Chief Major Felony Unit

County of Delaware; Media (Delaware County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Delaware County Office of the Public Defender seeks a Chief of the Major Felony Unit to supervise vertical representation in adult felony criminal cases across the Delaware County courts. The role includes developing innovative trial training and mentoring lawyers assigned to the Major Felony Unit.

The ideal candidate has a Pennsylvania Bar admission, at least five years of criminal litigation experience, and a track record in capital cases; strong organizational and communication skills are

Qualifications

• Extensive criminal litigation experience including motions practice, jury trials, bench trials, sentencing, and post-sentence motions.
• Strong organizational, presentation, and communication skills.
• Commitment to indigent defense and ability to handle a demanding workload.

Responsibilities

• Manage all cases assigned to the Major Felony Unit, including homicides and Felony 1–2 cases, ensuring quality representation.
• Provide training and supervision for all Assistant Public Defenders in the Major Felony Unit.
• Review arrest paperwork, identify case needs, and assign cases to attorneys within the unit.
• Handle a caseload of vertically assigned major felony cases through conclusion.
• Supervise staff within Special Victims District Court and support staff involved in representation.
• Develop holistic representation practices addressing collateral matters affecting cases.
• Advocate for structural change and best practices benefiting Public Defender clients.
• Develop unit trainings to advance felony practice and fulfill additional duties as needed.

Skills

Criminal litigation

Jury trials

Legal research

Indigent defense

Case management

Education

Admitted to Pennsylvania Bar

Juris Doctor

Job description

*** COVER LETTER & RESUME SUBMISSIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION CONSIDERATION ***

The Delaware County Office of the Public Defender provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in the criminal, delinquency, and mental health systems in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The office employs roughly 70 attorneys and staff who provide zealous advocacy for clients. The office represents several thousand clients each year in the Magisterial District Courts, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Appellate Courts of Pennsylvania.

Under the general oversight of the Public Defender and First Assistant, the Chief of the Major Felony Unit is responsible for supervising vertical representation in adult felony criminal cases in the Delaware County Magisterial District Courts and Court of Common Pleas. The Chief is responsible for developing innovative trial training, providing support and mentorship to lawyers assigned to the Major Felony Unit, and strengthening the Office’s overall felony practice.

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Manage all cases assigned to the Major Felony Unit, primarily homicides, Felony 1, and Felony 2 cases, to ensure that Office of the Public Defender clients receive quality legal representation in all aspects of their cases.


• Provide training and supervision for all Assistant Public Defenders assigned to the Major Felony Unit.


• Review initial arrest paperwork, identify the specific needs of each case, including investigation, social services, special assignment, and other needs, and assign cases to attorneys within the Major Felony Unit.


• Handle a caseload of vertically assigned major felony cases through conclusion.


• Manage the assignment of staff to and supervision of Special Victims District Court.


• Supervise support staff involved in the legal representation of clients in the Major Felony Unit, including social service advocates, mitigators, investigators, and administrative staff.


• Develop and engage in holistic representation practices that assist clients with collateral matters that impact their direct legal representation.


• Advocate for structural change and adherence to national and statewide best practices that benefit the interests of public defender clients.


• Develop office-wide and unit-specific trainings to advance the felony practice of the Office.


• Perform related work at the request of the Public Defender or First Assistant, as necessary.

• Licensed and admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or the ability to gain admission to the Pennsylvania Bar through reciprocity.


• Minimum of five (5) years of experience representing clients in criminal cases.


• Extensive criminal litigation experience, including motions practice, jury trials, bench trials, sentencing, and post-sentence motions.


• Preference for an attorney qualified to handle capital cases under Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 801.


• Knowledge of the Delaware County criminal justice system strongly preferred.


• Excellent organizational, presentation, and communication skills.


• Demonstrated commitment to indigent defense.


• Strong work ethic and ability to manage a demanding workload.


• Strong relationship-building skills.

Delaware County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, membership in an employee organization, political affiliation, or status as a veteran in the recruitment, selection, or hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. EEO/AA