PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, 20TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER - 21014492

State of Florida•Fort Myers, FL

55d•$74,000 - $77,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Law Offices of the Public Defender, 20th Judicial Circuit, is seeking qualified Assistant Public Defender applicants across the 20th Judicial Circuit, including Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, and LaBelle. This role involves the defense of indigent individuals accused of a crime and offers opportunities to make a difference. The agency provides extensive entry-level training and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

A Florida Bar license is required.
Juris Doctorate
Valid Florida Driver’s license
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with clients and staff.
Use correct English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
Exhibit sound judgment and good listening skills.
Handle matters with integrity and confidentiality.
Plan and prepare reports, correspondence, and charts in a variety of formats.
Use personal computers and general office equipment.
Be extremely organized, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
Maintain an effective filing system.
Manage multiple assignments simultaneously including long- and short-range projects.
Be flexible in work assignments and processes based upon need.
Travel to various locations throughout the circuit for assignments and training.
Effectively utilize Microsoft Word and Outlook.
Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, technical procedures, legal documents and governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence and transcripts.
Must be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Must be able to evaluate problems, isolate key issues, research and develop alternative solutions.

Nice To Haves

Applicants who are awaiting admission to the Florida Bar.
Applicants who are registered (or who plan to register) to take Florida Bar examination.

Responsibilities

Accepting, researching, and preparing each case efficiently and expeditiously.
Advising and counseling each client regarding plea offers, client’s rights and options, strategies, sentencing, appellate rights, etc.
Establishing and maintaining a professional relationship with each client, family, witness, and court personnel.
Maintaining open lines of communication with clients and their families, witnesses, and court personnel.
Involving investigators, interns and other support staff appropriately.
Seeking assistance from experts appropriate to the case.
Demonstrating maturity and a professional demeanor at all times.
Exercising sound judgment to achieve desired results.
Handling emergency assignments when needed.
Attending and participating in training seminars, division meetings, and staffing sessions.
Abiding by all Public Defender policies and procedures outlined in manual and performing other related work as required.