Age: 43
Home: Brooklyn Park Job: Digital-evidence specialist for the Hennepin County Attorney's Office (my job is to help trial attorneys present digital evidence in court).
Salary: About $60,000.
Education: Bachelor's degree in radio/television and a master's degree in communication. I also have several years of ongoing specialized training in digital-media evidence.
Typical day: I don't have a typical day because there is such a variety of things that I am asked to do, such as making maps for trials, building exhibits, troubleshooting equipment, consulting about how to show evidence, reformatting video and research.
What about your job gets you going Monday mornings? I really love my job because I never know what I am going to face in a given day. There's always a new challenge, and I thrive on new challenges.
What kind of person would be a good fit for a job like yours? Someone with an ability to multitask, never be content with the status quo, someone who enjoys change or enjoys technology or someone who is technologically savvy. It also helps to have both a technological and a legal background.
How did you get your job? I was hired to set up equipment in courtrooms and make a few simple graphic images, but the digital revolution took place on my watch and I was in the right place at the right time to answer that challenge.
Advice for others in the job search? When you are in college and you are given the option of electives, choose wisely, because that just might end up being what gets you a particular job. For instance, if you are going to law school, take a class in technology, or if you're in broadcasting, take a law class.
How long have you been in this position? Since July 2001.
What are your previous jobs? I was a performing arts auditorium technician. I would do light and sound design for live shows. Then I worked for radio and television.
What do you like least about your job? You do all this work for a trial only to have the case [be settled by a plea bargain] before your work gets used in trial. It's a frustration, because that happens a lot. Also, the graphic nature of some of the exhibits can sometimes be disturbing.
Are there any new challenges that you deal with? We are moving to high definition now. When it comes to evidence in high definition, it's good news because the quality of the images we use for trial is going to improve.
Elena Kibasova
Have a financial tale of wisdom or woe for That Job? We'd like to hear it. Call 612-673-7293 or send e-mails to elenakibasova@gmail.com.
