Public Defender 3 - Nevada

State of Iowa • Nevada - 50201 - Story County, IA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa State Public Defender’s Office is seeking a highly motivated, skilled, and enthusiastic attorney to serve as a Public Defender 3 in our Nevada office located in Story County, Iowa. The mission of the Office of the State Public Defender is to ensure that all indigent persons in Iowa are provided high quality legal representation in criminal, juvenile, and other eligible proceedings in the most efficient and fiscally responsible manner.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited law school
• Possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Iowa
• Experience equal to five years of full time work in professional legal criminal trial advocacy or prosecution
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes three years of fulltime work as a Public Defender 2

Responsibilities

• Assists a supervisor by performing professional legal work related to the representation of indigent clients and immigration consequences in cases where the local Public Defender has been appointed as counsel and provides training, guidance, and direction to staff assigned in local Public Defender offices; performs related work as required.
• Participates in the investigation and preparation of a defense for adult offenders and immigration consequences in cases to obtain facts in determining the merits of cases and appropriate courses of action.
• Prepares drafts of pleadings, motions, interrogations, supporting affidavits, letters, opinions, and briefs.
• Advocates the most complex cases at every stage of the criminal justice system through resolution in the pre-trial process, plea bargaining process, trial, verdict, and sentencing by: providing legal counsel and advice; interviewing and selecting appropriate witnesses, preparing them to give testimony; and conducting direct and cross examination of witnesses.
• Negotiates plea bargains, dismissals, or other dispositions of assigned cases with prosecuting attorneys or other interested parties.
• Trains less-experienced Public Defenders and Public Defender Interns in the principles of trial advocacy and pleading, trial and criminal procedures, the concept of legal precedence, and the rules of evidence as they apply to legal advocacy.

Benefits

• Excellent health, dental, life and vision insurance
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave accrual
• Opportunities for professional development
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package
• Retirement Investors Club (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discount Programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior