Misdemeanor Defender - Texas Indigent Defense Commission Grant

General Summary: This position provides a full range of legal services to indigent defendants in the assigned felony and misdemeanor cases.
Primary responsibility to handle the misdemeanor case load and potentially felony-level controlled substance cases.
Additional responsibilities to assist in felony caseload, trial preparation and trials, as directed.
Essential Duties: • Under the supervision of the Chief Public Defender, this position will provide legal representation to clients appointed to the Public Defender’s Office.
• Maintain a caseload that will not exceed the Texas Indigent Defense Commission’s Guidelines for Indigent Defense Caseloads.
• Obtain and review discovery and documents provided by the prosecution.
• Research and investigate issues and cases.
• Meet with and interview clients in person.
This will include visiting clients in jail, in person, and possibly through real-time video conferencing.
• Communicate with clients through telephone calls and written correspondence during the pretrial, trial, and post-trial process.
• Prepare and file pleadings for trial.
• Prioritize and organize workload to meet deadlines.
• Maintain awareness of new court decisions, laws, rules and regulations.
• Meet with investigator(s) to monitor the progress of investigations.
• Screen cases for potential conflicts.
• Prepare cases for court and conduct trials as assigned.
• Provide narrative and descriptive entries in client files of opinions, impressions and facts collected.
• Negotiate with prosecutors and others involved in the court process.
• Advise clients on plea offers, options and potential for success at trial or other dispositions of cases.
• Advise clients of constitutional rights waived by pleading guilty and the potential direct and collateral consequences of a guilty plea.
• Select juries, examine and cross examine witnesses, draft and argue jury instructions and argue cases to the jury.
• Advise non-citizen clients of the specific immigration consequences of criminal convictions.
• Attend conferences and stay current on legal updates.
Other Duties as assigned.
Supervision Received: Will be supervised by the Chief Public Defender.
Given: Education Required: Juris doctor degree from accredited law school.
Law school graduates awaiting bar examination results will be considered but must have a supervised practice card, i.
e.
, 3L bar card.
Preferred: Experience Required: This position is a potential entry level position for a new attorney.
Applicants applying out of law school should be able to demonstrate an interest in criminal law, community service, and/or providing legal services to the poor.
Applicants should highlight criminal law courses, practice clinics, mock trial, and moot court experience.
Preferred: 2 or more years of experience involving criminal representation in state courts.
First chair trial experience in at least one criminal jury trial taken to a verdict.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Required: Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas or immediately eligible to obtain licensure through the Texas Board of Law Examiners Admission Without Examination (AWOX) process.
(Applicants must review the TBLE AWOX requirements: https://ble.
texas.
gov/admission-without-examination).
Law school applicants should be prepared to obtain a 3L bar card.
Continued employment will be contingent on bar passage.
Valid driver’s license Preferred: Physical Demands Typical: Typical activities common to an office environment such as walking, sitting, use of computer equipment, creating and moving paper files, operating a copy machine, walking to and from court as needed.
Some driving may be necessary.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Typical: Advanced computer, research and writing skills including trial advocacy, legal research and library skills.
Verbal and written communication and organizational skills; interpersonal skills and ability to deal effectively with the public, other employees and elected officials; skilled in problem solving and decision-making.
Knowledge of trial procedures and rules of evidence.
Knowledge of state and federal laws, codes and regulations pertaining to area of assignment; knowledge of philosophy and practices of public defense.
Work Environment Typical: Brazos County PDO attorneys are expected to use professional courtesy, discretion and sound judgment when engaging in contact with co-workers, clients, prosecutors, judges, other county employees and members of the pubic.
Attorneys are also responsible for maintaining confidentiality of client information and business knowledge.
Job Type: Full-time Pay: Up to $75,000.
00 per year Benefits: * Dental insurance * Employee assistance program * Flexible spending account * Health insurance * Life insurance * Paid time off * Retirement plan * Vision insurance Schedule: * Holidays * Weekend availability Work Location: In person