Public Defender 3 (Immigration) - Des Moines Adult

State of Iowa•Des Moines - 50313 - Polk County, IA

About The Position

The Iowa State Public Defender’s Office is seeking an attorney to serve as a Public Defender 3 in its Des Moines Adult office in Polk County, Iowa. The position performs professional legal work representing indigent clients in criminal matters, with a focus on immigration consequences in cases where a local Public Defender has been appointed. It also provides training, guidance, and direction to staff in local Public Defender offices and performs related work as required. The attorney advocates for clients throughout the criminal justice system, investigates and prepares assigned cases, advises clients about options, negotiates case resolutions, and represents clients in court. The role also consults with public defenders and contract attorneys about immigrant clients’ cases, analyzes potential immigration consequences, supports immigration-informed plea bargaining, develops and updates reference materials, and provides continuing legal education. The attorney keeps current on immigration practice and shares relevant information with other public defenders and contract attorneys. The State of Iowa offers a total compensation package that includes health, dental, life, and vision insurance; paid time off; professional development opportunities; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; an Employee Assistance Program; employee discount programs; and access to an on-site fitness center at the 6200 Park Avenue location.

Requirements

Meet at least one of the following minimum qualifications: graduate from an accredited law school, hold a current license to practice law in Iowa, and have experience equal to five years of full-time professional legal criminal trial advocacy or prosecution; or have current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes three years of full-time work as a Public Defender 2.

Responsibilities

Represent indigent clients in assigned cases throughout every stage of the criminal justice system.
Appear and advocate in pre-trial hearings, bench or jury trials, sentencings, and other court hearings.
Negotiate plea bargains, dismissals, and other dispositions with prosecuting attorneys.
Supervise advanced-level interns in coordination with law school agreements, including those with Drake University and the University of Iowa.
Investigate facts and prepare defenses to determine case merits and appropriate courses of action.
Interview, confer with, and advise clients about options, including dismissal, plea, or trial.
Locate and interview witnesses, conduct discovery including depositions, plan case strategy, and prepare for trial.
Maintain appropriate communication with clients about case status and answer their questions.
Direct investigators’ work when appropriate and consistent with internal office policies.
Consult with public defenders and contract attorneys on cases involving immigrant clients.
Help obtain necessary information, analyze potential immigration consequences, engage in immigration-informed plea bargaining, and advise clients before case-critical decisions.
Develop and update tools, briefs, and reference materials to help public defenders and contract attorneys analyze immigration consequences and advocate for clients.
Offer continuing legal education as appropriate to help public defenders and contract attorneys avoid ineffective assistance of counsel and provide quality advocacy for immigrant clients.
Identify potential legal issues, research applicable law, and draft motions and briefs.
Prepare legal documents, including written arraignments, written guilty pleas, motions, briefs, letters, and other case documents.
Maintain client case files, prepare public defender time reports for the court, and close files in accordance with office policies.
Stay current on developments in immigration practice and share information relevant to the criminal defense of immigrants with public defenders and contract attorneys.