Assistant Public Defender

State-of-Minnesot; Grand Rapids (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

State-of-Minnesot seeks a Trial Team (TT) Attorney with strong criminal law knowledge and extensive trial experience, including forensic science issues. The role requires admission to the Minnesota Bar and significant litigation background, plus willingness to travel across districts.

Applicants should demonstrate ability to coordinate with prosecutors, judges, and co-counsel, and present complex evidence effectively in court. A long-term commitment is expected.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of criminal law and procedure
• Experience litigating cases with forensic science issues
• Ability to travel and work long-term commitments
• Experience investigating and litigating forensic science issues

Responsibilities

• Litigate major cases and provide trial advocacy
• Conduct legal research and analyze forensic evidence
• Collaborate with prosecutors, judges, and co-counsel
• Represent clients with effective oral and written advocacy

Skills

Criminal law

Trial experience

Legal research

Forensic science

Communication skills

Case analysis

Interpersonal skills

Education

Juris Doctor / JD

Bar admission Minnesota

Job description

The mission of the Trial Team (TT) is to improve the quality of representation in major cases through representation, advice, consultation, brainstorming, co-counsel, impact litigation and training. The team is a statewide resource available to all Judicial District Public Defender Offices, with special emphasis on complicated cases in the multi-county Districts.

Case priorities of the TT include:

• Cases with Forensic Issues: includes DNA, arson, mental illness, etc.
• Child Deaths and other medical examiner cases
• Criminal Sexual Conduct Cases (particularly where children are involved)
• White Collar Crime
• Statewide issue development (ie. DANCO, Source Code, McNeely)
• Cases with potential constitutional issues.

• Good knowledge of criminal law and procedure;
• Good knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of legal research and investigation;
• Good knowledge of the judicial procedures and the Rules of Evidence
• Good knowledge of the pleading and practice of effective presentation of court cases.
• Good skills in conducting legal research and analysis of data
• Good skills in determining proper courses of action and presentation of facts and arguments.
• Ability to analyze legal documents and instruments
• Ability to appraise and organize facts to present evidence and other material in written or oral form
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with prosecutors, judges, referees, and other professionals, as well as clients and the general public.
• An understanding of the scientific method; a demonstrated interested in and experience with handling forensic science issues in court; contacts in the forensic science community to access as a resource in evaluating cases.

Required Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college of law and admission to the Bar of the State of Minnesota or the ability to become admitted to the Bar of the State of Minnesota;
• Five or more years of experience litigating cases; trial experience; a demonstrated history of handling cases involving forensic science; experience investigating and litigating forensic science issues.

Confidentiality Statement: Employees of the Board of Public Defense may not reveal information relating to the representation of a client without approval of the attorney of record.

This position requires a lot of travel, no requirement as to where the TT Attorney lives and a long-term commitment.