Principal Attorney Public Defender

Oakland County•Pontiac, MI

18h•$122,475 - $164,094•Onsite

About The Position

Oakland County’s Public Defender’s Office seeks an experienced criminal defense attorney to provide client-centered representation to indigent clients in the county’s most serious felony cases, including homicides and other cases punishable by up to life in prison. The attorney independently manages complex, high-stakes cases, provides continuous representation from the beginning through the conclusion of each case, and mentors less-experienced attorneys in a non-supervisory capacity. The role may also include less-serious felony cases, arraignments, probation violation hearings, and other coverage as needed. The attorney appears in court throughout a case, prepares and files legal documents, reviews evidence, conducts legal research, interviews witnesses and law enforcement, visits crime scenes, negotiates resolutions, and communicates consistently with clients. The position involves identifying competency issues, working with expert witnesses and a defense team, preparing cases for potential appeal, and providing legal advice and training to other attorneys. When assigned to attorney review, the role monitors indigent-defense representation and attorney caseloads for compliance with Michigan Indigent Defense Commission standards and prepares related reports. The position is on-site and work is performed in a typical office environment. The attorney may also travel to courts, jails, detention centers, correctional facilities, and mental health facilities to meet with clients, and may encounter confrontational situations. The stated salary range is $122,475–$164,094.

Requirements

Be licensed to practice law and maintain membership in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan.
Have at least five years of experience as a practicing criminal law attorney, in prosecution or defense, and significant experience in complex criminal trial practice (listed as a desirable qualification).
Have significant knowledge of Michigan criminal law and procedure (listed as a desirable qualification).
Have experience with jury and bench trials (listed as a desirable qualification).
Have excellent oral and written communication skills (listed as a desirable qualification).
Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate techniques when dealing with people from varied socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, in person and by phone (listed as a desirable qualification).
Be able to produce a list of criminal trials conducted, identifying the charges and whether the candidate represented an indigent defendant, a retained defendant, or the People of the State of Michigan (listed as a desirable qualification).
Meet pre-employment screening requirements, including fingerprinting, furnishing education and employment references, and completing an employment medical examination before the effective appointment date.
Have a high level of communication skill to accurately convey information.

Nice To Haves

At least five years of criminal law practice experience in prosecution or defense and significant experience in complex criminal trial practice.
Ability to provide a list of criminal trials conducted, with charges and the candidate’s role in each trial.
Significant knowledge of Michigan criminal law and procedure.
Experience with jury and bench trials.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to interact appropriately with people from varied socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.

Responsibilities

Represent clients in the most serious cases handled by the Public Defender’s Office, including homicides and other capital cases punishable by up to life in prison.
Provide continuous, client-centered representation from the onset of a case through its conclusion.
Appear in court at necessary hearings, from arraignment through case conclusion, and conduct preliminary examinations, evidentiary and competency hearings, oral arguments, Daubert hearings, and bench and jury trials.
Prepare and file court documents, including motions, briefs, sentencing memoranda, correspondence, and interlocutory appeals; argue appeals before Michigan Appellate Courts as needed.
Independently exercise judgment in representing indigent clients while complying with professional conduct rules and applicable Michigan Indigent Defense Commission standards.
Communicate with clients by phone, confidential jail messaging, office appointments, and institutional visits; explain legal analysis and case status.
Review police reports, facts, evidence, and legal issues; conduct legal research and keep current with Michigan and federal case law and precedent.
Identify possible charges and competency issues, including whether clients can understand proceedings or assist in their defense.
Negotiate deals and resolutions with attorneys, judges, clients, and defendants.
Interview witnesses and law enforcement, visit crime scenes and other case-related locations, and use social media to assist with or investigate cases.
Identify and retain appropriate expert witnesses and work with them on cases.
Lead a defense team that may include paralegals, secretaries, investigators, and social workers.
Create clear, detailed records for potential appeals in every case.
Mentor and provide expert legal advice to other attorneys; participate in professional development and may assist with attorney training.
Use countywide and department-specific software to manage case information and complete assignments.
When assigned to attorney review, monitor and assess the quality of indigent-defense representation under MIDC Standard 7 and attorney caseloads under MIDC Standard 6, prepare compliance reports for the Chief Attorney of the Indigent Defense Services Office, and liaise with other indigent defense system managers.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with applicable policies and standards.