Assistant Public Defender- Experienced

About the role

The Metropolitan Public Defender’s Office seeks to hire attorneys with at least three to five years of practice experience to represent indigent clients in various courts.

Responsibilities

• Represents, as counsel, indigent defendants charged with felonies and/or misdemeanors.
• Consults with District Attorney.
• Consults with and advises other attorneys in the office on cases.
• Analyzes legal and/or factual aspects of clients' cases.
• Refers clients for proper medical and psychiatric assistance.
• Refers clients to other resources or agencies for assistance.
• Performs necessary investigations, including interviewing clients, gathering evidence, legal research, investigating locations critical to cases, and obtaining social, medical, criminal, psychiatric, and educational histories of clients.

Supervision Exercised/Supervision Received

• May lead or supervise Criminal Investigators and a clerical support staff.
• Receives general supervision and reports to Public Defender or designee, who is consulted on complex or unusual matters.

Working Conditions

Work involves moderate risks or discomforts associated with a courthouse or jail environment, which require special safety precautions, e.g., working in crowded conditions, and working around persons imprisoned for a wide variety of illegal acts. Employees may be required to use protective clothing or gear. Requires substantial physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, climbing, bending, stooping, stretching, or similar activities.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Jurisprudence
• Three or more years of professional legal experience

Requirements

• Licensed to practice Law in the State of Tennessee, or application to practice law in the State of Tennessee pending.
• Must submit Resume, Cover Letter, and Writing Sample

Benefits

• Full-time, Civil Service positions: 10 Vacation Days per year (increasing after 5 years of service), 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Part-time, Non Civil Service positions: Contact hiring department for benefits information