Assistant Defender II

MaineGuide; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 72,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-Life Balance

Health Insurance Coverage

Parental leave

Job summary

The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services is seeking an Assistant Defender II in the Criminal Division. Location to be determined among Augusta, Bangor or Caribou. Entry-level with potential to handle misdemeanor and select felony matters as you advance.

Applicants should have or soon earn a JD from an ABA-accredited school and be prepared for the Maine bar exam. Position involves collaboration with a defense team, investigators, and staff, with travel to various courthouses.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-approved law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Maine or eligible to become licensed.
• Willing to travel to Augusta, Bangor, or Caribou as needed.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys with legal research and writing prior to bar admission.
• Represent indigent defendants after being admitted to the bar, vigorously and ethically.
• Handle misdemeanor cases initially; may take on less serious felonies as appropriate.
• Conduct client interviews and maintain notes and records of case facts.
• Research legal issues and draft clear, concise motions.
• Advise clients based on discovery and investigation.
• Develop a case theory consistent with facts and law.
• Willing to try appropriate cases.
• Duties performed in office and courtroom settings; travel required.

Skills

Maine law

Legal principles

Litigation

Westlaw/Lexis

Effective communication

Team leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (ABA-approved)

Tools

Lexis/Nexis

Westlaw

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

Maine Commission on Public Defense Services

Opening Date: August 28, 2026

Closing Date: September 21, 2026

Grade/ Admin Unit: 30 / Professional/Technical

Job Class Code: 0622
Salary: $71,843.20 - $101,587.20/Annually
Position Number:200025236

Location: Augusta, Bangor or Caribou

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

DESCRIPTION:

The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services is seeking to fill one Assistant Defender II position in the Criminal Division. Location to be determined between Augusta, Bangor or Caribou, depending on applicant’s location. We are looking for a criminal defense lawyer or a law student planning to take the July bar exam who is committed to the mission of providing exemplary representation for people accused of crimes. This is a unique opportunity to join a public defender office that is part of a larger movement in Maine to transform indigent defense.

This is an entry level position, but we are looking for individuals who have demonstrated a desire to help the most vulnerable in their communities. This can be through a combination of employment, course work, and internships. The ideal candidate recently completed or will complete all coursework at an ABA accredited law school to receive a JD degree and plans to take the next available bar exam or has recently received their license to practice law. This individual exhibits exceptional planning/organizational skills, is self-directed and comfortable working with their defense team which includes attorneys, investigators, and office administrative staff.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prior to passing the bar exam, you will assist attorneys representing defendants by providing support such as legal research and writing.
• After being sworn in as a licensed attorney, you will represent indigent criminal defendants in all aspects of their cases vigorously, effectively, ethically, and with integrity.
• First year attorneys generally being with misdemeanor cases but can quickly begin taking less serious felony cases as appropriate.
• Conduct client interviews and maintain notes and records of pertinent case facts sufficient to provide proper client representation.
• Research legal issues and write clear, concise motions.
• Obtain knowledge of the case through discovery and investigation sufficient to provide advice to clients regarding disposition.
• Develop a theory of the case that is consistent with the facts and the law.
• Willing to try appropriate cases.
• Duties are performed primarily in both office and courtroom settings.
• Travel is required.

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.
• 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.

MINIMUMQUALIFICATIONS:

A Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved school.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATIONREQUIREMENTS:

Licensed or the ability to become licensed to practice law in the State of Maine.

The selected candidate will be required to pass the required background checks (fingerprinting may be required) as a condition of employment.

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:

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

• Work-Life Balance - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage - The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual 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 leave - is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-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.