Capital Case Investigator

State of North Carolina

About The Position

The North Carolina Judicial Branch helps provide safety for communities, prosperity for the economy, and protection for rights, liberties, and freedoms. The Capital Defender's Office seeks experienced applicants to work on fact and mitigation investigation in potential capital cases at the trial level. This work is mandated by NCGS §7 A-468, which entitles a public defender's office to the services of an investigator, ensuring the protection of indigent defendant's rights. The primary function of this role is to assist counsel in the case preparation of indigent defendants charged with state crimes for which the maximum authorized punishment is the death penalty.

Requirements

Commitment to upholding and promoting mitigation and case investigation best practices, as outlined in the ABA guidelines
Understanding and complying with rules dictated by case posture, jurisdiction, and other factors
Understanding of and communicating in accordance with applicable North Carolina State Bar rules related to protected information, confidentiality, and the unauthorized practice of law
Skills in computer and word processing to type reports, motions, orders, subpoenas, and other legal documents
Skills in spelling and grammar
Skills in communicating orally and in writing
Ability to collect records from governmental and other agencies
Ability to interview witnesses
Ability to develop defense themes of innocence and mitigation
Ability to schedule work to achieve results on time
Ability to prepare clients, their families, and witnesses for court
Ability to digest background records
Ability to work irregular hours in conducting investigations
Ability to inspire the confidence of the community in the capital defender's office
Ability to travel to pursue investigation leads and attend trials
Ability to make pertinent observations and to analyze those observations against the charges in a given case
A valid North Carolina Driver's License
Associate degree with two (2) years of experience in legal, judiciary, law enforcement, fact or mitigation investigative work, or social work, or combinations of education and experience that provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities

Nice To Haves

Graduation from a four-year college or university
Knowledge of elements of criminal law, local court system and capital trial and sentencing work
Knowledge of evidence collection
Knowledge of fact and mitigation investigation
Knowledge of identification techniques and procedures
Knowledge of information resources and the ability to extract information from those resources
Knowledge of planning an organized approach to the investigation of complex cases
Knowledge of independently developing leads

Responsibilities

Assist counsel in the case preparation of indigent defendants charged with state crimes for which the maximum authorized punishment is the death penalty
Uphold and promote mitigation and case investigation best practices, as outlined in the ABA guidelines
Understand and comply with rules dictated by case posture, jurisdiction, and other factors
Understand and communicate in accordance with applicable North Carolina State Bar rules related to protected information, confidentiality, and the unauthorized practice of law
Collect records from governmental and other agencies
Interview witnesses
Develop defense themes of innocence and mitigation
Schedule work to achieve results on time
Prepare clients, their families, and witnesses for court
Digest background records
Work irregular hours in conducting investigations
Inspire the confidence of the community in the capital defender's office
Travel to pursue investigation leads and attend trials
Make pertinent observations and to analyze those observations against the charges in a given case