trials;
• Evaluating cases to formulate and negotiate appropriate dispositions;
• Conferencing cases with defense counsel and judges;
• Making court appearances pertaining to all phases of litigation;
• Investigating cases using various types of legal process (subpoenas, court orders, search warrants, and/or eavesdropping warrants), cooperating defendants, and traditional and electronic surveillance; and
• Collaborating with the NCPD and Nassau County’s local police departments, as well as a variety of local, state and federal law enforcement partners.

Job Benefits

As an ADA, you will receive the following benefits (waiting periods may apply):

• 13 paid holidays each year
• Generous paid vacation, personal and sick days each year
• Contributory medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents
• New York State Employees Retirement Plan
• Optional Deferred Compensation Plan
• Flexible benefits plans (pre-tax) for medical and child-care expenses
• Childcare leave
• County Credit Union

Starting annual salary for non-admitted attorneys is $80,000.
Annual salary after bar admission is $85,000.