Public Defender 2 - Des Moines Juvenile

The Iowa State Public Defender’s Office is seeking a highly motivated, skilled, and enthusiastic attorney to serve as a Public Defender 2 in our Des Moines Juvenile office located in Polk County, Iowa.

About the role

The mission of the Office of the State Public Defender is to ensure that all indigent persons in Iowa are provided high quality legal representation in criminal, juvenile, and other eligible proceedings in the most efficient and fiscally responsible manner.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for indigent clients in assigned cases at every stage of the criminal justice system at a trainee level.
• Receive training and mentoring from dedicated, experienced public defenders in an atmosphere which encourages growth and development of an attorney’s skills and career.
• Represent clients in court at pre-trial hearings, bench or jury trials, sentencings, and other court hearings.
• Prepare a defense, conducting legal research, gathering facts, and interviewing the client and witnesses to determine the merits of the case and appropriate course of action.
• Conduct pretrial discovery, including depositions, withdraw pleas, and suppression motions.
• Negotiate plea bargains, dismissals, or other disposition of assigned cases with prosecuting attorneys.
• Work closely with clients, providing and discussing information, planning case strategy, and preparing for trial.
• Maintain appropriate communication with clients about case status and answer client questions.
• Identify potential legal issues to advance the client’s case, research applicable law, and draft appropriate motions and briefs.
• Prepare various legal documents, including written arraignments, written guilty pleas, motions, briefs, and letters.
• Direct work of investigators consistent with internal office policies.
• Maintain client case files, prepare public defender time reports to the court, and close files consistent with office policies.

Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

• Graduation from an accredited law school, possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Iowa, and experience equal to two years of full-time work in professional legal criminal trial advocacy or prosecution.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Public Defender 1.

Benefits

• Robust benefits, including excellent health, dental, life, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave accrual.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package.
• Retirement Investors Club (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan).
• Employee Assistance Program for support when you need it most.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, and more).
• Access to an on-site employee fitness center (6200 Park Avenue location only).