EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY: DISTRICT VI: MONTGOMERY COUNTY (ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER II & III) - #25[...]

Maryland; Montgomery; On-site; GBP 71,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A public defender's office in Montgomery County is looking for experienced Assistant Public Defenders to represent clients in criminal cases. Applicants should demonstrate strong dedication, possess exceptional trial skills, and have a commitment to client-centered representation and social justice. The role involves handling a significant caseload and working collaboratively in a team environment to ensure due process and justice for clients. Competitive salary and benefits are offered based on experience.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits

Salary dependent on experience

Qualifications

• Commitment to serving marginalized communities.
• Dedication to fighting systemic racism and unfairness.
• Experience with jury trials and felony cases.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients passionately at every legal stage.
• Maintain communication with clients in and out of incarceration.
• Conduct legal research and analysis.
• Negotiate favorable agreements for clients.
• Manage a full caseload of felony cases.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Legal writing and research

Oral advocacy

Organizational skills

Client-centered communication

Education

Active membership in the Maryland Bar

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Introduction

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) seeks experienced and zealous litigators to serve asAssistant Public Defenders in Montgomery County, Maryland. Assistant Public Defenders provideexceptional representation to their clients demonstrated through skilled litigation, tenacious advocacy inand outside of court and a commitment to client-centered representation. MOPD is committed tocultivating a robust and culturally diverse team and strongly encourages applicants from all backgroundsto apply, including those from historically underrepresented in the practice of law. The Montgomery County office is a suburban Public Defender office with approximately 60 employeesproviding representation to qualifying individuals in criminal, juvenile and some select civil matters.MOPD’s vision of Justice, Fairness, and Dignity for All is reflected by our commitment to core values of aculture of excellence, client-centered representation, tenacious advocacy, and unity of purpose inachieving our mission. At MOPD we use our legal education and experience to fight for justice andfairness, and to provide a strong voice to those who have been traditionally made voiceless in our society.Our unique talents, identities, educational backgrounds, and perspectives guide us in representing ourclients. We stand up against prejudice, systemic racism, and inequity in all of the spaces we occupy.MOPD seeks candidates who will join us in providing compassionate, competent, zealous, and client-centered representation to all of our clients. Refer to the MOPD website to learn more about our mission and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

GRADE

ASTD 21, ASTD 22

LOCATION OF POSITION

Rockville, MD

Main Purpose of Job

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION: This position is for an experienced Assistant Public Defender. The position requires a willingness tolearn, train, and practice exceptional trial skills, innovative thinking, investigative skills, and the ability towork as a team in managing an active and substantial district court caseload. Attorneys work inconjunction with social workers, investigators, and core staff in a team-oriented environment to representqualifying clients. Attorneys must be able to balance a client-centered approach to representation withadvocacy to address systemic inequity and the collateral consequences that lead to deeper systeminvolvement. Available positions will focus their practice primarily in the Circuit Court for MontgomeryCounty. Being an Assistant Public Defender requires an exceptional level of dedication to the mission of MOPDand its clients and involves a substantial commitment of time and effort; applicants should be prepared todiscuss and demonstrate the same.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Passionate and zealous representation of clients at every stage of the legal process, in and outside ofcourt.
• Maintain effective and consistent communication with clients, who are incarcerated or in the community,to ensure that individuals we represent are consistently heard and respected. For clients who areincarcerated, it is expected that attorneys will regularly travel to the place of incarceration and visit clientsthere to engage in substantive discussions of their cases.
• Conducts substantive legal research, writing and analysis, to specifically include briefing the courts onchanges in laws, legislation, procedural rules, court decisions, and other legal precedent, in preparationfor hearings and trial.
• Coordinate and compassionately communicate with clients, team members, colleagues, and serviceproviders to ensure optimal outcomes for clients.
• Counsel and advise clients on changes in law, court decisions, legal issues and options.
• Negotiates with prosecutors and other parties to establish agreements to resolve cases favorably forthe client.
• Resourcefully manage a full and significant caseload of felony cases from initial appearance to post-sentencing stages for each assigned client.
• Continuously seek professional and personal development through trainings, CLEs, and trial skillscourses; and meet all MOPD CLE requirements.
• Other duties as assigned by the Public Defender, District Public Defender, and other supervisoryauthorities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

CORE COMPETENCIES AND REQUIREMENTS: Demonstrate commitment to serving communities who have been pushed to the margins. Clear dedication to upending systemic racism, prejudice, and unfairness in the criminal justice system. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds and lived experiences. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, diverse, team-oriented environment. Exceptional organizational, legal, and administrative skills necessary to handle a high caseload. Strong legal writing and research skills. Strong oral advocacy skills. Ability to type, use and regularly communicate via email, and utilize Microsoft Office Suite. Active membership in good standing in the Maryland Bar or another state. Prior criminal motions, jury and bench trial experience required. Felony (including cases involving complex issues and/or where clients are facing possibility of a life sentence) jury trial experience ispreferred. Experience reviewing complex and voluminous discovery and evidence and examining expert witnesses strongly preferred. Prior experience conducting factual investigation for criminal cases required. Attorney barred in another state must become members of the Maryland Bar within 18 months of start date with MOPD.

BENEFITS

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary is dependent on experience and salary rules will apply to State of Maryland employees. This would be a lateral transfer for any internal candidates applying. Assistant Public Defender II- starting at $97,190.00 (Grade 21: Step 08) Assistant Public Defender III- starting at $107,687.00 (Grade 22: Step 10) Please visit the State of Maryland Employee’s page to review benefit information.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO APPLY: If you wish to be considered, please click here to fill out the application and upload thefollowing documents in one PDF attachment through the Maryland State Government JobOpenings Resume Page: (1) a current resume, (2) a cover letter, (3) a list of four professionalreferences, and (4) a writing sample between 5-20 pages of legal analysis (ex. Court briefs or substantivemotions). Incomplete applications will not be considered. Assistant Public Defenders are full-time employees and cannot engage in the private practice of law whilein this position. MD Code, Criminal Procedure Art., Section 16- 203(d)(2). As a State agency, the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) is an affirmative action and equalopportunity employer. MOPD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationalorigin, veteran status, or genetic information. All applicants must be able to communicate with clients and visitors and possess the ability to completetasks in a fast-paced work environment. Applicants must be able to work in various positions and travel tovarious courtrooms, office environments, and detention facilities throughout the state. MOPD is furthercommitted to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilitiesin employment, its services, programs, and activities by modifying or adjusting the job application processor the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known applicant or employeeto enable the applicant or employee be considered for the position they desire; to perform the essentialfunctions of the position in question; or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as areenjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation imposes anundue hardship. Applicants must be able to operate a computer and other office equipment. Applicants must have accessto a motor vehicle or be able to navigate public transportation. If a reasonable accommodation is needed,please contact Tawanda Jackson, Human Resources Supervisor, at 410-767-8503 [e-mail].