Assistant Public Defender - Misdemeanor Attorney I - Public Defender - J0703 - 25300

Crescent Electric Supply Company; Hudson (WI); On-site; USD 66,792 - 81,635; Full time

Job summary

Crescent Electric Supply Company is seeking an Assistant Public Defender – Misdemeanor Attorney I in Wisconsin to represent clients facing misdemeanor charges. The role includes providing legal services and managing cases effectively while working alongside a dedicated team.

This position requires a law degree, Texas State Bar license, and the ability to manage a diverse caseload, including supervision of support staff. Applicants must demonstrate strong legal arguments, research skills, and efficient communication.

Qualifications

• Must able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Perform case evaluation, preparation, and management.
• Research case law and legal issues.
• Draft necessary motions, responses, and briefs.
• Conduct background investigations and interview witnesses.
• Represent clients in court for pretrial and trials.
• Supervise and delegate responsibilities to staff.

Skills

Knowledge of local, state, and federal law

Ability to evaluate facts and legal precedents

Skill in making persuasive legal arguments

Proficiency with computers and software

Education

Graduation from an accredited law school

License from the Texas State Bar

Current Texas Operator’s License

Job description

Base Pay: $74,214.40 Annual.

Summary

The Nueces County Public Defender’s Office is seeking an Assistant Public Defender – Misdemeanor Attorney I to represent indigent individuals facing misdemeanor charges. The Assistant Public Defender will provide a full range of legal services to indigent clients. Although the primary responsibility is misdemeanor cases, the Assistant Public Defender may also work on felony, juvenile, and appeal cases. The employee is required to be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies, as directed by the Department Head.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform case evaluation, preparation, and management.
• Research case law and legal issues.
• Draft necessary motions, responses, and briefs, and argue them in court.
• Conduct background investigations and interview witnesses, victims, and law enforcement officers where appropriate.
• Represent clients in court for pretrial, evidentiary hearings, and jury/bench trials.
• Communicate case evaluation and status to clients effectively and in a timely manner.
• Communicate effectively with judges, court staff, prosecutors, family members, witnesses, and other interested parties.
• Participate in training and continuing education to remain informed of new court decisions, laws, and rules and regulations.
• Prioritize and organize work to meet filing deadlines and court appearances.
• Collaborate with public defender team and relevant service providers.
• Supervise and delegate responsibilities to legal secretaries and investigators.
• Maintain legal files and records, documenting case evaluation and activity.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Assign and review work of Paralegals, Legal Secretaries, and Investigators.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Nueces County policies and applicable laws.
• Train employees; plan, assign, and direct work; and resolve problems.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record that meets standards set by the County and the County’s insurance carrier.

Education and/or Experience

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• For unlicensed law school graduates: meet all requirements of House Bill 424 of the 64th Legislature to obtain a Temporary Trial Card from the State Bar of Texas, and obtain the card within 60 days of hire.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• License from the Texas State Bar to practice law in the State of Texas.
• Current Texas Operator’s License.
• Use of private vehicle for official business (County vehicles not used).

Language Skills

• Read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
• Present information effectively to top management and public groups.

Mathematical Skills

• Work with probability and statistical inference.
• Apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal law.
• Knowledge of trial procedures.
• Ability to evaluate facts, procedures, and legal precedents relevant in complex court cases.
• Skill in making persuasive legal arguments.
• Knowledge of investigative tools and techniques.
• Skill in conducting legal research.
• Proficiency with computers and relevant software programs.

Physical Demands

The job requires the employee to sit and speak or hear regularly, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl occasionally, and occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. Vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment may involve outside weather conditions and exposure to low radiation while working at a computer terminal. Employees may encounter dangerous defendants or mentally unstable persons capable of violence. Noise levels are usually moderate to loud.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.