Defense Counsel (Clinton)

State of Oklahoma; Custer (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefit allowance for premiums

Insurance plans with no pre-existing条件

Life/Disability insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Employee assistance program & wellness

Vacation & sick leave

Paid holidays

Retirement plan match

Longevity bonus

Job summary

The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (OIDS) is seeking a full-time Defense Counsel in the Clinton office to handle non-capital trials and provide zealous advocacy in felony, misdemeanor, juvenile delinquency, traffic and wildlife cases.

Responsibilities include case management, client communication, investigations, pretrial motions, and trial preparation in state court. Juris Doctorate and bar eligibility are required, with options for progression across levels based on experience.

Qualifications

• Applicants should possess a Juris Doctorate degree, active membership and good standing with the State Bar of Oklahoma, or eligibility for admission.
• Or applicants should be scheduled to take the Oklahoma Bar Exam.

Responsibilities

• Performs case management activities at all phases of the direct appeal in the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.
• Communicates with client on all aspects of the case, including plea negotiations and post-judgement proceedings.
• Communicates with client’s friends and family to obtain pertinent information without disclosing privileged information.
• Conducts independent and expeditious investigations relating to the client’s guilt or innocence and potential sentences.
• Collects and maintains evidence acquired through the investigation per established standards and laws.
• Prepares for trial by filing pretrial motions; develop plea negotiation strategy; secure assistance from experts; formulate a defense theory.
• Conducts ongoing legal research to identify new issues and prepare for briefing of argument on motions.
• Prepares for jury selection by developing questions and challenges.
• Preserves legal error for appellate review on all applicable grounds.
• Serves as Co-Counsel as assigned.
• Provides consultation, assistance, and support to other attorneys and staff.
• Performs administrative duties when asked

Skills

State & federal law

Non-capital trial regs

Constitutional law

Oklahoma constitution

Agency policies

Trial procedures

Rules of evidence

Legal research

Legal writing

MS Office

Attention to detail

Judgment & decision making

Critical thinking

Communication

Education

Juris Doctorate

Active State Bar of Oklahoma

Bar eligibility

Oklahoma Bar Exam readiness

Job description

Job Posting End Date

Refer to the date listed at the top of this posting, if available. Continuous if date is blank.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.

Job Posting Title

Defense Counsel (Clinton)

Agency

047 INDIGENT DEFENSE SYSTEM

Supervisory Organization

Okla Indigent Defense System

Full/Part-Time

Full time

Job Type

Regular

Compensation

Salary commensurate with qualifications and within agency salary schedule.

Job Description

The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (OIDS) is the statewide public defender agency which provides legal representation to indigent clients throughout the State of Oklahoma, with the exception of Oklahoma and Tulsa counties.

OIDS is currently seeking a full-time Defense Counsel in our Non-Capital Trial Division, Clinton office.

Basic Purpose

Provide legal representation in non-capital cases, within the bounds and forums provided by law, in all phases of assigned cases.

Defense Counsel represent indigent individuals in state court at the trial level in felony, misdemeanor, juvenile delinquency, traffic and wildlife cases; Counsel is also responsible for providing clients with competent legal advice and zealous advocacy at every phase of the criminal trial process.

Typical Functions

• Performs case management activities at all phases of the direct appeal in the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. This includes maintaining complete and accurate files of all pleadings and orders
• Communicates with client on all aspects of the case, including plea negotiations and post-judgement proceedings, according to agency policy and standards to ensure client can make informed decisions regarding legal representation
• Communicates with client’s friends and family to obtain pertinent information without disclosing privileged communication or confidential information
• Conducts independent and expeditious investigations relating to the client’s guilt or innocence and potential sentences
• Collects and maintains evidence acquired through the investigation per established standards and laws
• Prepares for trial by filing pretrial motions; develop plea negotiation strategy based on jurisdictional practices and policies and with client’s input; securing assistance from experts; and formulating a defense theory based on information produced through the investigation
• Conducts ongoing legal research to identify new issues and prepare for briefing of argument on motions
• Prepares for jury selection by considering legal challenges to selection procedure and developing questions and challenges to determine if the potential juror is suitable
• Preserves legal error for appellate review on all applicable grounds
• Serves as Co-Counsel as assigned
• Provides consultation, advice, assistance, and support to other attorneys and staff
• Performs administrative duties when asked

Level Descriptor

Positions may be filled at Levels I - VI, depending on candidate experience.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of applicable state and federal laws; applicable regulations for non-capital trials; constitutional law and the Oklahoma constitution; agency policies and procedures; trial and hearing procedures; rules of evidence; methods and techniques for conducting legal research and writing.

Skills required include critical thinking; conducting legal research; written and oral communication; Microsoft Office – Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; attention to detail; sound judgment and decision making.

Abilities required include presenting statements of fact and law; clearly and logically articulate position in written and oral form; analyze, interpret, and apply various laws, rules, regulations, agency policies, and procedures; direct and/or perform independent and difficult research, analyzing, appraising, and applying legal principles and precedents to difficult legal or factual problems; conduct legal research on Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, the Oklahoma State Court Network, and printed or internet-based legal resources; meet timelines while following the Oklahoma statutes; and represent the agency in a professional manner.

Education And Experience

Applicants should possess a Juris Doctorate degree, active membership and good standing with the State Bar of Oklahoma, or eligibility for admission. Or applicants should be scheduled to take the Oklahoma Bar Exam.

• Level I: < 3 years of relevant criminal litigation experience.
• Level II: 3+ years of relevant criminal litigation experience with 1+ years criminal trial experience.
• Level III: 3+ years of relevant criminal litigation experience with 2+ years criminal trial experience.
• Level IV: 3+ years of relevant criminal litigation experience with 3+ years criminal trial experience.
• Level V: 3+ years of relevant criminal litigation experience with 4+ years criminal trial experience.
• Level VI: 3+ years of relevant criminal litigation experience with 5+ years criminal trial experience.

Special Requirements

Must abide by the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct

Benefit Highlights

The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System provides a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees and their dependents. Benefits Include:

• Generous state paid benefit allowance to help cover insurance premiums
• Wide choice of insurance plans with no pre-existing condition exclusions or limitations
• Life/Supplemental Life/Dependent Life/Disability insurance plans
• Flexible spending accounts for health care expenses or dependent care
• Employee assistance program and health/fitness programs
• 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave the first year for full time employees (amounts increase with years of service)
• 11 paid holidays
• Retirement Savings Plan with a generous match
• Longevity Bonus for years of service

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.