Chief Public Defender

Chapter 13 Trustee Middle District of Alabama; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Spokane is seeking a Public Defender supervisor to oversee department operations, budget planning, and grant administration while upholding the rights of indigent clients in court.

The role requires strong criminal law expertise, leadership, and the ability to coordinate with courts, agencies, and boards. A JD and bar membership are essential, with several years of supervisory experience preferred.

Qualifications

• JD and active WA State Bar in good standing.
• 8 years of legal practice and 3 years of supervisory experience.
• 2 years of criminal defense experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight for all employment matters in the department.
• Prepare and administer the departmental budget.
• Prepare and administer grant applications and requirements.
• Maintain the integrity of representation for indigent clients in courts.
• Represent indigent clients' interests on law-related boards and committees.
• Handle inquiries from City Administration, Council, judges, agencies and media.
• Assign, track and review caseloads with compliance focus.

Skills

Criminal law

Legal writing

Leadership

Communication

People management

Budgeting

Education

Juris Doctor

WA State Bar member in good standing

Tools

Case management systems

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