Chief Public Defender, Victoria RPD
About The Position
Texas RioGrande Public Defender is establishing a first-ever conflict public defender office in Victoria, Texas, serving Victoria, Jackson, Refugio, Lavaca, and Goliad counties. This role is a transformative opportunity to create a gold-standard representation model in an underserved area. A conflict public defender represents individuals who cannot be appointed to the primary public defender due to ethical conflicts of interest, ensuring fair treatment for all. TRGPD seeks a zealous, client-centered, and visionary leader to spearhead justice in these communities. This is a unique chance to advance justice for those in need.
Requirements
- Licensed to practice law in Texas or willing to take the next available Texas bar exam
- At least five years of criminal litigation experience as a licensed attorney
- At least 5 trials before a jury as lead counsel
- Demonstrated management and leadership skills
- Proficiency in Office365, legal research software, and other case management systems
Nice To Haves
- Professional fluency in Spanish
- Vision for advancing justice
- Commitment to indigent defense and criminal justice reform
- Experience working in a public defender office
- Exceptional advocacy, management, and leadership skills
- Solution-oriented and creative in solving systemic issues within the criminal justice system
- Passion for the development and training of the new generation of indigent defense attorneys
- Desire to live and work in communities where TRGPD clients have the greatest needs
Responsibilities
- Launch and lead a brand-new public defender’s office
- Establish a culture of client-centered, team-oriented advocacy that fights for clients
- Create, with support from Executive Leadership, gold-standard processes for advocates to follow in representing clients
- Effectively communicate with local stakeholders to build strong community relationships
- Assist in tracking data measuring the impact of the Victoria RPD’s representation, including jail population and disposition data
- Monitor caseloads for Victoria RPD attorneys in the ramp-up period and after achieving full staffing to ensure manageable caseloads
- Work in partnership with Executive Leadership to implement key strategies and initiatives to achieve Victoria RPD’s goals and objectives
- Mentor and train newly licensed attorneys within Victoria RPD, by assisting in case file reviews, developing trainings, attending court hearings with young attorneys, and serving as lead counsel or cocounsel on trials with new lawyers, as needed
- Maintain a supportive and positive work environment for their team
- Contribute to the progress and development of TRGPD as a whole
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
