Neighborhood Defender Service is creating NDS Hays County, a new nonprofit, client-centered, collaborative, holistic public defense office to provide criminal defense representation and related services to residents of Hays County, Texas. The office will open in January 2023.
Clients are represented by teams composed of lawyers, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs prior to arrest, while a case is pending, and after the case concludes.
RESPONSIBLITIES:
1. Embrace NDS’ philosophy of client-centered, community-based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence.
2. Provide vigorous representation with energy and enthusiasm to clients.
3. Appear in all court proceedings for each client through the conclusion of their case.
4. Interview clients and their families, conduct legal research, and write pre-pleading letters, motions, and pre-sentencing memoranda on behalf of clients.
5. Coordinate work performed by team members (investigators, social workers, client advocates, team administrators, and interns).
6. File motions, briefs, and other related documents on a frequent and timely basis.
7. Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiations and arguments in criminal cases.
8. Be responsive to and communicate clearly with clients who are often under great stress.
Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. Exceptional benefits package includes full medical and dental for employee and family, retirement, life and AD&D insurance, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time.
QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will bring:
1. A demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, racial equity, and social justice issues, and a substantive understanding of the biases impacting our clients.
2. An ability to quickly build relationships with people of varying identities, income levels, races, and ethnicities.
3. Experience representing clients in criminal cases and knowledge of criminal procedure from arraignments to trial and sentencing. Candidates with jury trial experience are encouraged to apply.
4. A track record of strategically guiding casework, projects, and/or relationships; applying good and practiced judgment; and routinely pushing through roadblocks to achieve goals.
5. Experience and skill in connecting with and representing clients who have mental health issues.
6. A high level of organizational and administrative skills to handle a high caseload.
7. Clear and effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
8. An ability to work cooperatively in a team setting.
9. A license to practice law in Texas. Attorneys admitted to the Texas Bar with experience in criminal courts of Texas are strongly encouraged to apply.
10. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Spanish language fluency is preferred but not required.
Interviews are being held on a rolling basis, and applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the subject line, “Hays Staff Attorney.” Please send your application as one document, preferably PDF.
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