Assistant Public Defender

City of Tucson; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 71,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Paid time off

Professional development

Pension plan

Training and staff support

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

City of Tucson's Public Defender's Office seeks an Assistant Public Defender to defend indigent clients in City Court, handle pretrial functions, and advise on direct and collateral consequences of criminal prosecution.

The role requires court coverage, client interviews, evidence prep, motions, trials, and collaboration with supervisors and staff; bilingual English/Spanish preferred, Juris Doctorate and Arizona Bar in good standing required.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate and under one year of related experience.
• One year of experience in criminal litigation.
• Member of the Arizona State Bar Association in good standing.
• Bilingual – English/Spanish preferred.
• Experience in Criminal Law and trial work desirable.

Responsibilities

• Prepare cases for trial by interviewing clients, reviewing evidence, researching issues, drafting documents, interviewing witnesses, and preparing exhibits.
• Defend clients in City Court through hearings, objections, evidence presentation, and trial or evidentiary proceedings.
• Lead paraprofessionals and staff on client representation requests.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Skills

Criminal litigation

Client interviews

Witness examination

Plea negotiations

Legal research

Trial prep

Education

Juris Doctorate

Arizona Bar admission

Job description

POSITION DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

Performs professional legal work defending indigent clients charged with misdemeanor offenses in City Court including pretrial functions. Advises clients on a wide range of direct and collateral consequences of criminal prosecution.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Public Defender position at the City of Tucson’s Public Defender's Office advises indigent clients on a wide range of direct and collateral consequences of criminal prosecution and is responsible for all pretrial functions. This position requires court coverage for other attorneys and is occasionally called to court for client assistance.

This position works under the supervision of the Supervising Public Defender. This position does not supervise.

• Prepares cases for trial by conducting client interviews (in-person, virtual, telephonic, and jail). Reviews and evaluates evidence. Researches legal issues and specific case issues. Drafts legal documents. Conducts witness interviews. Participates in plea negotiations and settlement conferences. Prepares evidence and documents to present for trial per city and state guidelines. Provides case staffing/consulting. Conducts crime scene investigations and prepares exhibits such as photos, diagrams, and documents.
• Defends clients in City Court by attending hearings, in both virtual and in-person environment, arguing relevant issues and case law, presenting mitigating factors, conducting direct and cross examination of witnesses, making objections, introducing evidence. Conducts legal hearings, evidentiary hearings, jury and/or bench trials. Presents documentation and other relevant information to appropriate individuals including prosecutors (for plea negotiations) and supervisors (for case review).
• Leads paraprofessionals, assistants, seasonal employees, law students/interns, volunteers, or temporary employees on requests related to client representation.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned under the direction of the supervisor/administration.

* All duties, responsibilities listed are subject to change.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate and under one (1) year of related experience.
• One year of experience in criminal litigation.
• Member of the Arizona State Bar Association in good standing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual – English/Spanish
• Experience in Criminal Law
• Trial experience and or Immigration experience preferred but not mandatory.

Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION

Position Title:

Assistant Public Defender

Department Name:

Department Link:

NA

FTE%:

FLSA:

Exempt

Position Type:

Regular

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Full Hourly Range: $35.37 - 61.01 USD

The Full Hourly Range reflects the City of Tucson's pay range at the time of posting. The City of Tucson considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The City of Tucson offers a generous benefits package for benefit-eligible positions. The comprehensive, flexible, and affordable coverage is designed to optimize health and well-being, security and future, and peace of mind. Benefits begin with medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and FSA coverage, surpassing your standard 401(k) program by offering a rich pension plan plus optional Roth and pretax deferred compensation savings.

With your well-being in mind, our paid time off program provides new hires with 38 paid days off in the first year of employment, with time off increasing steadily in subsequent years. We offer twelve weeks of paid parental leave, paid tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, off- and on-the-job training, and opportunities to forge connections with peers and the community through employee resource groups and paid volunteer hours.

You can learn more about our benefits at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Employee-Benefit-Snapshot.

POSTING INFORMATION

Posting Close Date:

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Special Instructions

The City of Tucson Public Defender's Office is an interested Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program employer. The starting salary for this position is $78,560.

This is an open and continuous recruitment. Applications will be reviewed 30 days from the opening date, and the first Monday of each month thereafter.

Background Check: This position has been designated to require a criminal background check.

CITY OF TUCSON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, veteran status, age, disability, genetic testing, or any other protected status. If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination, you may file a complaint with the City of Tucson's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Arizona Attorney General's Office of the Civil Rights Division (ACRD).

The City of Tucson employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The City of Tucson is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities or who require religious accommodation; please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or 520-791-2619.

City of Tucson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.

Questions? If you need assistance applying for any position, please contact [e-mail]