POSITION TITLE: First Assistant Public Defender
DEPARTMENT: Wharton Matagorda Regional Public Defender Office
LOCATION: Wharton and Matagorda Counties
JOB TYPE: Full-time
DEADLINE: Open till Filled
SALARY RANGE: $ 134,000-136,000 annually
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Wharton -Matagorda Regional Public Defender Office (WMRPDO) will provide quality legal representation for persons that cannot afford to hire or secure private counsel in felony and misdemeanor cases in Wharton and Matagorda counties. WMRPDO is a department of Wharton County primarily funded by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, Wharton County and Matagorda County. The First Assistant Public Defender will be a full-time employee of Wharton Matagorda Public Defender Office. The First Assistant assists the Chief Public Defender with the supervision and professional development or all WMRPDO team members and oversight of WMRPDO Operations as well as providing direct client representation. The caseload for the First Assistant Public Defender will be comprised of all levels of felony cases. This attorney will handle complicated felony cases.
Outside legal work is strictly prohibited. This position will operate from a holistic vantage point and will work closely with social services team member (-case manager or social worker) for the well-rounded benefit of the
client/defendants.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities of the First Assistant Public Defender WMRPDO
This attorney provides quality criminal defense representation that complies with federal and state constitutions, state statutes, ethical rules, and state and national best practices. Will adhere to all best practices in criminal defense. Assuring clients get a competent and fair defense with zeal. The First Assistant Public Defender provides representation in all levels of felony cases will utilize experts and legal resources for proper zealous representation. This will include securing discovery, effectively utilizing investigative and social work staff as well as doing proper legal research. In cases where Defendants have multiple misdemeanors and/or state jail felony charges the Assistant Public Defender will represent the client on all charges to provide continuity of representation. The Assistant Public Defender will work as a team member alongside all WMRPO team members and contribute to a positive work environment providing client centered representation. This position will require travel to courts and the jail in Matagorda and Wharton Counties. The First Assistant Public Defender will take on the role of mentoring and assisting all attorneys in the office. This will include assisting with motion hearings and jury or bench trials.
Attorneys in this position will complete all required CLE (continuing legal education) necessary to maintain law license each year. This attorney will strive to stay abreast of the law and new trends in criminal defense. The Misdemeanor Public Defender will comply with state and federal constitutions, state and federal laws, ethical rules, and best practices,
including holistic, client-centered representation. Follow best practices and including Texas State Bar Performance Guidelines for Non-Capital Defense Representation and Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) Guidelines for Criminal Defense. Also, shall keep up with current legal issues, case law, and advocacy changes in the areas of criminal law.
The First Assistant Public Defender may at times be asked to participate in community events.
NOTE: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
– Juris Doctor from an accredited law school in United States
– Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.
-Minimum of five years practicing criminal law
-Past leadership or…