Assistant Public Defender

State of North Carolina•Sampson Co Courthouse Sampson, NC

4d•$57,000 - $86,000•Hybrid

About The Position

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 to provide quality legal services for indigent clients. Additionally, the applicant will be required to represent clients during first appearances.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in North Carolina.
Strong desire and commitment to client advocacy and indigent defense.
Attentive to detail.
Organized.
Ability to effectively communicate and litigate cases in the courtroom.
Exceptional legal research and writing skills.
High level of technology and computer knowledge is essential.
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.
Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
Knowledge of case, statutory, regulatory, and common law.
Knowledge of NC General Statutes to defend criminal cases, juvenile cases, and legal research methods.
Persuasive communication skills.
Writing skills.
Interviewing skills.
Organizational skills.
Ability 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.
Express complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear and concise manner.
Maintain a high volume caseload in a professional and efficient manner.

Nice To Haves

Spanish language fluency is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Represent indigent clients in all criminal and juvenile delinquency matters.
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.
Likely be assigned misdemeanor and probation cases in district court.
Be prepared to represent clients with complicated impaired driving cases.
Likely be assigned to cover teen court and other initiatives that may arise to better serve our community.
Cover all areas of indigent representation.