Social Worker - Legal Defender

Pima County; United States; On-site; USD 54,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Pima County Public Defense Services seeks a skilled social worker to join the Social Work and Mitigation Unit, supporting adults and juveniles facing criminal charges and involvement in dependency matters. The team coordinates with clients, families, providers and courts to address underlying issues and connect clients with community resources.

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor's degree in a behavioral or social service field and at least two years of related experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in behavioral or social service field plus two years of relevant experience.
• Education/experience substitution allowed as defined by the employer.
• Documentation of education and work experience in the application is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct social services, counseling and crisis intervention to clients in legal contexts.
• Conduct screenings and assessments to identify needs and refer to appropriate services.
• Collaborate with professionals to represent and advocate for clients in court and community settings.
• Maintain client records and prepare written recommendations and reports.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Client counseling

Case management

Education

Bachelor's degree in behavioral/social services

Job description

Job Description Summary Department - Public Defense Services Job Description REVISED OPEN UNTIL FILLED Job Type: Classified Job Classification: 5624 - Social Worker Salary Grade: 10 Pay Range Hiring Range: $53,872 - $64,625 Annually Pay Range: $53,872 - $75,379 Annually Range Explanation: Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity. Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position. The first review of applications will be on11/06/2026. The Pima County Legal Defender's Office is expanding our Social Work and Mitigation Unit and seeking a skilled and dedicated social worker to join our team of professionals representing adult and juvenile clients. Our team provides client-centered, holistic defense for adults and juveniles facing criminal charges, as well as adults involved in the dependency process. Our Social Work and Mitigation team is an integral part of the defense team, providing expert guidance in mitigation, treatment and community resources, rehabilitation, and sentencing alternatives. The team works in partnership with clients to provide support and advocacy that address the underlying issues that led to their involvement with the justice system. We are seeking energetic and dedicated social workers to join our criminal defense team and advocate for our clients both in and out of court. This position requires proof of vaccination or the ability to become fully vaccinated by the start date for the following: Tdap (within the last 10 years) Varicella MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) Hepatitis B For more information on the Pima County Public Defense Services Department and the offices in this department, please visit their website at: www.pima.gov/pds.

Essential Functions

• Provides direct social services, counseling and crisis intervention to individuals and families involved in the legal system which may include dependency, delinquency, and/or criminal cases or in an office/community-based setting which may include outpatient clinics, hospital/ED, rehabilitation or detention facilities
• Conducts client screenings and assessments and evaluates data to identify causes of problems and determine proper therapeutic approach to then make referrals to appropriate specialists/services congruently with established care plans
• Works collaboratively with other professional staff and related working professionals to help represent the client
• Provides on-going assessment of clients’ emotional, behavioral and social needs
• Provides crisis management counseling to clients or therapeutic crisis intervention and emergency services as appropriate and required for the client’s needs
• Develops client re-entry plans or treatment plans and follow-up care programs and helps set individual and/or family centered goals to meet client needs
• Provides focused support and counseling to clients and families dealing with the criminal justice system or the impact of bereavement and loss, trauma, chronic illness, physical disability, substance use, and/or behavioral health issues
• Participates in developing training modules to address needs in the community related to substance use, trauma, suicide prevention, overdose, and general mental health
• Informs concerned parties on impact that psychosocial and cultural differences have on illness
• Evaluates the home environment and determines if client's needs are being met
• Maintains liaison with and refers clients to appropriate community resource agency
• Maintains client records and prepares written recommendations and reports to responsible parties
• Obtains treatment records and coordinates care with family, community providers, and others relevant to healthcare and community re-entry plans
• Maintains security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties
• Serves as an advocate on behalf of clients to coordinate services and information with community agencies, state agencies, social service systems, and courts
• May provide transportation to health, housing and justice appointments
• May testify in a variety of judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a behavioral or social service, or a closely related field as defined by the appointing authority AND two years of experience in client, family and child behavioral services, child welfare and needs or crisis intervention counseling. (Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.) Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Selection Procedure

Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidate from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information

Licenses and Certificates: Valid driver license is required at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record.

Special Notice Items

Some positions may require completion of a satisfactory personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems. The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County. Pima County determines whether a position is eligible for visa sponsorship at the time of recruitment. Eligibility is based on the requirements of the position and applicable laws and regulations. Not all positions with Pima County are eligible for visa sponsorship. This position will require post-job offer proof of immunization(s) or immunization(s) and/or a TB screening. This position may require proof of vaccination or the ability to become fully vaccinated by the start date.

Physical/Sensory Requirements

Physical and sensory abilities will be determined by position. Action Activity - bending, reaching; Motion Activity - Grasping; Speaking Activity - in person, on the phone; Vision - operate motor vehicle, distinguish colors, have depth perception, have peripheral vision.

Working Conditions

Working conditions will be determined by the position.

EEO Information

Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.

More Than a Job

A Place to Grow. What if your next job could help you build a career while being part of something bigger? At Pima County, you’ll find meaningful work, room to grow and a team committed to serving the place we call home. Find Your Place With 7,000+ employees across 50+ departments, Team Pima does a lot to keep Pima County thriving. Whatever your skills, interests or career goals, there’s a place for you to put them to work. Benefits That Support You We offer a comprehensive benefits package and resources designed to support you and your family today and into the future. Explore Pima County Benefits Keep Growing Your career shouldn’t stand still. We invest in training, education and opportunities to learn new skills and move your career forward. And everything we do is grounded in being Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical.

Benefits That Support You

We offer a comprehensive benefits package and resources designed to support you and your family today and into the future. Explore Pima County Benefits Keep Growing Your career shouldn’t stand still. We invest in training, education and opportunities to learn new skills and move your career forward. And everything we do is grounded in being Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical.