Senior Deputy Public Defender

Churchill County; Fallon (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

PERS retirement benefits

Vacation leave accrual

Sick leave accrual

Paid holidays

Job summary

The Churchill County Alternate Public Defender’s Office is seeking a Senior Deputy Public Defender to provide comprehensive defense services to indigent clients in Nevada. The role emphasizes strong courtroom representation, legal research, and adherence to constitutional rights throughout all phases of proceedings.

Ideal candidates hold a J.D., Nevada bar admission, and at least five years of full-time criminal defense experience in Nevada.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate and Nevada bar admission required.
• Minimum five years of full-time criminal law experience as a Nevada attorney.
• Experience with juvenile delinquency, guardianships, and NRS 432B matters preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform professional criminal defense work and legal research.
• Represent indigent defendants in complex criminal cases.
• Prepare pleadings and legal documents for trials and hearings.
• Conduct client interviews and coordinate investigations.
• Represent clients in DCFS cases and attend related hearings.
• Coordinate with District Attorney's office and other agencies.

Skills

Criminal defense

Indigent defense

Courtroom experience

Legal research

Client interviews

Education

Juris Doctorate

Nevada Bar Admission

Job description

The Churchill County Alternate Public Defender’s Office invites dedicated legal professionals to apply for the position of Senior Deputy Public Defender, a rewarding and challenging opportunity to serve the community while upholding the principles of justice and fairness. The Alternate Public Defender's Office is dedicated to the full and fair representation of persons in the community who cannot afford legal counsel and are in danger of being deprived of a liberty interest due to a criminal accusation or other statutorily defined state action. It is the goal of the Alternate Public Defender's Office to protect every client's constitutional rights, to defend against discriminatory treatment and disproportionate punishment, and to ensure that no one who is innocent is ever wrongfully convicted. The Alternate Public Defender's Office provides all mandated legal services in an efficient and cost-effective manner while holding themselves to the highest professional and ethical standards.

The person in this position must possess the requisite skills and enthusiasm to be charged with the competent and thorough representation of indigent clients. The ideal candidate will have a Juris Doctorate in Law and admittance to practice in the State courts of Nevada and a minimum of five years of experience as a licensed Nevada attorney with courtroom experience.

As a full-time, regular position, the person hired would be enrolled in the Nevada PERS retirement system. In addition to the salary paid, the county contributes an additional 36.75% into PERS on the employee's behalf (value $38,000 annually). In addition, the employee will not contribute to Social Security, resulting in an additional 6% in take-home pay (an equivalent of $6,200 annually). The county also pays 100% for employee-only health insurance premiums (equivalent to $13,500 annually). Employees in these positions will also receive full accruals of vacation leave (8 hours per month) and sick leave (10 hours per month). These employees also receive 8 hours for pay for paid holidays.

This position will be open until filled, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply without delay. In addition to filling out the online application (at www.churchillcounty.org/careers), applicants are required to electronically attach a résumé, cover letter (indicating why you are interested in working as a Deputy Public Defender), and a recent writing sample that demonstrates your writing skills and analytical ability pertaining to a legal case or issue. If an applicant has difficulty attaching documents, the applicant should email [e-mail] with the documents and the applicant's contact information.

Under general supervision, performs a wide range of professional criminal defense work in the Public Defender's Office; performs legal research; provides representation to indigent defendants in some of the most complex and complicated criminal cases; provides representation in juvenile delinquency proceedings, guardianships, and NRS 432B proceedings; performs legal research; represents the Public Defender on assigned cases; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the Senior level in the Deputy Public Defender series. Incumbents are expected to perform a wide range of the regular legal assignments performed in the Public Defender’s Office with a great degree of professional latitude. A Senior Deputy may provide training or guidance for lower-level attorneys in the office. It differs from the Deputy Public Defender classification in that the assignment of matters are generally more complex and requires more seasoned experience, judgment and knowledge. The Senior Deputy Public Defender is the highest classification that can be achieved without supervisory or administrative responsibility.

