Assistant Public Defender

Agency

Indigent Defense Services

Division

PUBLIC DEFENDER 5 DISTRICT

Job Classification Title

Assistant Public Defender (NS)

Position Number

65038496

Grade

30013288

About Us

DO YOUR CAREER JUSTICE! Each and every day, North Carolina's courts help provide safety for our communities, prosperity for our economy, and protection for the rights, liberties, and freedoms that sit at the foundation of our state and federal constitutions. Consider an exciting and rewarding career with us and join the more than 7,000 elected officials and employees who make up our workforce and help us ensure that justice is administrated without favor, denial, or delay.

Description of Work

SALARY RANGE: $65,000.00 - $70,000.00

The Office of the Public Defender-5th District (Duplin, Jones, & Sampson) represents indigent clients in all criminal and juvenile delinquency matters. Attorneys will represent indigent criminal clients in district and superior court. Lawyers must be cross-trained and capable of handling all casework required provide quality legal services for indigent clients. Additionally, the applicant will be required to represent clients during first appearances. 

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

All applicants must have a strong desire and commitment to client advocacy and indigent defense.  Attorney must be attentive to detail, organized, possess an ability to effectively communicate and litigate cases in the courtroom and have exceptional legal research and writing skills.   A high level of technology and computer knowledge is essential. 

All Assistant Public Defenders must be capable of handling difficult cases and clients, while maintaining positive professional relationships with co-workers, clients, and the public.  Attorneys are expected to visit clients at the jail and in prison facilities, and to travel outside the office to conduct other investigative procedures.

As a public service employees, it is expected that all Assistant Public Defenders will engage in community service and participate in outreach programs relevant to the services we are providing, including volunteer programs which occur during evenings and weekends.

The Office of the Public Defender-5th District (Duplin, Jones, & Sampson) strives to create a diverse staff with expertise and interest in serving our indigent clients who come to us with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, and disabilities.

Although the attorney will be specifically assigned to the Duplin and Jones offices, there may be occasions when attorneys are required to report to the Sampson office for training, meetings, and other work obligations.  Duplin County will be the home station for this position; however, there may be travel to Jones and Sampson counties.

The ability to fluently speak Spanish is preferred but not required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES / COMPETENCIES:

Knowledge Required: Federal, State, common and constitutional law; judicial procedures and rules of evidence; case, statutory, regulatory, and common law; NC General Statutes to defend criminal cases, juvenile cases, and legal research methods. 

Applicants will likely be assigned misdemeanor and probation cases in district court and need to be prepared to represent clients with complicated impaired driving cases.

Applicant will likely be assigned to cover teen court and other initiatives that may arise to better serve our community.

Applicant will be expected to cover all areas of indigent representation.

Skills Required: Applicant must have persuasive communication, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills.
 

Applicant must be able to analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and related written documents and apply applicable law to those facts; conduct legal research; plan, develop and execute an effective litigation strategy to achieve desired results; prepare, organize and conduct witness examinations; deliver opening statements, closing arguments, and evidentiary objections; and express complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear and concise manner; and maintain a high volume caseload in a professional and efficient manner.
 

Supplemental and Contact Information

INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants must complete an on-line application by clicking the above APPLY link. Mailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Before applying, please read the Online Employment Application Guide for instructions on creating your profile and applying for specific postings.

It is important your application includes all