Assistant Public Defender - .75

State of Minnesota Board of Public Defense; Thief River Falls (MN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

The State of Minnesota Board of Public Defense seeks a part-time attorney to provide legal services to indigent defendants in district court and to juveniles in delinquency proceedings, serving Northwestern Minnesota from Thief River Falls.

Under general supervision, you will prepare cases, interview clients, conduct legal research, appear in court, and coordinate with prosecutors and social workers to determine defense strategy.

Qualifications

• Good knowledge of criminal law and procedure.
• Strong legal research and analytical abilities.
• Solid written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to assess facts and craft defense strategies.
• Experience interviewing clients and witnesses is favorable.
• Ability to coordinate with prosecutors, judges, and social workers.

Responsibilities

• Prepare cases for defense in district court and juvenile court.
• Interview clients and witnesses; draft briefs and pleadings.
• Conduct legal research and prepare court filings.
• Represent clients in arraignments, hearings, and trials; advise on bail and competency.
• Identify need for expert witnesses and coordinate with experts.
• Collaborate with social workers, probation officers, and judges on treatment plans.
• Perform related duties as required.

Skills

Criminal law knowledge

Legal research

Communication skills

Education

Law degree & Bar admission

Job description

Under general supervision, performs work of routine difficulty in providing legal services to indigent defendants who have been charged with criminal offenses in district court, and to juveniles who are alleged to be delinquent in the juvenile court.

Part-time attorneys can establish a private practice

This position will serve Northwestern Minnesota.

Examples of Duties:

• Prepares cases for defense of indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in district courts; in dependency, neglect or delinquency petitions in juvenile court;
• Interviews clients and prospective witnesses; prepares or oversees the drafting of briefs, memoranda, pleadings and other legal papers;
• Conducts or directs legal research;
• Represents misdemeanor, felony, or juvenile clients in court arraignments, pre-trial hearings, trials, dispositions and other proceedings; interviews clients in custody and makes initial decisions concerning such things as bail, release from custody, and mental competency to stand trial;
• Determines need for expert witnesses; locates appropriate experts and schedules them for trial if needed; negotiates with County and City Attorneys to reach plea agreements;
• Consults with social workers, probation officers, judges and referees in order to determine appropriate treatment programs for clients as a part of defense strategy; advises and directs work of law clerks;
• Performs related work as required.

• Good knowledge of criminal law and procedure;
• Good knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of legal research and investigation;
• Good knowledge of 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 office that utilizes personal computers and has email and access to the Internet.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college of law and admission to the Bar of the State of Minnesota or a person who has graduated from an accredited law school and is certified to practice under the Supreme Court Student Practice Rule.
  • Individuals hired under the Student Practice Rule must pass the bar on their first attempt.
  • Failure to pass the bar is grounds for dismissal.