Assistant Public Defender (PT)

General Purpose

The Assistant Full-Time Public Defender represents indigent clients throughout critical stages of criminal proceedings at the County and municipal levels.

Essential Duties

• Receives criminal case assignments from supervisory legal or other office staff
• Determines issues to be raised, communicates with the client and determines the case strategy
• Represents defendants at pre-trial hearings, prepares motions and conducts legal research
• Interviews involved individuals and collaborates with investigators
• Prepares and handles bail petitions, motions for pretrial discovery, omnibus pretrial motions and prepares responses to opposing petitions
• Assembles records and completes case development
• Prepares and submits lists of witnesses to be subpoenaed for trial
• Confers with and negotiates settlements with opposing lawyers
• Coordinates case preparation and presentation
• Handles jury and non-jury trials and appellate matters
• Confers with County probation and other County departments
• Develops arguments for sentencing, including gathering information about employment, education, addictive behaviors and other points that may mitigate the sentencing process

Required Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience: Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school; licensed to practice law in the State of Pennsylvania and a member in good-standing; valid and current motor vehicle operator's license with an acceptable driving record.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of Federal, State and local statutes, case law, rules of evidence and practices governing and/or affecting criminal law
• Strong legal research and analytical skills
• Superior time-management skills and the ability to multitask
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, clients, representatives of judicial and other government agencies and members of the bar and the judiciary

Tools and Equipment

Telephone and personal computer; access to fax machine, copy machine, office computer and paper shredder maintained at the Office of the Public Defender.

Physical Demands

Frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear. Occasionally lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

Noise level is usually moderately quiet. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Selection Guidelines

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.