Public Defender 2 - Sioux City Adult - Rural Counties

About the role

The Iowa State Public Defender’s Office seeks a Public Defender 2 to represent indigent clients in Carroll, Crawford, and Ida counties. This position is based in Sioux City.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for indigent clients in assigned cases at every stage of the criminal justice system.
• Receive training and mentoring from experienced public defenders.
• Represent clients in court at pre-trial hearings, bench or jury trials, and other court hearings.
• Prepare a defense, conduct legal research, gather facts, and interview clients and witnesses.
• Conduct pretrial discovery, including depositions, withdraw pleas, and suppression motions.
• Negotiate plea bargains, dismissals, or other dispositions 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, research applicable law, and draft appropriate motions and briefs.
• Prepare various legal documents, including written arraignments, written guilty pleas, motions, briefs, and letters.
• May 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

• Graduation from an accredited law school and possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Iowa.
• 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.

Qualifications

Must be a U.S. citizen and able to pass a background check.

Skills

Strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills are essential. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required.

Benefits

Robust benefits package including health, dental, life, and vision insurance, paid time off, retirement package, and employee assistance programs.

Pay

Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Full-time schedule.