Assistant Public Defender

State of North Carolina • Kenansville, NC

1d • $57,000 - $86,000

About The Position

SALARY RANGE: $57,000.00 - $86,000.00 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Knowledge of 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 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.
• Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school and an active license to practice law in North Carolina.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Represent indigent criminal clients in district and superior court.
• Handle all casework required to provide quality legal services for indigent clients.
• Represent clients during first appearances.
• Visit clients at the jail and in prison facilities.
• Travel outside the office to conduct other investigative procedures.
• 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.
• Cover teen court and other initiatives that may arise to better serve our community.
• Cover all areas of indigent representation.

Benefits

• Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree