Chief Public Defender

Hillsbar; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Spokane's Public Defender’s Office is seeking a seasoned attorney to provide leadership in indigent defense and guide case resolution, ensuring fairness and equity in the local criminal legal system. The role entails heavyweight responsibilities in policy, advocacy, and public communication.

The position requires a Juris Doctor, active WA State Bar status, at least 8 years of legal practice, 3 years of supervisory experience, and 2 years of criminal defense work, with duties spanning

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor or successful completion of WSBA Law Clerk Program.
• Active member of the WA State Bar Association in good standing.
• 8 years experience in the practice of law; 3 years supervisory experience; 2 years of criminal defense experience.

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, various agencies, and the media.
• Assigns, tracks, and reviews caseloads of staff with particular attention to compliance with state-wide standards.
• Perform related duties as required.

Skills

Criminal law knowledge

Performance management

Public speaking

Leadership / supervision

Education

Juris Doctor or WSBA Law Clerk Program

WA State Bar 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