Public Defender I

City of Spokane; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual pay step increases

Flexible schedule

Great employee benefits

Pension plan

Job summary

City of Spokane Public Defender's Office seeks creative, client-focused advocates to join our diverse team of public defense attorneys. If you have a passion for public defense and a commitment to representing people in need, you have found your team!

Successful candidates are dedicated advocates, think critically and creatively in a fast-paced environment and are open to accepting feedback and opportunities to grow. The open entry requires WA Bar membership and passing an examination (T&E).

Qualifications

• Membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association by exam, diploma privilege, or APR 6.
• Pass the examination and be placed on the hiring list.
• Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a written test based on experience.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for clients in public defense and manage case strategy.
• Prepare legal briefs, develop arguments and testimony.
• Maintain extensive outside contacts to gather factual information.
• Apply independent judgment to determine proper courses of action.
• Bring strong negotiation skills to court on behalf of clients.

Skills

Independent judgment

External contacts

Legal briefs

Negotiation skills

Community-focused

Education

Washington State Bar Association membership

Job description

TheCityofSpokanePublicDefender'sOfficeseekscreative,client-focusedadvocatestojoinourdiverseteamofpublicdefenseattorneys.Ifyouhaveapassionforpublicdefenseandacommitmenttorepresentingpeopleinneed,youhavefoundyourteam!

Successfulcandidatesarededicatedadvocates,thinkcriticallyandcreativelyinafast-pacedenvironmentandareopentoacceptingfeedbackandopportunitiestogrow.

• Youuseindependentjudgment,todeterminethepropercourseofactionwithinthelimitsoflaw.
• Youhavetheabilitytomaintainextensiveoutsidecontacts,toobtainorsupplyfactualinformation.
• Youmustbeabletopreparelegalbriefsanddevelopstrategy,argumentsandtestimony.
• Youhavestrongnegotiationskillsandbringthosetocourt,indefenseofyourclients.
• Youcareaboutyourcommunityandthecitizensthatyouserve.

OurPublicDefendershaveprofessionaldevelopmentopportunities,annualpaystepincreases,aflexiblescheduleandgreatemployeebenefits,includingapensionplan!

As another benefit, a Public Defender I will automatically promote to a Public Defender II after one year, with a pay range of $82,705.68 to $121,250.00.

Open Entry

(Must be met at time of application.)

• Membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, whether by exam, diploma privilege by graduation from an accredited law school, or APR 6.

Applicants must first meet the minimum qualifications to be evaluated. Those who pass the examination will then go on the hiring list.

The examination will consist of a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E).

A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a written test where the applicant answers structured questions based on their previous experience and training or education.

Training and Experience Evaluation Details:

The T&E examination consists of a Supplemental Questionnaire. The questions may be viewed online under the tab marked "QUESTIONS" on the job announcement page. The T&E must be submitted online, at the time of application.

• Copies of your college or university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted) may be a required part of this application and will be used to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications, as posted on the job announcement.
• Responses to your T&E questions should be consistent with the information given in your application details. Answers are subject to verification.
• Failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score; therefore, it is advantageous for you to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question.
• Resumes or questionnaires uploaded as attachments will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question online.
• "See Resume" or "See above," etc., and copy/paste from a previous answer are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.

Additional examinations shall be administered as applications are received with results merged into one eligible list according to final ratings, pursuant to the Merit System Rules of the Civil Service Commission: Rule IV, Section 13 – Continuous Examinations.

Upon request, at time of application, City of Spokane will provide alternative accessible tests to individuals with disabilities that impair manual, sensory, or speaking skills needed to take the test, unless the test is intended to measure those skills.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status, or disability status. As a Fair Chance Employer, City of Spokane does not conduct initial background screening for non-public safety positions.