Senior Assistant Public Defender / Senior Trial Attorney - Chesterfield

Title: Senior Assistant Public Defender / Senior Trial Attorney - Chesterfield

State Role Title: Legal Services Manager I

Hiring Range: $100,225.00 + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: CHESTERFIELD 326

Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Virginia Defenders- Indigent Defense Commission (IDC) is excited to announce the opportunity to be on the front lines of what many consider to be the modern-day Civil Rights Movement-criminal justice and justice reform. This is a unique platform to develop and pursue social change and impact the lives of clients. The IDC’s Chesterfield County Public Defender Office is seeking experienced, dynamic criminal defense attorneys to fill a Senior Assistant Public Defender or Senior Trial Attorney position. Successful candidates will demonstrate commitment to our mission of protecting and defending the rights and dignity of our clients through zealous, compassionate, high-quality legal advocacy. The Senior Assistant Public Defender and the Senior Trial Attorney report to the Chief Public Defender of the Chesterfield Office, and are employed at-will.

Duties:
Duties include conducting client and witness interviews, working with staff investigators to investigate cases, filing and litigating pretrial motions. The Senior Assistant/Senior Trial Attorney is responsible for litigating or assisting others to litigate cases in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts, as well as identifying appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients. The Senior Assistant Public Defender will serve as a role model for client-centered representation and collaborative office culture built on candor, trust, and teamwork. The Senior Assistant position includes assisting the Chief Public Defender in supervising, mentoring and training attorneys.

The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce and staff. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctor (J.D) and Virginia State Bar admission or eligibility for admission by waiver, extensive criminal litigation experience (including jury trial experience as lead counsel), comprehensive knowledge of Virginia Criminal Law, Constitutional Law and the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel are required. The qualified applicant will be well-organized and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. The qualified applicant must be willing and able to file and litigate complex pretrial motions including Brady Motions, Motions to Suppress, and other creative evidentiary and legal motions in the face of opposition from the prosecution and the judges. Teamwork is highly valued in this office, and the qualified applicant will have demonstrated proficiency in working with others as a member of a criminal defense team to achieve successful outcomes for clients.

Senior Assistant applicants must demonstrate a commitment to developing attorneys and staff with a teaching/mentoring mindset and a management approach that aims to create a culture dedicated to client-centered representation, fosters candor between colleagues, and is receptive to constructive criticism and feedback.

The Senior Trial Attorney position may include significant caseload and training responsibility in lieu of formal management responsibility. Strong trial skills are required. The position may include developing training for trial staff and, in a team environment, identifying and preparing case strategies for jury trials and sitting as co-counsel on juries with less experienced attorneys. The qualified applicant for either role should have significant experience as a criminal defense attorney and significant jury trial experience. A valid driver’s license and the means to travel to all courts and regional jails is required.

Additional Considerations

Significant and recent experience working in a public defender's office or as a criminal defense attorney representing indigent clients will be strongly considered. Prior experience in a supervisory or leadership role will be strongly considered.

Special Instructions

Applications for this position require a cover letter and resume. Failure to submit both may disqualify you from further consideration.

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