This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions (as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act) expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

• Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance.
• Familiarity with standards of practice for criminal defense in Nevada.
• Review criminal complaints and analyze for the propriety of charge(s).
• Conduct client interviews.
• Coordinate and conduct investigations and interviews.
• Analyze the facts of a case and legal precedents for preliminary hearing motions, stipulations, or waivers.
• Analyze preliminary hearing or grand jury transcripts for pre-arraignment writ or motion presentations.
• Interpret and apply laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases and briefs.
• Conduct arraignments, preliminary hearings, and trials.
• Assemble evidence and legal materials for trial purposes and/or discussion of settlements with prosecutors.
• Prepare pleadings and other legal documents in connection with suits, trials, hearings, and other legal proceedings.
• Prepare appellate cases including briefings and oral arguments before appellate courts.
• Carry out procedures for probation, parole revocation, extraditions, insanity matters, and juvenile court cases.
• Represent clients in DCFS cases, review petitions for propriety of the proposed actions; conduct hearings on petitions, reviews and dispositions; and attend case plan meetings/staffing with clients and social workers as needed to include home visits with clients if applicable.
• Coordinate legal work with the District Attorney's office and other law enforcement agencies without impairing the defense.
• Meet with and discuss cases with clients and their families.
• May represent parties in termination of parental rights cases and guardianships/probation revocations and discuss settlements with prosecutors and social workers.
• Demonstrates integrity in all duties; Is courteous, kind and cooperative when interacting with clients, public, and staff. Maintains a professional demeanor with opposing counsel.
• Acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace.
• Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Public Defender services by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team.
• Participates in the training of new attorneys; provides appropriate training and guidance of attorneys where directed; reviews negotiation terms or defense strategies for newer attorneys; provides input on performance evaluations where needed by the Public Defender.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctorate AND admittance to practice law in Nevada (or admission to practice under the applicable rules of the Nevada Supreme Court) AND a minimum of five years of full-time experience in criminal cases OR a combination of education, training and experience commensurate with the position’s contemplated effective representation of clients in difficult or complicated defense related matters.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of:

• Standards of practice for criminal defense in Nevada and as outlined in applicable case law of the United States Supreme Court.
• Judicial procedure and rules of evidence; applicable laws, codes, and regulations.
• Computer applications related to the performance of legal research and writing.
• Techniques for dealing with individuals from various socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, in person and over the telephone, often where relations may be confrontational or strained.
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• The Penal Code and other Nevada statutes and their application to criminal and civil law.
• Judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.
• The principles of criminal, constitutional and administrative Law.
• Legal research methods and available programs for legal research.

Skill in:

• Performing a complex caseload of legal representation work in the Public Defender's Office with considerable independence.
• Analyzing facts and applying legal principles and precedents to specific criminal and civil cases.
• Performing legal research, developing legal issues, and presenting clear and logical arguments and statements of fact and law.
• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Maintaining effective working relationships with others.
• Effectively representing the Public Defender's Office in contacts with the public, community organizations, law enforcement agencies, and other government jurisdictions.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:

• Nevada Driver’s License.
• Certificate of admission to the Bar of the State of Nevada and eligibility to practice law before the courts of the State of Nevada.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Under General Supervision - Incumbents at this level are given assignments and objectives that are governed by specifically outlined work methods and a sequence of steps, which are explained in general terms. The responsibility for achieving the work objectives, however, rests with a superior. Immediate supervision is not consistent, but checks are integrated into work processes and/or reviews are frequent enough to ensure compliance with instructions.

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Mobility to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment; stamina to sit for extended periods of time; strength and agility to lift and carry up to 20 pounds; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate over the telephone and in person.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. Continued employment is contingent upon all required licenses and certificates being maintained in active status without suspension or revocation.
2. New employees are required to submit to a background investigation and if hired for a safety-sensitive position, a drug/alcohol screen. Employment is contingent upon passing the background and the drug/alcohol screen (if applicable).
3. Churchill County participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS, with information from each applicant’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered employment must complete Section 1 of the Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity prior to starting employment.