Assistant Public Defender

The West Virginia State Bar; Morgantown (WV); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

PTO including holidays and sick leave

Public Employees Retirement System (PE

Job summary

Mon Defender Inc. in Morgantown, West Virginia, seeks a passionate criminal defense attorney to join our staff, representing indigent clients in misdemeanor and felony matters, juvenile cases, and related proceedings.

We emphasize holistic defense, client interviewing, research, writing, and advocacy, with a schedule Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and benefits including health insurance and retirement.

Qualifications

• Licensed member of the West Virginia State Bar or eligible for licensure.

Responsibilities

• Representation of indigent persons in misdemeanor and felony cases, juvenile, abuse and neglect, and appeals.
• Engage in intensive client interviewing, counseling, research, writing, oral advocacy and negotiations.
• Maintain confidentiality per WV Rules of Professional Conduct, or other applicable policies.
• Demonstration of good working knowledge of PDC policies and procedures.
• Attendance at and participation in PDC or other meetings, trainings, and conferences.
• Maintaining a cordial and professional attitude towards clients, families, employees and the community at large.
• Willingness to engage in the holistic defense model and assist clients inside and outside of the courtroom.

Job description

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Mon Defender Inc. – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office seeks a passionate criminal defense attorney to join our staff.

We are a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in West Virginia are represented in the legal system, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. We seek thoughtful, creative, energetic individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be a licensed member of the West Virginia State Bar or eligible to be licensed.

PREFERRED

Preferred experience with: felony jury trials, pretrial motions, general criminal law, abuse and neglect and juvenile cases, appellate work, general computer knowledge, including Office 365.

HOURS

Normal work hours Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; includes a one-hour unpaid lunch; minimum work of 37.50 hours per week. Occasional on-call hours for mental hygiene proceedings. Additional hours as needed to fulfill obligations to clients.

BENEFITS

Health insurance, PTO, including holidays, annual and sick leave, PERS (Public Employees Retirement System).

PAY

Starting salary $65,000 – Commensurate with experience

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Representation of indigent persons in misdemeanor and felony cases, juvenile, abuse and neglect, mental hygiene, extraditions, habeas corpus, appeals, court hearings and general trial proceedings.
• Engage in intensive client interviewing, counseling, research, writing, oral advocacy and negotiations as part of legal representation
• Maintaining confidentiality in all office-related matters, consistent with the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct, or other applicable PDC policies.
• Demonstration of good working knowledge of PDC policies and procedures.
• Attendance at, and participation in certain, PDC or other meetings, trainings, and conferences.
• Maintaining a cordial and professional attitude towards clients, families, employees and the community at large.
• Willingness to engage in the “holistic defense” model and assist clients in their needs inside and outside of the courtroom.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Mon Defender Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.