District Defender - Portland

State of Maine•Portland, ME

6d•$107,723 - $154,024•Onsite

About The Position

The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services is seeking to fill the District Defender position in the Casco Bay Public Defenders office in Portland, Maine. PDS is an independent commission whose purpose is to provide efficient, high-quality representation to indigent citizens who are entitled to counsel at state expense. The Casco Bay Public Defenders office is comprised of five employed defenders and four support staff members, with the possibility that additional positions could be added in the future.

Requirements

Compassion for indigent clients
Strong communication, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills
Ability to analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, and apply applicable law to those facts
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
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Supervise attorneys and support staff members
Coordinating intra-office practice (intake, case flow, case assignments)
May manage an appropriate caseload
Knowledge of applicable Maine law and legal system
Knowledge of applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations
Knowledge of civil, criminal, administrative, and contract law
Knowledge of judicial processes and procedures
Knowledge of administrative management principles and practices
Knowledge of legislative processes
Knowledge of legal documents, court procedures, and rules of evidence
Knowledge of advanced investigative techniques
Ability to analyze and interpret facts, evidence, and precedents and arrive at logical conclusions
Ability to develop convincing testimony and arguments
Ability to direct, coordinate, and appraise the work activities of subordinate legal staff
Ability to set forth findings of facts and decisions clearly and concisely
Ability to interpret and explain laws, rules, and legal findings, and assess their impact on a case
Ability to operate a computer within an intelligent workstation including using Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw, etc.
Ability to communicate effectively
Ability to write clearly and effectively
Law Degree from an accredited Law school
Extensive experience in legal practice
Experience in a supervisory capacity
Experience in criminal defense
Experience working on technical, analytical, and high-profile cases
Admitted to practice law in Maine and currently registered with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar

Nice To Haves

Ten (10) years of criminal law experience

Responsibilities

Plans, organizes, coordinates, reviews, and oversees legal services staff and operations to provide subject matter expertise, control attorneys’ caseloads, establish priorities, and ensure program objectives and standards are established and attained.
Determines need for, and requests staff, material, and resources for the operation of the commission to ensure defendants’ legal service needs are satisfied.
Develops and implements new and revised policies and procedures within the district to respond to changing legal requirements, objectives, priorities, and to improve the effectiveness of legal services.
Provides counsel to the Commission’s attorneys in legal matters concerning complex and high-profile cases to define legal options and recommend sound legal actions.
Represents defendants before the courts in high profile cases to present cases and protect defendants’ interests.
Prepares cases, coordinates testimony with experts, and presents highly complex and high-profile cases before the courts to obtain decisions or opinions from state, federal, and appellate courts.
Manages and oversees provision of all legal services to ensure legal requirements are met in a timely, effective, and efficient manner.
Implements and complies with human resource laws, policies, procedures, and practices such as: AA/EEO, recruitment, employment, position classification, performance appraisals, training, discipline, contract administration, human resource components of security protocols of agency information security and confidentiality policies, and employee safety.

Benefits

13 paid holidays
12 days of sick leave
3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
Health Insurance Coverage (State pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums)
Health Insurance Premium Credit (Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%)
Dental Insurance (State pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums)
Retirement Plan (State contributes 18.86% of pay to MainePERS)
Gym Membership Reimbursement (up to $40 per month)
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility
Living Resources Program (employee assistance program)
Forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for all employees welcoming a child
Voluntary Deferred Compensation (MaineSaves 457(b) account)