Senior Immigration Public Defender — Impactful Trials

State of Iowa; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off (vacation/holidays)

Professional development

IPERS retirement program

Employee assistance program

Employee discounts

Job summary

Iowa State Public Defender’s Office in Des Moines seeks an attorney for the Public Defender 3 (Immigration) role. The lawyer will represent indigent clients, handle immigration consequences in criminal cases, and supervise law students while coordinating with other defenders.

Responsibilities include trial advocacy, case strategy, client communication, and ongoing immigration-related training for staff. This is a full-time on-site position with a strong public-service focus.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Current license to practice law in the State of Iowa.
• Experience in criminal trial advocacy or prosecution preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advocates for indigent clients in serious and complex cases and negotiates with prosecutors.
• Supervises advanced interns from law schools (Drake University and University of Iowa).
• Investigates facts, interviews witnesses, conducts discovery, and plans trial strategy.
• Consults with public defenders and contract attorneys on immigration-related cases and advises clients on immigration consequences.
• Develops and updates tools, briefs, and reference materials for immigration-related defense; provides CLEs to staff.
• Identifies legal issues, researches applicable law, and drafts motions and briefs.
• Prepares and manages legal documents and maintains client case files; submits time reports.

Skills

Legal advocacy

Supervision

Investigative work

Immigration knowledge

Legal research

CLE/training

Education

Juris Doctor / law degree

Iowa Bar License

Job description

Iowa State Public Defender’s Office in Des Moines seeks an attorney for the Public Defender 3 (Immigration) role. The lawyer will represent indigent clients, handle immigration consequences in criminal cases, and supervise law students while coordinating with other defenders.

Responsibilities include trial advocacy, case strategy, client communication, and ongoing immigration-related training for staff. This is a full-time on-site position with a strong public-service focus.