Assistant Public Defender

Horry County, (SC); Conway (SC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Public Defender's Office in South Carolina seeks an assistant public defender to provide efficient, professional representation to indigent clients. You will research and prepare cases, advise on pleas, and maintain strong client and witness relations.

Responsibilities include court appearances, collaborating with investigators and staff, traveling as needed, and adhering to office policies. Must be in good standing with the SC Bar and uphold confidentiality and integrity.

Qualifications

• Must be a member in good standing of the South Carolina Bar.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with clients and staff.
• Follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
• Exhibit sound judgment and good listening skills.
• Handle matters with integrity and confidentiality.
• Plan and prepare reports, correspondence.
• Use standard office software and equipment.
• Be extremely organized and meet deadlines.
• Travel to circuit locations for jail and investigations.
• Operate Defender Data, MS Word and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly efficient and professional representation to indigent clients appointed by the court.
• Accept, research, and prepare each case efficiently and expeditiously.
• Advise clients on plea offers, rights, options, strategies, and sentencing.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with clients, witnesses, and court personnel.
• Maintain open communications with clients and witnesses involved in the case.
• Utilize investigators and support staff appropriately.
• Seek expert assistance when needed for a case.
• Represent clients in court at motions hearings and jury trials.
• Attend training seminars, conferences and staffing sessions.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures, including attendance and dress code.
• Perform related work and handle emergency assignments.

Skills

Communication

Legal research

Case preparation

Court representation

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Professional demeanor

Attention to detail

Tools

Defender Data

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Job description

The primary responsibility of assistant public defenders is to provide highly efficient and professional representation to indigent clients appointed by the court.

• Accepting, researching, and preparing each case efficiently and expeditiously;
• Advising and counseling each client regarding plea offers, client’s rights and options, strategies, sentencing, appellate rights, etc.;
• Establishing and maintaining a professional relationship with each client, witness, and court personnel;
• Maintaining open lines of communications with clients, witnesses involved in the case and court personnel;
• Utilizing the investigator, interns and other support staff appropriately;
• Seeking assistance from experts appropriate to the case;
• Demonstrating maturity and a professional demeanor at all times;
• Exercising sound judgement to achieve desired results;
• Handling emergency assignments when needed;
• Attending and participating in training seminars, conferences and staffing sessions;
• Abide by all Public Defender and County policies and procedures outlined in manual including but not limited to attendance, punctuality and professional dress code.
• Performing other related work as required.
• Representing clients in court at motions hearings and jury trials.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be a member in good standing of the South Carolina Bar and able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:

• Communicate effectively and professionally with clients and staff
• Use correct English grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Follow written and oral instructions and procedures
• Exhibit sound judgment and good listening skills
• Handle matters with integrity and confidentiality
• Plan and prepare reports, correspondence, and charts in a variety of formats
• Use personal computer/software programs and general office equipment
• Be extremely organized, establish priorities, and meet deadlines
• Manage multiple assignments simultaneously including long- and short-range projects
• Be flexible in work assignments and processes based upon need
• Travel to various locations throughout the circuit for jail and investigations
• Effectively utilize Defender Data, Microsoft Word and Outlook

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, technical procedures, legal documents, and governmental (county, state and federal) regulations. Have the ability to write reports, business correspondence, transcripts and/or legal briefs.
• Must be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Must be able to evaluate problems, isolate key issues, research and develop alternative solutions.