Assistant Defender I

MaineGuide; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 107,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance Coverage

Retirement Plan

Parental leave

Job summary

The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services in Portland is seeking an Assistant Defender I in the Parents Defense Division to represent parents whose children are in or at risk of custody. The role requires strong advocacy, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills, with potential appellate work and travel to outlying courts.

Work under the supervision of the Parents Counsel District Defender and share office space with the PDS Criminal Public Defender office; collaborate with staff

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-approved school.
• Competency in indigent defense including trials/hearings.

Responsibilities

• Represent parents whose children are taken or at risk of custody.
• Conduct research, prepare motions, and argue in District Court.
• Attend meetings with clients and assist in family reunification efforts.
• Second chair cases with Assistant Defender II when needed.
• Appellate work may be required, including briefs and possible oral arguments.

Skills

Knowledge of Maine law

Knowledge of state and federal laws

Legal principles and protocol

Litigation and legal counseling

Advanced investigative techniques

Analyze facts and precedents

Negotiation

Lead a legal team

Prepare complex briefs

Effective communication

Clear writing

Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw proficiency

Education

Juris Doctor (ABA-approved)

Tools

Lexis/Nexis

Westlaw

Job description

Maine Commission on Public Defense Services

Opening Date: October 20, 2026

Closing Date: November 3, 2026

Grade / Admin Unit: 38 / Professional/Technical

Job Class Code: 0621
Salary: $106,704.00 - $151,195.20/Annually
Position Number: 200025244

Location: Portland

OVERVIEW:

The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services is seeking to fill one Assistant Defender I position in the Parents Defense Division located in Portland.Some travel to outlying courts will be required. PDS is an independent commission whose purpose is to provide high-quality, efficient representation to indigent citizens who are entitled to counsel at state expense. The Assistant Defender I will work under the supervision of the Parent Counsel District Defender and will share office space with the PDS Criminal Public Defender office, which is comprised of a district defender, criminal defenders, and support staff.

JOB DUTIES:

The Assistant Defender I will represent parents whose children have been taken into custody, or are at risk of being taken into custody, by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. The candidate must have compassion for indigent clients, many of whom are experiencing or have experienced trauma and barriers to services and support. The candidate must possess strong communication, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills; have the ability to analyze facts, laws, rules and regulations, and apply applicable law to the facts and situation; conduct legal research; plan, develop and execute effective litigation strategies to achieve desired results; prepare, organize, and conduct witness examinations; deliver opening statements, closing arguments, and evidentiary objections; and express complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear and concise manner. There is potential for some appellate work, which would include filing appellate briefs, responses, and possible oral arguments in front of the Law Court. This position requires the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

The Assistant Defender I is expected to attend meetings between the Department and the client, assist the client access services and supports in furtherance of family reunification, file appropriate motions and pleadings, and try cases in District Court. The Assistant Defender I is expected to meet with and communicate regularly with the client and other approved parties and will also second chair cases with the Assistant Defender II at times. The Assistant Defender I position reports to the Parents Counsel District Defender.

KNOWLEDGES,SKILLS,ANDABILITIESREQUIRED:

• Knowledge of applicable Maine law and legal system.
• Knowledge of applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of legal principles, practices, and protocol.
• Knowledge of litigation and legal counseling methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of advanced investigative techniques.
• Ability to analyze and interpret facts, evidence, and precedents and arrive at logical conclusions.
• Ability to negotiate contracts and settlements.
• Ability to lead and guide a legal team.
• Ability to prepare complex briefs and other legal documents.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to operate a computer within an intelligent workstation including using Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw, etc.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved school and demonstrated competency in indigent defense including having conducted trials and/or contested testimonial hearings.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Licensed or have the ability to become licensed to practice law in the State of Maine and be admitted to the Maine Bar within one year of hire.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For more information or questions specific to the position, please contact [e-mail]

The selected candidate willbe requiredto pass the required background checks (fingerprinting may berequired) as a condition of employment.

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE STATE OF MAINE:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance– Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave,and3+ weeks of vacation leaveannually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays85%-100%of employee-only premiums($11,857.68-$13,950.24annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement– Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts– Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness– The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program– Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leaveis one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receiveforty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation– Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

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