PART TIME INDIGENT DEFENSE WEEKEND CLERK

McLennan County, Texas; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

McLennan County is seeking a dedicated staff member for Pretrial Services/Indigent Defense to interview and process applications for court-appointed attorneys.

The role involves assisting the Indigent Defense Coordinator and traveling to the McLennan County Jail on Saturday and Sunday every other week and holidays to interview defendants who request counsel. Strong communication and reliability are essential.

Qualifications

• Must communicate professionally with the public.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Ability to work tactfully with officials, attorneys and defendants.
• Must read and understand departmental policies and procedures.
• Build effective working relationships with judges and jail staff.
• Must have no disqualifying criminal convictions beyond minor traffic violations.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Indigent Defense Coordinator as directed.
• Travel to the McLennan County Jail on alternating weekends/holidays to interview defendants.

Skills

Public communication

Reliable transportation

Interpersonal skills

Policy and procedures reading

Liaison with judges and jail staff

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Pretrial Services/Indigent Defense handles interviews and applications of individuals who have been arrested and are requesting court-appointed attorneys.

• Assist the Indigent Defense Coordinator as directed
• Travels to the McLennan County Jail on Saturday and Sunday of every other week and holidays to interview defendants who request a court appointed attorney. Time required for interviews may vary from three to four hours, sometimes longer

EDUCATION:

Required:

• High School Diploma or GED

SKILLS ~ EXPERIENCE:

Required:

• Must be able to assist and communicate professionally with the public and possess good interpersonal skills
• Must have reliable transportation
• Ability to work effectively with and tactfully communicate with the occasional difficult and/or hostile individuals. Ability to exercise tact, courtesy, and discretion in contacts with court officials, attorneys, county employees, criminal defendants and public
• Applicants must be able to read and understand departmental policies and procedures
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Judges and county jail staff
• Position requires no criminal convictions for offenses other than minor traffic violations

Beneficial:

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish

All Employees

• Must be committed to achieving excellence in assigned duties, always in service of the county and community
• Must have ability to earn and keep the trust of fellow employees and the community at large
• Must be approachable and ready to help fellow employees and the general public

DISCLAIMER:

McLennan County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudications in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records, and educational attainment. Candidate will be fingerprinted as part of the background check process. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work at the jail includes contact with inmates with supervision from the correctional officers. Continuous contact with persons accused or convicted of crimes.

PHYSICAL DEMAND REQUIREMENTS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear
• The employee frequently is required to walk, sit, stand; use hands to find, handle, or feel objects, reach with hands and arms; stoop and kneel
• Works mostly indoors in well-lighted, air-conditioned facility

HOURS / SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

The position schedule is Saturday and Sunday of every other week and holidays, times vary.