The Fredericksburg Office of the Public Defender has an opening for a Deputy Public Defender committed to zealous advocacy on behalf of indigent clients. Qualified applicants should be committed to fulfilling the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission’s (VIDC) Mission of protecting and defending the rights and dignity of our clients through zealous, compassionate, high-quality legal advocacy. This is an exciting opportunity to work day-to-day on the front lines of the criminal justice movement, and to directly impact and advocate for those often rendered voiceless in our criminal system.
The Deputy reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Fredericksburg Office and is employed at will. A successful candidate is subject to a fingerprint based criminal background check. Starting salary will be $84, 237.00. This is a set salary without room for negotiation.
Duties:
Duties for this position include conducting client interviews, including timely jail visits as needed, and witness interviews, working with staff investigators to investigate cases, filing pretrial motions and litigating motions, litigating jury and bench trials, defending probation violations, and handling cases before the Virginia Court of Appeals and Virginia Supreme Court. The attorney will be responsible for trying cases in the General District, Juvenile, and Circuit Courts, and will serve as a role model for attorneys and staff in the office. This includes thorough legal research and writing in each case, investigating possible defenses, as well as identifying appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients. Attorneys in this position are expected to litigate their client’s cases through sentencing, focusing on holistic representation and working closely with mitigation specialists in the office, clients, and client’s families, to tell our client’s stories to judges and juries to achieve the most equitable results possible in their cases.
The Deputy assists the Chief Public Defender in supervising the and training attorneys, and may be asked to serve as acting Chief Public Defender in the absence of the Chief Public Defender. Additional duties include working with the Chief Public Defender to ensure that attorneys and staff receive appropriate training and continuing education, and to ensure all attorneys receive and maintain certification for court appointment and fully comply with the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel, submitting input and carefully managing the office budget, and preparing and ensuring all required administrative reports and documentation are timely submitted.
The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce. We encourage and welcome qualified candidates of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
Basic knowledge of criminal law, Virginia criminal procedure, constitutional law, and familiarity with the VIDC’s Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Representation.
Ability to receive feedback, and direction, from multiple sources, and to quickly incorporate and utilize constructive feedback.
Experience working independently, but also collaboratively as a team, with quick deadlines and changing information.
Strong communication skills, including communicating clearly with clients, court staff, teammates, colleagues, and supervisors about needs and expectations.
Ability to argue effectively in writing, and orally, on behalf of clients, and to argue persuasively for clients in a court room setting.
Commitment to working in the Fredericksburg region is required.
A valid driver’s license and the means to travel to all courts and regional jails are required.
Jury trial experience is required.
Experience in a management or leadership position, or serving as a mentor in some capacity, is a required qualification.
To qualify for the Deputy, the applicant must have at least four (4) years of experience in public defense, or in the criminal defense of indigent accused, along with the above-mentioned qualifications.
Click the following link: https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/235236
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