Assistant Public Defender I

County of Lancaster•Lancaster, PA

19h

About The Position

An attorney who provides professional legal representation to indigent adults charged with crimes and to juveniles in delinquency proceedings. The role involves practicing in magisterial district court, the court of common pleas, and Pennsylvania appellate courts. The attorney represents clients in a range of court proceedings, conducts out-of-court legal work, and communicates with clients and others involved in their cases. The work is sedentary in nature, with no specific physical demands except when driving a motor vehicle in the course of employment.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
License to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the rules and regulations of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
If meeting the criteria for “driver” designation under the Lancaster County Transportation Policy, comply with the policy’s Authorized Driver Guidelines.
Criminal history background check.
Commitment to providing a high level of professional service to indigent adults charged with crimes and children in delinquency proceedings.
Ability to communicate with clients, opposing counsel, judges, court-related personnel, prison personnel, and witnesses.
Any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the job.

Responsibilities

Provide competent and effective representation at preliminary hearings in magisterial district court for adults charged with homicide, felony, and misdemeanor offenses.
Represent adults in magisterial district court trials for summary offenses where incarceration is a likely punishment.
Represent adults in jury and non-jury trials, pre-trial hearings, guilty plea hearings, and sentencing hearings in the court of common pleas.
Represent clients at parole and probation violation hearings, administrative parole violation hearings initiated by the Pennsylvania Parole Board, and Post-Conviction Relief Act hearings.
Represent clients in Protection from Abuse Act proceedings and miscellaneous court of common pleas matters, including support contempt, bench warrant, fines and costs, summary appeal, Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Veterans Court, and ARD Court proceedings.
Represent children in juvenile delinquency adjudicatory and dispositional hearings, detention hearings at the Youth Intervention Center, and post-dispositional review hearings.
Handle direct appeals of the matters listed above in Pennsylvania appellate courts.
Communicate with clients through office and prison interviews, telephone calls, and letters.
Communicate with clients’ family members and loved ones, doctors, teachers, and social workers.
Conduct factual investigations independently or coordinate investigations with Public Defender investigative staff.
Review case materials, including police reports, witness statements, expert reports, and medical records.
Coordinate the involvement of defense experts hired by the Public Defender or appointed by the court.
Perform legal research.
Prepare legal documents for filing in the court of common pleas and Pennsylvania appellate courts.
Prepare oral presentations for court proceedings.