Chief Public Defender

Dcbar; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Spokane Public Defender’s Office seeks an experienced attorney to lead and supervise the representation of indigent clients in municipal courts and related proceedings. This role emphasizes independence, advocacy, and commitment to equity in the criminal legal system.

The position requires a Juris Doctor, WA State Bar admission, and a track record of 8 years in legal practice, including 3 years of supervisory experience and 2 years in criminal defense.

Qualifications

• Ability to explain legal concepts clearly to media, City Council, and public.
• Ability to influence, motivate, and adapt leadership style.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work under pressure.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and plan work to meet objectives.
• Ability to work cooperatively and maintain positive relationships.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight for all employment-related matters within the department.
• Prepare and administer departmental budget.
• Prepare and administer departmental grant applications and requirements.
• Maintain the integrity of representation of indigent clients in the courts.
• Represent indigent clients’ and defenders’ interests on various law and law-related boards and committees.
• Handle inquiries from City Administration, City Council, judges, agencies, and media.

Skills

Leadership

Legal communication

Project management

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor

WSBA Law Clerk Program

WA State Bar member in good standing

Job description

CLASS SUMMARY

RepresenteligiblepeoplefacingalossoflibertyfromcriminalchargeswithintheCityofSpokane.Beanindependent voicethatpromotesjusticeandequityforclientsandadvocatesfortheirobjectives,interests,anddignity.Seekto addressracialdisproportionalityinthelocalcriminallegalsystemonissuesofincarcerationandsentencing,eligibilityfor programmatic alternatives and case resolution.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE:

ProvideresponsiblesupervisoryworkintheadministrationanddirectionoftheCityPublicDefender’sOffice.Thisoffice handlesmisdemeanorsandgrossmisdemeanorschargedundertheSpokaneMunicipalCodeforpersonswhoare determined to be indigent and unable to afford to hire private counsel.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

WorkhasasubstantialamountofindependenceinthePublicDefender’sOffice.Employeeprovidessupervisiontopublic defenders, law clerks, legal interns, and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF JOB FUNCTIONS

ThefollowingResponsibilitiesandRequirementsarefunctionstheindividualwhoholdsordesiresthepositionmustbe able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provideoversightforallemploymentrelatedmatterswithinthedepartment.
• Prepareandadministerdepartmentalbudget.
• Prepareandadministerdepartmentalgrantapplicationsandrequirements.
• Maintaintheintegrityofrepresentationofindigentclientsinthecourts.
• Representindigentclients’anddefenders’interestsonvariouslawandlaw-relatedboardsandcommittees.
• HandleinquiriesfromCityAdministration,CityCouncil,judges,variousagencies,andthemedia.
• Assigns,tracks,andreviewscaseloadsofstaffwithparticularattentiontocompliancewithstatewidestandards.
• Performrelateddutiesasrequired.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• CriminallawandpracticesandproceduresofCitygovernment.
• PerformanceManagementconcepts,principals,andpracticesrelatedtoemployeeperformance.

ABILITY TO:

• Expresslegalconceptsinclearandconciselanguagetothemedia,CityCouncil,andPublic.
• Influence,motivate,andchallengeothers;adaptleadershipstylestoavarietyofsituations.
• Managemultipleprojects,meetdeadlines,andworkwellunderpressure.
• Adapttootherdutiesasassignedandprioritize,organize,andplanworkasneededtomeetobjectives.
• Workcooperativelywithothersandmaintainpositiverelationships.

SKILL IN:

• Employeedevelopmentandperformancemanagement.
• Criminal law practice to include courtroom advocacy, forensic and psychological experts and issues, and legal research and writing.
• Effectivelydealingwithpeoplefromvariedbackgroundsanddifferentsituationswhoaredifficult,hostile,or distressedwhilebeingsensitivetoculturaldiversity,race,gender,sexualorientation,disabilities,andother individual differences.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Anycombinationequivalenttotheexperienceandeducationthatwouldlikelyprovidetherelevantknowledgeand abilitieswouldbequalifying.Generally,thiswillinclude:

EDUCATION:

Juris Doctor or successful completion of WSBA Law Clerk Program

Active member of the WA State Bar Association in good standing

EXPERIENCE:

• 8yearsexperienceinthepracticeoflaw;and
• 3yearsofsupervisoryexperience
• 2 years of criminal defense experience

LISENSESAND CERTIFICATIONS:

• MemberingoodstandingoftheWashingtonStateBarAssociation.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Workisconductedprimarilyinanofficesetting.Frequentattendanceatmeetingstoincludesomeirregularhoursand potential out-of-town travel may be required. Incumbents in this position are expected to communicate verbally, in-personandbytelephoneandremotecomputeraccess.Acomputerterminalisusedandrequirestheuseofrepetitive arm movements.

BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS

AsanexemptemployeeoftheCityofSpokane,the Public Defender issubjectto theCity'sCodeofEthicssetforthinChapter1.04AoftheSpokaneMunicipalCode.Assuch,\"itisthepolicyoftheCityof Spokane to uphold, promote, and demand the highest standards of ethics from all of its employees who shall maintain the utmost standards of responsibility, trustworthiness, integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fairness in carrying out their publicduties,avoidanyimproprietiesintheirrolesasapublicservantincludingtheappearanceofimpropriety,andnever use their City position, authority or resources for personal gain.\"

Weareanequalopportunityemployerandvaluediversitywithinourorganization.Wedonotdiscriminateonthebasis ofrace,religion,color,nationalorigin,genderidentity,sexualorientation,age,maritalstatus,familialstatus,genetic information,veteran/militarystatusordisabilitystatus.AsaFairChanceemployer,CityofSpokanedoesnotconduct initial background screening for non-public safety positions.

EXAMINATION DETAILS

Employer

CityofSpokane

Phone

509.625.6160

Address

808W.SpokaneFallsBlvd. City Hall, 4th Floor

Spokane,Washington,99201

Website

http://my.spokanecity.org