Public Defender 2 - Davenport

State of Iowa•Davenport - 52801 - Scott County, IA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa State Public Defender’s Office is seeking an attorney to serve as a Public Defender 2 in its Davenport office in Scott County, Iowa. The Office’s mission is to ensure indigent people in Iowa receive high-quality legal representation in criminal, juvenile, and other eligible proceedings, efficiently and responsibly. The position advocates for indigent clients throughout the criminal justice system and offers training and mentoring from experienced public defenders in a supportive environment focused on professional growth. The role represents clients in court proceedings, prepares defenses through legal research and fact gathering, conducts pretrial discovery, negotiates case dispositions, and works with clients on case strategy and trial preparation. It also involves identifying legal issues, drafting motions and other documents, maintaining case files and time reports, and potentially directing investigators in accordance with office policies. This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing – Public Defender. Positions in this class are exempt from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services – Human Resources Enterprise screening and referral requirements.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited law school.
Current license to practice law in the State of Iowa.
At least two years of full-time professional legal criminal trial advocacy or prosecution experience; alternatively, current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes at least 18 months of full-time work as a Public Defender 1.

Responsibilities

Advocate for indigent clients in assigned cases at every stage of the criminal justice system.
Represent clients in pretrial hearings, bench or jury trials, sentencings, and other court hearings.
Prepare defenses by conducting legal research, gathering facts, and interviewing clients and witnesses to assess cases and determine an appropriate course of action.
Conduct pretrial discovery, including depositions, and handle plea withdrawals and suppression motions.
Negotiate plea bargains, dismissals, or other dispositions of assigned cases with prosecuting attorneys.
Work with clients to share and discuss information, plan case strategy, and prepare for trial.
Maintain appropriate communication with clients about case status and answer their questions.
Identify legal issues, research applicable law, and draft motions and briefs to advance clients’ cases.
Prepare legal documents, including written arraignments, written guilty pleas, motions, briefs, and letters.
May direct investigators in accordance with internal office policies.
Maintain client case files, prepare public defender time reports for the court, and close files in accordance with office policies.