Assistant Public Defender

Allegan County

$84K — $109K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctorate Degree required.
  • Active Membership in the Michigan State Bar required.
  • 2+ years of experience in criminal law as a prosecutor, public defender, or private criminal defense practitioner preferred.
  • Strong legal research and argumentation skills are essential.
  • Experience with client counseling and courtroom procedures is important.

Responsibilities

  • Customizes legal strategies to meet each client's specific needs.
  • Prepares, presents, and argues legal research in court.
  • Conducts thorough investigations and interviews with clients and witnesses.
  • Utilizes legal and technological knowledge to identify deficiencies.
  • Facilitates interdepartmental communication for efficient case file management.
  • Develops recruitment strategies for Holistic Defense Partner positions.
  • Trains and supervises interns and volunteers in legal practices.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with multiple plans including zero-premium options.
  • County-funded Health Savings Account available with high-deductible plans.
  • Paid life and short-term disability insurance coverage.
  • Generous retirement plan with a 7% county contribution.
  • Tuition reimbursement for higher education courses.
  • Robust PTO policy with front-loaded hours upon hire and 13 paid holidays.
  • Free access to county fitness centers.
Full Job Description
Job Summary:

Provides indigent defense and legal services. Prepares, analyzes, presents, reports and communicates legal strategies, legal research and advises clients about legal matters. Appears at all levels of the trial court hearings, including arraignments, probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, pre-trials, trials, sentencing, motions and other assigned hearings.

Starting Wage Range: $84,988 - $109,262 per year, depending on experience, full-time salaried position

Excellent Benefits Plan: Health benefits begin on the first of the month after your hire date
- Medical, Dental & Vision (3 medical plans to choose from, 2 of which have a $0 premium)
- County-funded Health Savings Account with our two high-deductible medical plans
- County-paid employee life insurance coverage
- County-paid short-term disability coverage, up to 52 weeks
- Generous retirement plan, including a county contribution of 7% of your annual earnings
- Tuition Reimbursement Program for college degree courses
- Generous PTO plan, including front-loaded hours into PTO bank at hire, and annually on January 1.
- 13 paid holidays, in addition to PTO
- FREE use of Allegan County government's two fitness centers

Responsibilities and Duties:
  1. Ensures that legal strategies are customized for client's needs and are well analyzed and effectively communicated to the clients.
  2. Prepares and presents legal research and arguments to the courts ensuring sound arguments pursuant to law; Advises clients of their legal rights.
  3. Prepares and conducts investigations, properly interviewing clients, witnesses and every individual related to a law violation or crime.
  4. Determines deficiencies by using legal, scientific and technological knowledge. Ensures that the department is always updating technical and legal knowledge.
  5. Coordinates and implements leadership strategies based on functions, positions and performance.
  6. Effectively communicates with other departments of the organization to ensure that files are efficiently prepared and delivered on time on each scheduled court date.
  7. Analyzes, develops and maintains approaches in order to have an effective recruitment process for the new Holistic Defense Partner positions.
  8. Trains, develops, makes work assignments, supervises and evaluates intern/volunteer workforce.
  9. Litigates any legal issues that are necessary and appropriate, including bringing bases to trial.
  10. Performs attorney functions as assigned.
  11. Ensures that procedures and manuals are documented and updated as necessary.
  12. Performs other functions and projects as assigned.
Travel: Travel is required 25%-50%
Education and Experience:
  • Juris Doctorate Degree
  • Active Membership in the Michigan State Bar
  • Prefer two (2) years of experience as a prosecutor, public defender, private criminal defense practitioner, legal intern or law clerk.
View entire job description

*Candidates must pass a drug screen (which includes testing for THC) in order to be hired for this position.

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