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NEOGOV · 2 months ago

Chief Public Defender

Lake County, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

$168K/yr - $204K/yr

7+ years exp

NEOGOV is seeking a Chief Public Defender for the County of Lake. This role involves managing and coordinating the operations of the Public Defender Division, providing legal defense services to indigent individuals charged with crimes, and overseeing a team of attorneys and support staff.

GovTechHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologySoftware

Responsibilities

Assists in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the Public Defender's Division

Plan, direct, coordinate, and review the work plan for legal defense staff; assign work activities, projects, and programs; review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems

Direct the preparation of the Division’s budget and administer the approved budget and control expenditures

Assists in planning, organizing, administering, reviewing and evaluating the activities of professional and support staff; assists in the selection of staff and provides training and professional development

Direct, review, and evaluate the work of attorneys and investigators

Select, train, motivate, and evaluate legal defense personnel

Direct procedures to determine eligibility for Public Defender services

Provides technical advice to attorneys in the Division; defends the more complex, difficult, sensitive and high penalty cases

Serves as a staff defense attorney for court-referred clients by: Interviewing potential clients; advising them of their legal rights, and determining the ineligibility for defense, including potential admission to State mental health facilities

Preparing and conducting a legal defense, from pre-trial through appellate stages

Negotiating with prosecution attorneys for case disposition or modification

Evaluate defense services for clients of diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds

Represent indigent defendants in all phases of the proceedings in all types of cases

Discuss public defense cases with judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and similar persons to obtain information and possible action relative to defendants

Personally appear in court as defense attorney of major and other cases or at arraignment to obtain first-hand knowledge of cases going to court

Act as liaison with other criminal justice agencies and/or public organizations, various County departments, and funding agencies

Determine whether convictions should be appealed to higher courts

Keep up-to-date on statutory changes affecting the Public Defender Division’s programs

Speak before civic and professional groups to explain and interpret the Public Defender function; and attend professional meetings and conferences

Confer with office staff on record-keeping and reporting systems and initiate changes as required

Confer with the managing directors of criminal defense contracts to ensure compliance, including receiving information on non-case related data to measure the number and type of cases attorneys are handling pursuant to the contract

Frequently travel to various off-site locations, including the County Courthouse

Performs related duties as assigned

Qualification

Juris Doctorate (J.D.)California State Bar membershipCriminal law experienceSupervisory experienceLegal researchTrial experienceContract administrationBudget managementPublic speakingClient representationCommunication skillsTeam management

Required

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California Driver's License

Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California

A Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from an accredited law school

Seven (7) years of experience as an attorney, five (5) of which will include intensive trial experience as a criminal law attorney

AND Three (3) years of experience in a supervisory or administrative management capacity over attorney's providing legal counsel and indigent defense services

Knowledge of: Philosophy and practice of indigent defense, including holistic representation practices

Knowledge of: Duties, powers, limitations, and responsibilities of indigent defense counsel

Knowledge of: Principles of criminal law and its application

Knowledge of: Trial and hearing procedures

Knowledge of: Rules of evidence

Knowledge of: Legal research methods

Knowledge of: Principles of supervision and training

Knowledge of: Principles of budgeting, fiscal administration, and management

Knowledge of: Public employment personnel practices including Equal Opportunity Employment, and customer service principles and practices

Knowledge of: Statistical methods used for management analysis

Knowledge of: Computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

Ability to: Manage contract administration

Ability to: Successfully defend criminal cases

Ability to: Perform legal research

Ability to: Investigate and defend criminal complaints and civil actions

Ability to: Draft legal instruments and opinions

Ability to: Analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence, and precedents to complex legal problems

Ability to: Present law, facts, evidence, and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form

Ability to: Effectively represent the Public Defender Division in legal proceedings and hearings

Ability to: Establish and maintain effective relationships with staff, the legal community, County of Lake officials, community organizations, and other government agencies

Ability to: Communicate effectively orally and in writing by preparing and presenting reports, Board Agenda Items, grant applications, contracts and public presentations

Ability to: Apply sound administrative judgment to complex organizational, budgetary, regulatory, and personnel problems

Ability to: Understand, prepare and use statistical information in support of effective decision-making

Benefits

Sign-On incentive of 10% of the annual rate, not to exceed $10,000.

Medical, dental, hospital, vision, life and disability coverage is available to employees and their dependents.

The County contributes $1,500 of the monthly premiums for the insurance plan options.

VACATION – 80 hours per year during the first five years of service, 120 hours per year after five years, and additional accruals based on years of service beyond fifteen years.

SICK LEAVE - Accrues at a rate of 96 hours per year.

HOLIDAYS- An average of twelve paid 8-hour holidays per year.

County employees participate in Social Security.

CALIFORNIA STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE – SDI is available to some County employees.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS and CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIPS are available to County employees.