0000004057.ATTORNEY II.PUBLIC DEFENDER

Dallas County; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Dallas County seeks an experienced attorney to represent indigent defendants in misdemeanor, juvenile detention, or mental health cases. The role involves case evaluation, preparation, trial advocacy, and ensuring effective communication with judges, prosecutors, court personnel, families, and witnesses.

Requirements include graduation from an ABA-accredited law school, Texas bar license, and at least one year of legal practice.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school with a license to practice law in Texas.
• 1 year of experience practicing law required.
• Experience through a law school criminal clinic or internship with a district, county, or public defender office can count toward experience.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates appointed cases by reviewing documentation, researching applicable law, interviewing clients and witnesses, gathering evidence, and determining actions.
• Interviews clients and discusses facts, potential defenses, and procedures.
• Explains legal process to witnesses and prepares them for court, updating clients on case status.
• Drafts, files, and responds to motions, briefs, or other legal documents for trial or hearing.
• Gathers, prepares, reviews, and presents evidence and exhibits for trial or hearing.
• Represents clients in trial and hearings, conducts jury selection, opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, and closing arguments.
• Participates in plea negotiations and ensures signatures and filings are completed.
• Documents client files, prepares trial notebooks, and maintains caseload statistics.
• Trains and assists in training less experienced misdemeanor public defenders.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job description

Job Description

Under general supervision represents indigent defendants in misdemeanor, juvenile detention, or mental health cases as assigned. Performs case evaluation, preparation, and management; represents the client in pre-trial and evidentiary hearings and jury/court trials; and ensures effective communication with judges, prosecuting attorneys, court personnel, family members, witnesses and other interested parties. Conducts legal research; drafting legal documents; and interpreting laws, rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates appointed case or lawsuit by: reviewing documentation; conducting necessary legal research on applicable law; interviewing clients, witnesses or persons with knowledge of the case; reviewing and gathering evidence; preparing investigative requests; and determining most appropriate action(s) to be taken.
• Interviews clients. Discusses facts of case, potential defenses and applicable laws and procedures.
• Explains legal process to potential witnesses, prepares witnesses for court testimony, and ensures clients are informed on status of case.
• Drafts, files and responds to necessary motions, briefs, or other legal documents for trial and/or hearing.
• Gathers, prepares, reviews and presents evidence, exhibits, and related material for trial or hearing.
• Represents the client in trial and at all applicable hearings by conducting jury selection, presenting opening statements, conducting direct and cross-examinations of witnesses, and presenting closing arguments.
• Participates in plea-bargain negotiations; prepares necessary legal documents and ensures necessary signatures are secured and documents filed as required.
• Documents client files, prepares trial notebook, and maintains statistical information regarding caseload and dispositions.
• Trains and assists in training less experienced misdemeanor public defenders.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education, Experience and Training:

Graduation from an accredited law school with a license to practice law in the State of Texas. One (1) year experience practicing law required.

Experience obtained under the third year bar card, or work as a licensed attorney in the Public Defender’s Office on a Pro Bono basis, can be counted for experience. Maximum Pro Bono experience is one year. Qualifications include: completion of a law degree at an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school; current licensing as an attorney to practice law in the State of Texas, and have either attained this experience through the law school’s criminal clinic program, or internship with a district, county, or public defender offices while holding an active Third Year Student Bar Card. Along with the job application at interview the applicant will be required to present an official law school transcript and a notarized affidavit from the employer(s) where the internship was performed indicating the number of actual hours worked.

Special Requirements/Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

None.

Disclaimers

This is an “at will” position with no civil service or other appellate rights. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Physical/Environmental Requirements

Standard office environment.