Salary : $124,696.00 - $167,564.80 Annually
Location : Fallon, NV
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number:
Department: Alternate Public Defender
Opening Date: 09/04/2026
FLSA: Exempt

Position Summary
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 of $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 ), 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 [email protected] 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.
Essential Functions

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.

Qualifications

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.
Physical Demands and Working Environment

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.

DISCLAIMER: Churchill County provides benefits to regular employees. Benefits are prorated for some part time, regular positions (depending on job). Most part time positions provide no benefits.

No Nevada state income tax

Retirement
Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Nevada - Churchill County contributes 36.75% of an eligible Regular Member's salary for retirement. Churchill County contributes 58.75% of an eligible Police Member's salary for retirement. Retirement benefits are available to employees hired in positions that work 20 hours per week or more on a regular basis. Positions of less than 20 hours per week (or less than 1040 hours in a fiscal year) will receive Social Security contributions and will not be enrolled in PERS.

Deferred Compensation Plans
Employees can also participate in the VOYA 457 deferred compensation plan, which is funded by the employee. This allows the employee to save money in pre-tax dollars toward retirement.

Cafeteria Health Coverage Plan - Full-time employees' health insurance begins the first of the month after one month of employment. (Employees must work an average 30 or more hours per week on a regular basis to qualify for health insurance coverage.)

The county offers a "Cafeteria" health plan to full-time employees, which allows employees to pick and choose the best health plan for them and their family. The county offers three health plans - a base PPO plan with a $1,500 deductible, a "buy-up" PPO plan with a $750 deductible, and a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a $2,700 deductible and a Health Savings Account (HSA), to which the county contributes $177 per month. In addition, the county also provides the following: a prescription plan, a dental plan, and a vision plan. The county currently contributes 100% of the employee premiums for the base PPO plan and the HDHP, as well as for the prescription, dental, and vision plans. Employees who elect dependent coverage pay 100% of the dependent premiums - employees can elect to have those premiums deducted in pre-tax dollars.

Vacation Leave
Full-time, regular county employees scheduled to work 40 hours per week accrue 8 hours per month of annual (vacation) leave per year. Part-time, regular county employees accrue annual (vacation) leave vacation at a prorated amount depending the number of hours worked. Employees earn additional annual leave hours at 5, 10, 15, and 25 years of service up to a maximum of 240 hours (30 days) per year. While on probation an employee is not granted vacation leave for the first six months; the employee still accrues vacation leave during this time and will be credited with 48 hours of vacation leave after six months of empl