Assistant Public Defender

Eaton County; Charlotte (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton County Public Defender’s Office in Charlotte, Michigan, seeks an attorney to provide legal representation for defendants unable to retain counsel, handling cases in the District and Circuit courts.

Starting pay depends on relevant experience, with responsibilities including maintaining an active caseload, reviewing discovery, and developing trial strategies; you will appear in court and coordinate with experts.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice in Michigan or eligible to become licensed.
• One or more years of legal practice; trial experience preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an active caseload of indigent defendants.
• Meet with clients, review charging documents, police reports, and discovery.
• Research, prepare, and oversee criminal cases; develop trial strategies.
• Appear in court for arraignments, motions, trials, and sentencing.
• Coordinate with experts and investigators as needed.
• Prepare briefs and legal documents.
• Support training of new staff as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Legal research

Trial experience

Criminal law

Legal writing

Oral communication

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

Under the supervision of the Public Defender and Chief Assistant Public Defender, provides legal representation for defendants without means to retain legal counsel, after being charged with criminal or civil violations in the District and Circuit courts.

Starting pay is dependent on an applicant's relevant experience.

1. Provides indigent defense services by maintaining an active caseload of clients within the Public Defender’s Office. Meets regularly with assigned client(s), reviews charging documents, police reports, and other discovery or evidence provided and orchestrates a defense on behalf of the client.
2. Researches, prepares and oversees criminal cases for clients in anticipation of trial, motion, sentencing and other proceedings. Responsible for the research of current case law, directs the interviewing of witnesses, and develops trial strategies for the client.
3. Appears in court for arraignments when necessary, motions, trials, sentencing and other related proceedings on behalf of the client.
4. Develops plans, where necessary, for the use of experts and investigators as approved by the Public Defender.
5. Prepares applicable briefs, legal documents, correspondence and other written materials.
6. Participates in programs and services designed to address the underlying causes and risk factors that lead to client involvement in the criminal justice system, including, but not limited to, treatments courts, legal or civic organizations as well as training and educational opportunities both at the local, state and national level.
7. Updates and organizes files; maintains files and filing systems.
8. Maintains professional knowledge of criminal law and participates in training programs as required by MIDC Standards and the Eaton County Public Defender’s Office.
9. Provides support and consultation for other assistant public defenders as needed or directed, including sharing information learned in training seminars or in developed specialty areas.
10. Assist in training and instructing new employees, interns or volunteers in the performance of job duties and may, on occasion, lead service training with interns and employees within the office.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.

Other Functions:

12. Must be able to work on site at the County Government Complex in Charlotte.

Other Functions:

Must be able to work on site at the County Government Complex in Charlotte.

This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or modified at any time.

Education:

Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.

Experience:

One or more years of experience practicing law is preferred. Trial work and exposure to criminal law is strongly preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Licensed to practice in the State of Michigan required; if not licensed, eligibility to become licensed in due course as a condition of employment.
• Possess a valid Michigan vehicle operator’s license and an acceptable driving record.
• Membership in good standing with the State Bar Association of Michigan.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to work with a diverse group of county personnel and citizens.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing, including reading and interpreting documents, preparing reports and correspondence, and present information and respond to questions.
• Ability to become a Public Notary is desired.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description.The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Physical Requirements

[This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description.These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements]:

• Ability to operate a variety of automated office machines including computer, scanner, calculator, copier, telephone system, fax machine, shredder, recording equipment, etc.; ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using automated office equipment; ability to operate a computer utilizing word processing, spreadsheet, database, Internet, and other software applications.

• Ability to exert physical effort in sedentary to light work involving routine stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching; tasks require visual perception and discrimination; tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Working Conditions:

• Work performed in general office conditions.

• Exposure to individuals charged and/or convicted of a variety of criminal offenses.