Public Defender Investigator

North Carolina Association of Official Court Reporters; Rockingham (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the Public Defender, District 22, serving Rockingham and Caswell counties, seeks a Public Defender Investigator to support defense teams in serious misdemeanor and felony cases. The role includes interviewing clients in jail, gathering information, and preparing reports for the attorney to substantiate innocence or challenge evidence.

The ideal candidate has a four-year degree with at least one year of investigative work (or an associate degree with three years).

Qualifications

• Graduation from a four-year college or university and one year of experience in legal, judicial, law enforcement or investigative work.
• An associate degree with three years of experience in the above mentioned fields may substitute for the four year college degree requirement.
• Other combinations of education and experience that provide the requisite knowledge may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Investigate serious misdemeanor and felony cases and collect information to verify evidence.
• Visit clients in jail to interview and assess bond reduction considerations.
• Prepare written reports and evaluate information with the assigned attorney.

Skills

Investigation

Interviewing clients

Case research

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree + 3 years experience

Job description

## Public Defender InvestigatorApplylocations: Rockingham County, NC: Cawsell Co. Courthouse Caswelltime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todaytime left to apply: End Date: September 4, 2026 (13 days left to apply)job requisition id: JR-122593**Agency**Indigent Defense Services**Division**Indigent Defense Services**Job Classification Title**Public Defender Investigator (S)**Position Number**65044029**Grade**30013208**About Us**DO YOUR CAREER JUSTICE! Each and every day, North Carolina's courts help provide safety for our communities, prosperity for our economy, and protection for the rights, liberties, and freedoms that sit at the foundation of our state and federal constitutions. Consider an exciting and rewarding career with us and join the more than 7,000 elected officials and employees who make up our workforce and help us ensure that justice is administrated without favor, denial, or delay.**Description of Work**SALARY RANGE: $52,217.00 - $79,057.00 The Office of the Public Defender, District 22, which consists of Rockingham and Caswell counties, seeks a qualified individual to investigate all areas of serious misdemeanor and felony indigent defendants' cases that have been assigned by the courts to the Public Defender's Office.**Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences**Duties include but are not limited to the following:* Investigate serious misdemeanor and felony cases to collect information used to verify evidence or to substantiate innocence.* Visit clients in jail to conduct initial interviews, and when indicated, consider the appropriateness of and expedition of bond reduction.* Determine what facts, opinions, or background information witnesses have that is relevant to the case and prepare a written report, and/or evaluate information with the assigned attorney.* Photograph, measure, and draw the crime scene to scale to determine its relationship to the physical evidence.* Arrange defense expert witnesses, review experts' credentials, evaluate their potential effectiveness with the jury, and coordinate delivery of evidence to experts.* Research criminal histories of defendants, witnesses, and potential jurors.* Ensure appearance of witnesses at time of trial and assist in witness preparation.* Assist counsel with facts of the case during trial.* Conduct special investigations as directed.## **Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies:****Knowledge of:** criminal law and the local court system; evidence collection, investigation, and identification techniques and procedures; and information sources and the ability to extract information from those sources. **Skill in:** computers and word processing to prepare reports, motions, orders, subpoenas, and other legal documents; and effectively communicate with people of diverse backgrounds both orally and in writing. **Ability to:** plan and organize an effective approach to the investigation of complex cases and to independently develop leads; schedule work to achieve results on time; prepare clients, their families, and witnesses for court; work irregular hours in conducting investigations; make pertinent observations and to analyze those observations with the charges in a given case; and inspire the confidence of the community in the public defender's office.**Valid North Carolina driver's license required.**## **Supplemental and Contact Information:**## **INSTRUCTIONS:** Applicants must complete an on-line application by clicking the above APPLY link. Mailed or faxed applications will **not** be accepted. Before applying, please read the Online Employment Application Guide for instructions on creating your profile and applying for specific postings. It is important your application includes all of your relevant education and work experience and that you answer all questions associated with the application to receive proper credit. Résumés are not accepted in lieu of fully completed applications. **\\*NOTE\\*** Many job postings require certain documents be attached to an application. Verify your application is complete and uploaded documents are attached to your application *before* submitting it. Applications may not be altered after they have been submitted. Carefully review the FAQs if you experience difficulty with the application process or attaching documents. For technical issues with applications or attachments, call the NeoGov Help Line at 855-524-5627.*All NC Judicial Branch agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.*The North Carolina Judicial Branch participates in E-Verify, an internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from the US Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. Charmaine J. Leeks NC Administrative Office of the Courts Human Resources Division https://www.nccourts.gov/about/about-judicial-branch/careers**Minimum Education and Experience**Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.## **Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:**Graduation from a four-year college or university, preferably in the field of law, criminal justice, psychology, or sociology, and one (1) year of experience in legal, judicial, law enforcement or investigative work. An associate degree with three (3) years of experience in the above mentioned fields may substitute for the four year college degree requirement. Other combinations of education and experience that provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.**Attach cover letter and résumé.**