Assistant Public Defender: Courtroom Trial Advocate

State of Florida; Bartow (FL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual and Sick Leave

Paid holidays

Personal Holiday

State Group Insurance

Job summary

Office of the Public Defender – Tenth Judicial Circuit in Florida seeks an Assistant Public Defender toPrepare cases for defense of indigent persons, interview clients and witnesses, draft briefs and pleadings, and conduct legal research. The attorney represents clients in arraignments, pre-trial, trials, and other proceedings, with duties including bail decisions and expert-witness determinations.

The role requires active Florida Bar membership or eligibility, ability to manage high caseloads,

Qualifications

• Active member in good standing with The Florida Bar or recent law school graduate awaiting Bar Exam or results
• Reside in the 10th Circuit or surrounding community within a reasonable time of accepting employment
• Knowledge of criminal law and procedure
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of legal research and investigation
• Knowledge of judicial procedures and the Rules of Evidence
• Ability to manage a high volume caseload while maintaining adequate levels of communication and attention to individual clients.
• Ability to make regularly scheduled court appearances; conduct case evaluation, investigation and preparation including but not limited to witness interviews, legal research, motion preparation, and related work as required; occasional unscheduled matters may arise
• Basic computer skills
• Commitment to public service and protecting the rights of the criminally accused

Responsibilities

• Prepare cases for defense of indigent persons charged with criminal offenses
• Interviews clients and prospective witnesses
• Prepares or oversees the drafting of briefs, memoranda, pleadings, and other legal papers
• Conducts 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 bail, release from custody, and mental competency to stand trial
• Determines need for expert witnesses
• Performs related work as required.

Skills

Criminal law knowledge

Court appearances

Case evaluation & preparation

Communication skills

High-volume caseload management

Basic computer skills

Education

Law degree / J.D.

Bar admission pending or recent graduate awaiting results

Job description

Office of the Public Defender – Tenth Judicial Circuit in Florida seeks an Assistant Public Defender toPrepare cases for defense of indigent persons, interview clients and witnesses, draft briefs and pleadings, and conduct legal research. The attorney represents clients in arraignments, pre-trial, trials, and other proceedings, with duties including bail decisions and expert-witness determinations.

The role requires active Florida Bar membership or eligibility, ability to manage high caseloads,