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County of Tulare · 4 days ago

Public Defender Interviewer I

Visalia, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Mid Level

3+ years exp

County of Tulare is establishing an employment list for the Public Defender’s Office to fill current and future vacancies. The role involves interviewing clients to gather information for defense cases, analyzing facts, and advising clients on their rights and responsibilities during the interview process.

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Responsibilities

Interview clients to obtain details of arrest, connection with charged offenses and other information pertinent to development of the defense case

Identify, analyze, and evaluate each variation of fact and substantiate pertinent information

Determine relationship of various parties to current case and prior cases to determine if a legal conflict exists

Communicate with management staff regarding potential conflict issues

Advise clients concerning rights and responsibilities associated with interview process

Qualification

Interviewing techniquesReport writingRecord keepingData analysisSpanish language proficiencyCommunication skillsOrganizational skillsInterpersonal skillsAdaptability

Required

Equivalent to completion of the 12th grade supplemented by course work in criminal justice, para legalism, psychology, or closely related field

Three years of experience involving frequent communications with members of the public in a legal setting and/or analyzing, organizing, and documenting data for services offered by public agencies

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license

Interviewing techniques

Report writing

Record keeping principles

Work and communicate effectively with people of various education and socioeconomic backgrounds by respecting beliefs, interpersonal styles and behaviors of both clients and co-workers

Operate contemporary office equipment inclusive of computer, keyboard, and all applicable electronic equipment

Collect information, organize material, and analyze relationships among a variety of collected data

Assist with gathering verifications on information obtained from clients

Write clear, concise, and grammatically correct narratives, reports, records, and correspondence

Follow oral and written instructions

Read and understand complex material such as laws, codes, and legal documents

Adjust to changes in workload, priorities, and work under pressure to meet deadlines

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers, other agencies, and departments

Coordinate work with others

Preferred

Knowledge of court proceedings, elements of misdemeanor or felony offenses, legal defenses, pleading, pretrial motions, diversions, priors and attacks on priors, and sentencing

Speak, read, and write in Spanish

Prepare interview summaries

Organize and analyze data

Recognize legal issues sufficient to alert attorneys for appropriate action

Benefits

Health Insurance: A choice of PPO and HMO medical plans which include PPO and HMO dental plans and include dental and vision coverage. Dependent coverage is available. Providers include Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Delta Dental, and Vision Services Plan (VSP).

Retirement: The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the 1937 Act County Employees Retirement Act and integrated with Social Security. In addition to ordinary retirement benefits, the plan provides disability and death benefits. Retirement contributions are made by both the County and the employee. The County has reciprocity with the State of California, contracting PERS agencies, and all County 1937 Act Retirement Systems.

Paid Holiday Leave: 12 set days and 1 personal holiday.

Vacation Accrual: 2 weeks per year (0-3 years of service), 3 weeks per year (3-7 years of service), 4 weeks per year (7-11 years of service), 5 weeks per year (11+ years of service). Limit of 300 hours.

Sick Leave Accrual: 12 days per year with unlimited accumulation, 60 hours of which may be used toward family sick leave.

Group Term Life Insurance and AD&D: $10,000; Provided by Standard Insurance Company.

Disability Insurance: Employees are covered by State Disability Insurance. The premium is paid by the employee.

Deferred Compensation: A voluntary deferred compensation plan is available.