Indigent External Counsel Coordinator

Spokane County; United States; On-site; USD 138,213 - 193,436; Full time

Job summary

Spokane County seeks an Indigent Counsel Coordinator to manage case coverage for indigent defense. This role involves overseeing the assignment of external counsel, maintaining accurate records, and managing the budget for conflict counsel.

The ideal candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in public administration or a related field, alongside five years of relevant experience. A Juris Doctor degree is preferred. This full-time position offers an annual compensation of $138,213 - $193,436.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in indigent defense administration or legal program management.
• Experience managing contract oversight and budgeting.
• Knowledge of RCW 10.101, GR 42, and Spokane County Code Section 1.17A.

Responsibilities

• Assign cases to external counsel in a timely manner.
• Monitor assignment progress and escalate issues as needed.
• Maintain records of cases and attorney availability.
• Develop and oversee external counsel panel.

Skills

Contract administration

Budget management

Knowledge of indigent defense laws

Problem analysis

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field

Juris Doctor (J.D.) preferred

Job description

Job Summary

The Indigent Counsel Coordinator is a senior, neutral administrative officer responsible for ensuring continuous case coverage across all case types when the Spokane County Public Defender's Office (PD) or the Conflict/Felony Defender's Office (CFD) is unable to provide representation due to a conflict of interest, capacity constraint, or other coverage gap, or when indigent representation is ordered in civil cases, including Minor Guardianship or Child in Need of Services (CHINS). This position operates independently of both the PD and CFD offices and reports directly to the Senior Director of Law & Justice. The coordinator serves as the county's primary point of accountability for conflict/external counsel assignment and contracting, panel development, budget management within the annual conflict counsel appropriation, and coverage reporting to the Superior Court bench and the Board of County Commissioners.

Essential Job Functions

• Receives conflict case referrals from the Public Defender and Conflict/Felony Defender offices and civil indigent case referrals from Superior Court and assigns cases to qualified external counsel in a timely manner, ensuring same‑day action whenever possible.
• Ensures continuous case coverage by monitoring assignment progress, addressing delays, and escalating emergent coverage issues to the County CEO and Superior Court administration when required.
• Maintains accurate records of case referrals, assignments, timelines, case outcomes, attorney availability, and panel utilization to support reporting and program oversight.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the Superior Court regarding case assignment status and provides updates as needed.
• Develops, maintains, and oversees the external counsel panel by recruiting, vetting, onboarding, and monitoring qualified attorneys across all case types, ensuring adequate capacity to meet demand.
• Conducts periodic reviews of panel counsel performance and availability and removes or replaces attorneys who no longer meet program standards.
• Drafts, negotiates, executes, and renews contracts for external counsel in coordination with County Purchasing and the Prosecutor’s Civil Division, and ensures contract compliance with applicable policies and statutes.
• Reviews and verifies billing and invoicing submitted by external counsel for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to contracted rates and case type scope.
• Administers the annual external counsel budget by tracking expenditures, monitoring trends, preparing required reports, and alerting leadership when supplemental funding may be needed.
• Prepares annual budget requests for the external counsel program based on utilization data, panel capacity needs, and projected case volumes.
• Identifies and supports pursuit of grant opportunities and external funding sources that may reduce county costs for indigent defense coverage.
• Provides written and verbal reports to the Superior Court bench, County CEO, and Board of County Commissioners on coverage performance, trends, capacity, and budget status.
• Develops and maintains operational procedures for case intake, assignment protocols, panel management, documentation, and quality monitoring, ensuring consistency and transparency in program operations.
• Ensures external counsel assignments and program practices comply with RCW 10.101, GR 42, Spokane County Code 1.17A, Washington Supreme Court caseload standards, and related statewide and local requirements.
• Monitors developments in indigent defense law, statewide standards, and professional obligations and updates internal processes as needed.
• Oversees or operates the conflict case management system and ensures accurate case entry, reporting capability, and data integrity to support planning and decision‑making.
• Produces data‑driven analysis of case volume, panel utilization, cost‑per‑case trends, and coverage gaps for executive and policy reporting.

Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, legal administration, criminal justice, or a related field. Five years of experience in indigent defense administration or legal program management, with experience managing contract oversight and budgeting. Equivalent education/experience combinations may be considered. Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA‑accredited law school is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of RCW 10.101, GR 42, Spokane County Code Section 1.17A, Washington indigent defense standards, and applicable laws and Supreme Court orders governing caseload compliance. Understanding of RCPCs governing conflicts of interest in public defense and conflict‑of‑interest structures. Proficiency in contract administration and budget practices, and familiarity with CXrR 3.3 speedy trial obligations. Ability to manage contracts, monitor legal services billing, administer program budgets, analyze problems and implement solutions, maintain accurate confidential records, communicate effectively with courts and stakeholders, and manage high‑volume, time‑sensitive workloads. Skilled in building or significantly expanding a program from limited existing infrastructure, preparing and administering budgets, grant compliance, legislative reporting, and using case tracking systems, spreadsheets, and reporting tools.

Behavioral Standards

All County employees are responsible for contributing to a safe and positive work environment, actively demonstrating the County values in their daily work and interactions: Respect, Accountability, Integrity, and Innovation.

Total Compensation

$138,213 - $193,436 annually. Total compensation is an estimate based upon base compensation, median retirement fund contributions, and current employer‑paid health and related benefit contribution rates (including medical, dental, life insurance, long‑term disability, and leave). Actual total will vary depending on each employee's enrollment choices.