This is a full-time position at $65,000.00/year, 37.5 hours per week, M - F.
Overall Responsibilities:
To represent and defend indigent clients in District Justice Court, Court of Common Pleas, in state Superior and Supreme Courts, , and in other miscellaneous hearings where an individual is entitled to Counsel. To assist Chief Public Defender in the administration of the Office of the Public Defender.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Prepares for cases and represents clients in hearings, trials, and summary appeals; counsels clients and their families; represents clients at arraignments, preliminary hearings and/or pretrial and post-sentencing motion practice; represents clients throughout the appellate process, including the filing of briefs and tracking of deadlines; reads and analyzes various discovery materials in preparing for cases including police incident reports, arrest reports, witness statements, NCIC reports, conviction reports, lab reports, certified criminal and conviction records, medical records, expert reports, driving histories, etc.; reviews letters, memoranda, notices, complaints, affidavits, case documents, PSI reports, legal reports, transcripts, and other legal documents; negotiates plea bargains with District Attorney’s Office; prepares letters, legal correspondence, briefs, guilty pleas, subpoenas, petitions, motions, waivers, affidavits, court orders, appeals notices, and other legal documents; attends hearings for areas such as bench warrants, extraditions, contempt of court, and indigency; reviews parole notices, probation violations, and ARD revocations; assists with crime investigation tasks such as inspecting the scene of a crime, photographing evidence, and serving subpoenas; may assist the Public Defender in coordinating and supervising the office’s internship program; performs routine administrative duties including maintaining office files and records, organizing the law library, copying and faxing documents, typing forms and reports, and answering the telephone; confers with clients, witnesses, law enforcement and corrections personnel, probation officers, court clerks, judges, District Attorney, defense counsel, social services personnel, guardians ad litem, private investigators, and others; refers to state and federal statutes, legal opinions, treaties, legal textbooks, encyclopedias, law periodicals, case law, and other reference material in performing legal work; attends conferences and seminars to maintain knowledge of laws and regulations relating to public defense work; etc.
EDUCATION/TRAINING: Juris Doctor Degree is required, as is admission into the Pennsylvania Bar. Must continue legal education to retain license. Computer skills are required.
WORK EXPERIENCE: 2 - 5 years of working experience or training, or any acceptable combination of experience and training which provides requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position. Must possess and maintain a valid PA driver’s license. Experience in criminal defense is preferred, but not required. General courtroom experience is a plus.
Comprehensive benefit package includes contributory healthcare, dental, vision, short-term disability, and lump sum death benefit; contributory pension; monthly vacation and sick day accrual, 14 paid holidays.
Armstrong County considers qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, service animals, familiar status, veteran status, gender, disability, or any other legally protected status.