About the position
The Clark County Special Public Defender's Office is seeking qualified candidates to apply for the Deputy Public Defender (Category A) position. This position will provide a wide variety of highly complex and specialized professional services, including handling the most complex cases, major criminal and other high-profile cases. The ideal candidate must possess litigation experience, handling felony cases from preliminary hearing through trial and has the ability to work independently and/or as part of a team alongside investigators, mitigation specialists and other office staff. Appellate experience is also desirable. This is an open and continuous recruitment, scheduling dates will vary depending on when the application was received and reviewed by Human Resources. This examination will establish an Open Competitive Eligibility list to fill current and/or future vacancies that may occur within the next six (6) months or may be extended as needed by Human Resources. Human Resources reserves the right to call only the most qualified applicants to the selection process. Some positions may be confidential positions and are excluded from membership in the union. Some positions may be non-union positions and are excluded from membership in the union. NOTE: A resume and cover letter are required in addition to the completed employment application. Applications submitted without a copy of the candidate's resume and cover letter are incomplete and will not be considered.
Responsibilities
- Handle misdemeanor criminal cases, felony arraignments, complex gross misdemeanor, felony criminal, juvenile and/or dependency cases assigned to the Public Defender or Special Public Defender.
- Investigate cases; interview and counsel indigent defendants and witnesses; visit crime scenes, jails, and case related sites.
- Confer with investigators regarding the collection of facts and evidence.
- Obtain documents by subpoena and other discovery methods.
- Negotiate with prosecutors, probation officers and judges regarding the disposition or modification of charges.
- Order investigations; confer with investigators to monitor progress of investigation; interview defendants and witnesses.
- Prepare for trial, and conduct trial defense of indigent juveniles and adults; appear with and for defendants at court hearings.
- Research, prepare, file, present and argue motions; attend pre-trial police lineups; attend arraignments, preliminary hearings, hearings and trials.
- Advise clients on settlement offers, options, and potential for success at trial or other dispositions of cases.
- Conduct legal research and perform various studies; interpret and apply laws, court decisions and legal points and authorities for use in the preparation of cases, opinions and briefs for the defense.
- Prepare legal pleadings; dictate legal instruments, correspondence and reports.
- Work closely with family members, school officials, community groups, treatment programs, probation officers and the Courts when assigned to Juvenile or Dependency.
- Handle defense cases involving sexual assault, child molestation, child abuse and/or domestic violence.
- Contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit's service to its customers by offering suggestions and participating as an active member of a work team.
- Maintain accurate records and files; prepare a variety of records and reports as assigned.
- Assist Chief Public Defenders in the handling of capital punishment or other high profile cases.
- Use standard office equipment, including a computer in the performance of the work.
- Drive a personal or County vehicle in the course of the work or arrange for transportation to off-site locations.
Requirements
- Possession of a certificate of admission to the Bar of the State of Nevada.
- Eligibility to practice law before the courts of the State of Nevada at time of employment.
- All qualifying education and each experience must be clearly documented in the application.
- Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Successful completion of a background investigation.
- Results of a pre-employment drug examination.
Nice-to-haves
- Litigation experience handling felony cases from preliminary hearing through trial.
- Appellate experience.
Benefits
- Open and continuous recruitment.
- Potential for future vacancies within the next six months.
