Public Defender I / II / III

Skagit County•Mount Vernon, WA

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

Skagit County Public Defender seeks skilled, committed attorneys to provide zealous legal representation to indigent clients in District Court, Superior Court, or Juvenile Court. The office represents adults and juveniles facing misdemeanor or felony charges, juvenile status offenses, civil contempt of court, and civil mental health involuntary treatment commitments. Attorneys work with in-house legal assistants, contracted investigators, and professional experts to provide client-centered representation. They are encouraged to go to trial and receive support from experienced supervisors. The office maintains caseloads within indigent-defense standards and provides in-house and outside continuing-education opportunities. A hybrid in-office and telework schedule is permitted when court and client-related obligations are met. The position may be classified as Public Defender I, II, or III, depending on qualifications and experience. Monthly salary upon hire ranges from $7,456 to $7,987 for Public Defender I, $8,560 to $9,168 for Public Defender II, and $10,517 to $11,269 for Public Defender III. Progressive increases are based on years of service with Skagit County, up to the applicable AFSCME salary schedule’s top step: $9,915, $11,382, and $13,995 per month, respectively. Additional compensation is available for employees who are proficient in Spanish and regularly use it at work, and for serving as a rotating 24-hour on-call attorney. The role may involve working with young adults, youth, and children; people who lack English proficiency; and clients experiencing mental illness, drug addiction, trauma, or other issues. Attorneys may represent clients in mental health proceedings at local treatment facilities and work with psychiatrists and other medical treatment personnel. The work is primarily performed in an office, jail, hospital, and/or courtroom. Public defense is demanding and stressful, and the work environment may include hazards associated with hostile individuals, germs, and physical contact with people or objects.

Requirements

Any combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Public Defender II: At least two years of experience as a public defender or other significant criminal or relevant civil experience.
Public Defender III: At least four years of experience as a public defender or other significant criminal or relevant civil experience.
Membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, or ability to become licensed within the probationary period.
Ability to perform the full scope of the position’s essential functions thoroughly and accurately.
Knowledge of computer-based legal research programs, Microsoft Office, and court docket systems.
Knowledge of Washington law and statutes relating to criminal offenses and selected civil cases, and Washington rules of evidence, criminal procedure, and civil procedure in selected civil cases.
Ability to operate standard office equipment, including printers, fax machines, copy machines, calculators, computers, and scanners.
Ability to work courteously with people, maintain confidentiality, and follow the code of ethics.
Ability to conduct bench and jury trials; read, analyze, and interpret legal documents; and present information effectively and respond to questions from judges.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to work in a self-directed capacity and collaborate effectively as part of a team.
The work may require sitting at a desk for extended periods, and some bending, stooping, or light lifting to access files.

Nice To Haves

Experience in criminal defense or civil cases handled by a Public Defender is desired for Public Defender I, but is not required.
Ability to speak Spanish is desired, but not required.

Responsibilities

Defend indigent individuals charged with a crime or other conduct that could result in a loss of liberty.
Communicate with clients to gather relevant information, determine litigation goals, discuss possible defenses and trial strategy, and provide legal information and advice.
Maintain communication with clients throughout representation, including in the office, at jail, by phone, email, or mail, and keep them informed about their cases.
Conduct or direct appropriate investigations, including interviewing State and defense witnesses, obtaining records, consulting expert witnesses, and visiting alleged crime scenes.
Analyze assigned cases, assess strengths and weaknesses and possible outcomes, consider immigration and other collateral consequences, and research relevant law.
Research, write, and argue motions.
Negotiate with the Prosecuting Attorney to seek favorable resolutions for clients.
Appear in court for pre-trial hearings, trials, and post-trial proceedings, including sentencing, restitution, and review hearings.
Keep abreast of legal developments and attend training sessions for CLE credit and to enhance knowledge in the practice area.
Work with social service agencies, schools, treatment providers, and other professionals.
Work with young adults, youth, and children, and communicate with individuals who lack English proficiency.
Work with clients experiencing mental illness, drug addiction, trauma, or other issues; represent clients in mental health proceedings at local treatment facilities as needed and work with medical professionals.
Use an electronic case management system to maintain accurate, current client files.
Serve as a rotating 24-hour on-call attorney.
May direct non-attorney staff on specific projects or cases; the position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.