Assistant Public Defender

State of North Carolina•Wilmington, NC

9d•$56,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The District 6 Office of the Public Defender represents indigent clients in criminal District and Superior Court, juvenile delinquency matters, civil contempt matters, treatment courts, first appearances and clients involved in abuse, neglect, and dependency matters. Defenders are cross-trained and capable of handling all casework required to provide quality legal services for indigent clients. Defenders must be capable of handling difficult cases and clients. Defenders are expected to maintain positive professional relationships with clients, coworkers, prosecutors, judges, clerks, and the public. Defenders will have clients who may be struggling with mental health and/or substance misuse disorders. Defenders are expected to visit clients at the jail and in prison facilities. There will be occasional travel out county for training. Although the position is for the Wilmington office, there may be an occasional need to assist coverage for the Pender County Office. All applicants must have a strong desire and commitment to indigent defense and client advocacy while allotting time in their workday to return phone calls and emails, appropriately notate cases in the management system, complete daily disposition data and other procedural matters.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school
Active license to practice law in North Carolina
Skilled in Federal, State, common and constitutional law
Skilled in judicial procedures, local procedures and rules of evidence
Ability to analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and all related written documents and apply the law to those facts
Ability to conduct legal research
Ability to plan, develop and execute an effective litigation strategy
Ability to prepare, organize and conduct witness examinations
Ability to deliver opening statements, closing arguments, appropriate evidential objections
Ability to express complex legal concepts and related facts in a concise manner
Ability to maintain a high-volume caseload in a professional and efficient manner
Ability to accurately notate the case management system in accordance with District 6 office policy and North Carolina State Bar file retention standards
Strong desire and commitment to indigent defense and client advocacy

Nice To Haves

Capable of handling difficult cases and clients
Clients who may be struggling with mental health and/or substance misuse disorders
Occasional travel out county for training
Occasional need to assist coverage for the Pender County Office

Responsibilities

Competently defend criminal and juvenile cases.
Analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and all related written documents and apply the law to those facts.
Conduct legal research.
Plan, develop, and execute an effective litigation strategy.
Prepare, organize, and conduct witness examinations.
Deliver opening statements, closing arguments, and appropriate evidential objections.
Express complex legal concepts and related facts in a concise manner.
Maintain a high-volume caseload in a professional and efficient manner.
Accurately notate the case management system in accordance with District 6 office policy and North Carolina State Bar file retention standards.
Visit clients at the jail and in prison facilities.
Return phone calls and emails.
Appropriately notate cases in the management system.
Complete daily disposition data and other procedural matters.