Appellate Resource Attorney

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) is recruiting an Appellate Resource Attorney to support contract attorneys in appellate and post-conviction work. This new senior position will provide staff coaching, training development, and performance monitoring to strengthen client-centered representation statewide.

Based in Olympia, the role requires on-site work at least two days per week, with telework options available.

Qualifications

• Law degree from an accredited college or university.
• Licensed to practice law in Washington within one year of recruitment.
• Minimum five years of criminal appellate experience.
• At least 25 appeals, including Class A and life without parole cases.
• Commitment to social justice and serving communities historically unable to access the judicial system.
• Ability to work on-site at our Olympia office at least two days per week.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the recruitment and selection of attorneys and firms for OPD’s appellate and post-conviction work.
• Coach and provide case consultation support to contract appellate and post-conviction attorneys, emphasizing appellate practice.
• Collaborate to develop and deliver practical training to contract attorneys.
• Manage and update curriculum to remain current on legal developments.
• Build stakeholder relationships to identify opportunities to improve contractor performance.
• Monitor contractor performance to measure coaching and training impact.
• Assist with evaluating evolving case weighting standards.
• Perform other related functions.

Skills

Criminal appellate experience

25+ appeals

On-site work

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

AWe Want You to Join Our Passionate Public Defense Team!

About the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD)

We are an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state.

Mission:

Upholding the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.

Vision

Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.

Values

Justice * Service * Equity * Excellence

We administer a variety of programs, including systemic improvement programs and programs providing direct representation. To learn about OPD’s programs click here. We are dedicated to excellence in public law and indigent defense, and we seek talented candidates who share this commitment to client-centered service. We value employees who bring diverse backgrounds in education, employment, community activities, and life experiences to enhance our office.

The Appellate and Post-Conviction Unit

The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) is charged with recruiting and supporting contract attorneys who represent clients in appellate and post-conviction proceedings at the WA Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Additionally, OPD has limited funding to assist certain individuals file their first, timely personal restraint petition. To fulfill these duties, OPD is required to provide technical assistance, training, and resources to its contract attorneys to ensure the highest level of representation. To accomplish this, OPD is intent on developing its internal capacity to design and deliver this support. Critical to this will be the Appellate Resource Attorney.

The Position

The Appellate Resource Attorney is a managing attorney position who provides support for contract attorneys through a variety of methods to include case staffing and consultation, training development and delivery, monitoring contractor performance, and engaging with stakeholders to identify methods to improve contractor performance. The Appellate Resource Attorney will report to the Appellate and Post-Conviction Unit Supervisor. This is a new position, and represents OPD’s commitment to grow and develop its Appellate Program to better assist and support contract attorneys to improve upon client-centered representation.

• Assist with the recruitment and selection of attorneys and firms for OPD’s appellate and post-conviction work.
• Coach and provide case consultation support to contract appellate and post-conviction attorneys, with an emphasis on attorneys who are new to appellate practice
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop and deliver practical training to contract attorneys
• Manage and update curriculum to remain current on legal and practice developments
• Build stakeholder relationships to identify opportunities to improve contractor performance
• Monitor contractor performance to measure application of coaching and training support
• Assist with the evaluation of evolving case weighting standards
• Perform other related functions

Minimum Qualifications

• Law degree from an accredited college or university
• Licensed to practice law in Washinton State or the ability to be licensed in Washington within one year of recruitment
• No less than five years of experience of criminal appellate experience practice
• No fewer than twenty-five appeals, including Class A and life without parole cases
• A demonstrated commitment to social justice and serving communities historically unable to fully access the judicial system
• The ability to work on-site at our Olympia office at least two days per week

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in a public defense office or as an indigent defense contractor
• Felony trial practice experience
• Family defense trial practice experience
• Experience in developing professional learning materials
• Experience mentoring or supervising public defense attorneys new to trial or appellate practice
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, justice, and public service

General Responsibilities

• Exercise mature judgment in potentially sensitive, high-stress situations
• Participate in and foster a collaborative working environment at OPD, with statewide stakeholder groups, and in demographically diverse local court systems
• Diligently follow state employee ethics requirements
• Conduct all activities with the highest degree of professionalism in furtherance of OPD’s Mission, Vision and Values

• Participate in and foster a collaborative working environment at OPD, statewide stakeholder groups, and in demographically diverse local court systems.
• Diligently follow attorney and state employee ethics requirements.
• Conduct all activities with the highest degree of professionalism in furtherance of OPD’s Mission, Vision and Values.

Compensation

Annual Salary Range of $116,544 to $145,548

Compensation depends on qualifications. Washington State employees are offered a comprehensive benefit package that includes paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, retirement and health, dental and life insurance coverage for self and family. There are also options for deferred compensation, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, and eligibility for federal public loan forgiveness.

Questions about this position may be directed to Sean Devlin, Appellate and Post-Conviction Unit Supervisor, [e-mail] or 564-999-6658.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We vigorously pursue diversity in the work force. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 years of age, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated, prior child welfare involvement, and military veterans are encouraged to apply. Pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy a respectful, safe, and supportive working environment.

Teleworking

Our offices are in Olympia, Washington. We have teleworking options available according to ODP policy and will be considered on an individual basis depending on the needs of the position and the availability of adequate equipment. However, the Appellate Resource Attorney will be required to be on-site at least two days per week.