Non-Capital Training Attorney

State of California; California; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Vision benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The Office of the State Public Defender in California seeks a Non-Capital Training Attorney with extensive appellate criminal defense experience who is committed to mentoring and developing attorneys handling non-capital appeals and postconviction matters. The role focuses on high-quality, client-centered representation and supporting the Director of Non-Capital Appellate Representation.

The position collaborates with OSPD staff to identify training needs and to strengthen non-capital appellate

Qualifications

• Knowledge of legal principles and their application to criminal law and appellate proceedings.
• Knowledge of California criminal defense appellate practice in non-capital appeals and postconviction proceedings.
• Ability to mentor other attorneys through all stages of a non-capital appeal and develop their appellate practice skills.
• Experience litigating criminal cases in California appellate courts, including complex appellate matters.

Responsibilities

• Mentor attorneys handling non-capital appeals and postconviction matters.
• Assist Director with managing the Non-Capital Appellate Representation Program.
• Collaborate with staff to identify and address training needs in appellate practice.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Appellate experience

Mentoring

Team leadership

Job description

The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) is seeking a Non-Capital Training Attorney with extensive appellate criminal defense experience who is committed to mentoring and developing attorneys handling non-capital appeals and postconviction matters in order to meet the qualifications to be lead counsel in death penalty cases. The Non-Capital Training Attorney will provide comprehensive guidance on non-capital appellate practice and will work closely with individual attorneys on all aspects of their non-capital cases, focusing on high quality, client-centered representation. The Non-Capital Training Attorney will also assist the Director of Non-Capital Appellate Representation with managing OSPD's Non-Capital Appellate Representation Program and work collaboratively with OSPD staff to identify and address the program's training needs.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, and Retirement benefits. For more information on what is offered by the State of California, please visit the California Department of Human Resources CalHR website and the California Public Employees' Retirement System CalPERS website.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY IV

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Knowledge of legal principles and their application to criminal law and appellate proceedings.
• Knowledge of the scope and character of California statutory law and provisions of the California Constitution and the United States Constitution.
• Knowledge of California criminal defense appellate practice in non-capital appeals and postconviction proceedings.
• Knowledge of capital litigation.
• Ability to effectively review case records, analyze difficult and complex legal problems, and apply legal principles and precedents to legal problems.
• Ability to craft clear and effective written pleadings in complex appellate cases.
• Ability to mentor other attorneys through all stages of a non-capital appeal and develop their appellate practice skills.
• Ability to monitor developments in the law and consider their impact on the agency's cases.
• Ability to direct the work of clerical and professional assistants.
• Ability to foster an inclusive, collaborative, and respectful work environment for all levels of staff.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and professionalism.
• Experience litigating criminal cases in California appellate courts, including experience effectively litigating complex appellate cases independently.
• Experience supervising or mentoring attorneys, interns, or law students.
• Experience providing effective feedback on motions, briefs, petitions, and oral arguments and supporting skill building.
• Experience preparing training materials, legal outlines, practice guides, and/or training programs for attorneys.
• Experience building trusting relationships with a diverse array of clients, some of whom may have serious mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or intellectual disabilities.
• Experience working in a team environment.
• Experience maintaining security and confidentiality of privileged information in compliance with ethical rules and applicable laws.
• Familiarity with the impact of race on criminal trials and appeals, on persons subject to incarceration, and on the criminal legal system as a whole.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.