Assistant Public Defender

NCIDS; North Carolina; On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Indigent Defense Services in Duplin County, NC, seeks an Assistant Public Defender to represent indigent clients in criminal and juvenile matters. The attorney will handle district and superior court cases, including first appearances, with cross-training for diverse caseloads. Qualifications include a Juris Doctorate and NC license.

Spanish fluency is preferred. The position may involve travel to Jones and Sampson counties, with Duplin as the home station.

Qualifications

• Graduation from ABA-accredited law school with license to practice in NC.
• Strong writing and oral advocacy skills; ability to manage a high-volume caseload.

Responsibilities

• Represent indigent clients in district and superior court.
• Handle first appearances and varied casework across criminal and juvenile matters.
• Travel to clients and courts as needed; engage in community outreach and jail visits.

Skills

Persuasive communication

Legal research and writing

Litigation strategy

Spanish language (preferred)

Education

Juris Doctorate degree

Job description

## Assistant Public DefenderApplylocations: Duplin County, NCtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted 4 Days Agotime left to apply: End Date: August 10, 2026 (9 days left to apply)job requisition id: JR-120910**Agency**Indigent Defense Services**Division**PUBLIC DEFENDER 5 DISTRICT**Job Classification Title**Assistant Public Defender (NS)**Position Number**65038496**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**SALARY RANGE: $65,000.00 - $70,000.00 The Office of the Public Defender-5th District (Duplin, Jones, & Sampson) represents indigent clients in all criminal and juvenile delinquency matters. Attorneys will represent indigent criminal clients in district and superior court. Lawyers must be cross-trained and capable of handling all casework required provide quality legal services for indigent clients. Additionally, the applicant will be required to represent clients during first appearances.**Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences**All applicants must have a strong desire and commitment to client advocacy and indigent defense. Attorney must be attentive to detail, organized, possess an ability to effectively communicate and litigate cases in the courtroom and have exceptional legal research and writing skills. A high level of technology and computer knowledge is essential. All Assistant Public Defenders must be capable of handling difficult cases and clients, while maintaining positive professional relationships with co-workers, clients, and the public. Attorneys are expected to visit clients at the jail and in prison facilities, and to travel outside the office to conduct other investigative procedures.As a public service employees, it is expected that all Assistant Public Defenders will engage in community service and participate in outreach programs relevant to the services we are providing, including volunteer programs which occur during evenings and weekends. The Office of the Public Defender-5th District (Duplin, Jones, & Sampson) strives to create a diverse staff with expertise and interest in serving our indigent clients who come to us with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, and disabilities.Although the attorney will be specifically assigned to the Duplin and Jones offices, there may be occasions when attorneys are required to report to the Sampson office for training, meetings, and other work obligations. **Duplin County will be the home station for this position; however, there may be travel to Jones and Sampson counties.**The ability to fluently speak Spanish is preferred but not required.**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES / COMPETENCIES:****Knowledge Required:** 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, juvenile cases, and legal research methods.Applicants will likely be assigned misdemeanor and probation cases in district court and need to be prepared to represent clients with complicated impaired driving cases.Applicant will likely be assigned to cover teen court and other initiatives that may arise to better serve our community.Applicant will be expected to cover all areas of indigent representation. **Skills Required:** Applicant must have persuasive communication, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills.Applicant must be able 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; and maintain a high volume caseload in a professional and efficient 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.Carefully review the FAQs if you experience difficulty with the application process or attaching documents.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**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.## Minimum Education and Experience RequirementsJuris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school and an active license to practice law in North Carolina. Spanish language fluency is preferred but not required.**\*\*Applications without a resume & cover letter will not be considered. \*\***You may email your resume and cover letter to [e-mail] or attach to your application.**EEO Statement**The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.