Assistant Public Defender Revocations

About the role

The Deputy Public Defender provides criminal defense to indigent defendants in the courts of Allen County, Indiana. This position is covered under the Circuit Court Employee Handbook and is an employee-at-will position.

Responsibilities

• Works directly with defendant and maintains regular contact through correspondence, phone calls, and in-person meetings, while upholding ethical duties of loyalty and confidentiality.
• Represents defendants during criminal investigative proceedings.
• Represents defendants in all court appearances, including pretrial discovery, withdraw pleas, and suppression notices.
• Works with support staff to provide effective and high quality legal representation to accused indigent people facing felony or misdemeanor charges, juvenile adjudication, and mental health commitments.
• Attends post-trial sentencing hearings for clients who negotiate plea bargains or are found guilty in trial.
• Files appeals when errors are found in court proceedings which prevented the defendant from having a fair trial.

Requirements

• Graduation from an ABA accredited school of law
• Valid Indiana license to practice law
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and a large volume of work
• Minimum of one year of experience in criminal litigation
• Prior experience as lead or co-counsel in two felony jury trials that went to verdict

Performance Expectations

The Deputy Public Defender performs work that consists of many complex and significant variables when providing criminal defense to indigent defendants. Extensive judgement and adaptation is required to provide effective and high quality legal representation.

Personal Work Relationships

The Deputy Public Defender maintains frequent communication with defendants, judges, prosecutors, probation, law enforcement, investigators and Public Defender office staff.

Working Conditions

The Deputy Public Defender performs work in a courtroom and office type setting. Very frequent typing, attention to detail, detailed inspection and transcription/proofreading exists.

Licensing

Valid Indiana license to practice law

Immediate Supervisor

Chief Public Defender

Hours

Hours vary; 37.5 hours