Counsel for Defense Manager

spokanecounty; Hudson (WI); On-site; USD 187,000 - 229,000; Full time

Job summary

Spokane County is seeking a seasoned Manager in the Counsel for Defense Department to lead administrative and legal activities. The role includes supervising attorneys and staff, managing a budget, and handling high-stakes cases as counsel of record when necessary.

The incumbent will oversee preparation of budgets, advise on defense strategy, and maintain professional standards across the department. Strong leadership and trial experience with indigent defense are essential.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and licensure to practice law in Washington State.
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible legal and criminal trial experience.
• Experience handling capital cases and supervising professional staff.

Responsibilities

• Administers and supervises office activities and staff; manages personnel policies.
• Prepares and presents the annual budget to the County Commissioners and monitors expenditures.
• Represents indigent defendants at all levels of court proceedings, including capital cases.
• Advises staff on complex issues, defense strategies and procedures; assigns and reviews caseloads.
• Responds to public records requests and oversees inquiries or complaints about services.
• Attends meetings and hearings and represents the department to agencies, organizations, and the media.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Skills

Criminal law

Case management

Trial procedures

Expert witness usage

Mitigation techniques

Budgeting

Staff supervision

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Employee Type: Regular

Department: Counsel for Defense

Salary: $207,936.35 annually

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Overtime Eligible: No

Job Posting Date Range: 08/26/2026 - Until Filled

Job Summary

The position allocated to this class performs administrative, supervisory, and participatory legal work in managing the staff, policy and operations of the Counsel for Defense Department. In addition to administrative responsibilities, the manager is expected to carry a half case load when appropriate, considering the other imperatives of the office. Appears as counsel of record for selected clients (including capital defendants) and in other hearings. Duties are carried out with professional expertise within the language, meaning and intent of pertinent statutes. Work involves considerable contact with judicial, executive, legal and social service agencies. Under the administrative direction of the Chief Executive Officer or designee, the incumbent shall be appointed by the Selection Committed as provided for in RCW 36.26.030.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Administers, directs and supervises office activities and personnel policies; appoints, trains, counsels, advises and supervises attorneys, investigators and support staff.
• Prepares and presents the annual budget to the County Commissioners. Monitors fiscal policy and line item budget expenditures of the Department.
• Annually reports to the Board of County Commissioners as provided for in RCW 36.26.050.
• Maintains and ensures the integrity of representation of indigent defendants in the courts.
• Represents defendants at all levels of proceedings, including capital defendants, who cannot be represented by the Public Defender's Office due to conflicts of interest or other factors.
• Advises professional staff on complex issues, defense strategies and procedures; monitors and evaluates work, ensuring performance is consistent with prevailing professional standards, applicable statutes and county policies. Assigns, tracks and reviews caseloads. Oversees the arrangement of training and practice updates for attorneys, as required or needed.
• Responds to or oversees the resolution of sensitive or complex inquiries, problems or complaints regarding availability or quality of services. Responds to public records requests.
• Establishes, prepares and submits pertinent budgets, reports, documents and data as required.
• Maintains and establishes equitable working relationships with all agencies within the criminal justice system.
• Attends meetings and hearings and represents the department and the County to all agencies, organizations and individuals both public and private including the media in matters related to the Department.
• Performs other related duties as required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited college or university school of law, and, Eight (8) years of progressively responsible legal and criminal trial experience as a licensed practicing attorney, including the performance of administrative functions and the supervision of professional staff. Must have demonstrated experience in the utilization of expert witnesses and evidence. Admitted to practice law in Washington State at the time of application; membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, without qualifications or restrictions on the practice of law. Certification by the Washington State Supreme Court to be lead counsel in capital cases under Special Proceedings Rule 2 preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Considerable knowledge of:

• the principles, practices and application of criminal law and procedures.
• case management.
• trial procedures.
• trial utilization of expert witnesses and evidence.
• the Standards of Indigent Defense adopted by the Washington State Supreme Court in CrR 3.1 the performance Guidelines for Criminal Defense adopted by the Washington State Bar Association.
• investigative and sentence mitigation techniques, including in death penalty cases.
• currently accepted management techniques and practices including budget processes and supervisory principles.

Ability to:

• appear in court and try all types of cases including the most complex cases.
• train, supervise, evaluate and improve the work of professional and support staff through instruction and by example.
• develop, implement and administer goals, objectives, and procedures for providing effective and efficient services.
• establish and maintain tactful, effective and non-judgmental relationships with the public and parties affected by the court and its administration.
• analyze problems, identify solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goa