Assistant Public Defender

NCIDS; North Carolina; On-site; USD 56,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

Indigent Defense Services in Johnston County, NC seeks an Assistant Public Defender to represent indigent defendants in District Court. The attorney will conduct trials, perform witness examinations, and advance litigation strategies under supervision where needed.

Requirements include a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited school and an active North Carolina license to practice law. Applications require complete profiles with education and work experience.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from ABA-accredited law school and active NC license required.
• Strong oral and written advocacy skills for court proceedings.
• Knowledge of federal/state law and trial procedures.

Responsibilities

• Represent indigent defendants in District Court with professional advocacy.
• Conduct witness examinations, prepare motions, and argue openings/closings.
• Research and apply constitutional and statutory law to cases.
• Develop litigation strategy to obtain favorable outcomes for clients.

Skills

Legal research

Litigation

Communication

Writing

Organization

Interviewing

Education

Juris Doctor degree (ABA accredited)

Job description

## Assistant Public DefenderApply: Johnston County, NC: Full time: Posted 3 Days Ago: End Date: September 22, 2026 (10 days left to apply): JR-123679**Agency**Indigent Defense Services**Division**PUBLIC DEFENDER 13 DISTRICT**Job Classification Title**Assistant Public Defender (NS)**Position Number**65039826**Grade**30013288**About Us**DO YOUR CAREER JUSTICE! Each and every day, North Carolina's courts help provide safety for our communities, prosperity for our economy, and protection for the rights, liberties, and freedoms that sit at the foundation of our state and federal constitutions. Consider an exciting and rewarding career with us and join the more than 7,000 elected officials and employees who make up our workforce and help us ensure that justice is administrated without favor, denial, or delay.**Description of Work****Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences****SALARY GRADE: $56,000.00 - $104,338.00**The Office of the Public Defender, District 13, Johnston County, seeks a qualified individual to serve as an Assistant Public Defender. The selected candidate will represent indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in District Court.## **Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies:****Knowledge of:** Federal, State, common and constitutional law; judicial procedures and rules of evidence; case, statutory, regulatory and common law; NC General Statutes to defend criminal cases; judicial and quasi-judicial procedures; and legal research methods. **Skills in:** strong communication, writing, interviewing, and organization. **Ability to:** analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and related written documents and apply applicable law to those facts; conduct legal research; plan, develop and execute an effective litigation strategy to achieve desired results; prepare, organize and conduct witness examinations; deliver opening statements, closing arguments, and evidentiary objections; and express complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear and concise manner.## **Supplemental and Contact Information:**## **INSTRUCTIONS:** Applicants must complete an on-line application by clicking the above APPLY link. Mailed or faxed applications will **not** be accepted. Before applying, please read the Online Employment Application Guide for instructions on creating your profile and applying for specific postings. It is important your application includes all of your relevant education and work experience and that you answer all questions associated with the application to receive proper credit. Résumés are not accepted in lieu of fully completed applications. **\\*NOTE\\*** Many job postings require certain documents be attached to an application. Verify your application is complete and uploaded documents are attached to your application *before* submitting it. Applications may not be altered after they have been submitted.*All NC Judicial Branch agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.*The North Carolina Judicial Branch participates in E-Verify, an internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from the US Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. Charmaine J. Leeks NC Administrative Office of the Courts Human Resources Division https://www.nccourts.gov/about/about-judicial-branch/careers**Minimum Education and Experience**Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school and an active license to practice law in North Carolina.**Attach cover letter and résumé.**