Assistant Public Defender

State of North Carolina•Public Defender's Office Cumberland, NC

1d•$70,000 - $101,299•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of the Public Defender, District 14, seeks a qualified individual to serve as an Assistant Public Defender. The selected candidate will represent indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in District and Superior Court. 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. Attorneys are expected to visit clients at the jail and in prison facilities, and to travel outside the office to conduct other investigative procedures. 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. The Cumberland County Office of the Public Defender strives to create a diverse staff with expertise and interest in serving our indigent clients who come to use with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, and disabilities.

Requirements

Juris Doctor 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.
Ability to litigate cases in the courtroom.
Exceptional legal research and writing skills.
High level of technology and computer knowledge.
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.
Knowledge of judicial and quasi-judicial procedures.
Knowledge of legal research methods.
Strong communication skills.
Strong writing skills.
Strong interviewing skills.
Strong organization skills.
Ability to analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and related written documents and apply applicable law to those facts.
Ability to express complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear and concise manner.

Nice To Haves

Experience in criminal district and/or criminal superior court trials is helpful.

Responsibilities

Represent indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in District and Superior Court.
Visit clients at the jail and in prison facilities.
Travel outside the office to conduct other investigative procedures.
Handle difficult cases and clients.
Maintain positive, professional relationships with co-workers, clients and the public.
Communicate and litigate cases in the courtroom.
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.