Public Defender's Office - Senior Trial Attorney

Essential Duties
Reviews case facts for legal sufficiency, drafts motion statements and prepares required legal documents;
 
Researches statutes and case law issues and revises legal documents to reflect new legislation;
 
Examines video, file and physical case evidence;
 
Confers with attorneys regarding case information and pleadings, law enforcement agencies regarding case investigation and trial preparation, and witnesses regarding case preparation and testimony;
 
Edits legal documents prepared by support staff;
 
Responsible for litigating routine to complex hearings, trials and appeals;
 
Prepares and presents oral arguments for routine to complex cases;
 
Frequent handling of confidential legal information and documents;
 
Attends and participates in meetings, training and information sessions;
 
Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field;
 
Commits self to providing excellent customer service and demonstrate commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts; and
 
Creates a high quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.

Public Defender Office:

Represents all indigent persons charged with serious crimes in the County, including capital murder, murder, and manslaughter;
 
Defends individuals charged with felonies for which a sentence of incarceration may be imposed;
 
Provides effective representation to clients while managing a large and complex caseload;
 
May concentrate in representing specific types of most complex and high profile cases such as family, juvenile, indigent, mental health etc.;
 
Works closely with community agencies to match needs of clients with resources, programs, and assistance;
 
Handles arraignment court and bond court;
 
Meets with clients when arrested and obtains their history to make bond arguments to the court;
 
Maintains working relationship with clients in person, by phone and by mail contact;
 
May be called to represent individuals at investigative proceedings; may be assigned to handle cases involving post-conviction or appellate relief;
 
Interviews and counsels respondents in mental health proceedings in Local or State treatment units where they may be confined and works closely with psychiatrists and other medical or treatment personnel;
 
Maintains extensive contact with various State legal offices, social service agencies, Correctional facilities staff, police, forensic authorities, crime labs, and pathologists;
 
Maintains frequent contact with the Department of Family and Protective Services, Department of State Health and agencies regarding the referral of clients for drug treatment, family counseling and other assistance;
 
Investigates alleged crime or offense by meeting with witnesses, police officers and reviewing the facts;
 
Meets with the client to discuss the appropriate action to be taken and whether pre-trial motions should be filed;
 
Establishes close contact with defendants by regular visits to the Correctional facilities or by constant correspondence via personal visits to the Public Defender's Office, phone contact or by letters to defendants not in custody;
 
Performs as trial counsel by representing defendants during courtroom proceeding;
 
Researches case law, communicates with defendant to determine trial strategy such as cross-examination procedures, witness selection, jury selection, testimony decisions and opening and closing arguments;
 
Acts as negotiator between the defendant and the State's Attorney's Office to secure acquittals or reach agreement concerning sentence time which would be the most beneficial for the defendant and the State's Attorney's Office;
 
Researches case law and witness testimony, conducts investigations and negotiates with the State's Attorney's Office;
 
Analyzes facts, evidence and the strength of case, determines client's wishes and meets with prosecutor to resolve the matter short of trial;
 
Represents defendants during other court proceedings;
 
Prepares pre-trial motions such as Answer to Discovery, Motions to Suppress Evidence, Motions to Dismiss and Motions to Additional Discovery, which are required to be filed and a hearing set to ensure that they are carried out properly; and
 
Prepares post-trial matters such as motions to withdraw pleas, motions to reconsider sentence and post-conviction petitions. 

Summary of Position

 The Senior Trial Attorney under general supervision, and depending on area of assignment: provides complex general counsel for various County Offices and staff, depending on area assigned the incumbent; prosecutes criminal, civil and family law cases; provides representation in matters, including civil, or prosecutorial; defends, and advocates for clients accused of a crime; performs complex non-supervisory legal work. This is the second in a series of three non-supervisory attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family.

Organizational Relationships 

Reports to: Trial Team Chief, Division Chief, Senior Division Chief 

Directs: This is a non-supervisory position 

Other: Has contact with department heads and/or staff in order to coordinate and complete assigned responsibilities, attorney’s, investigators, judiciary and court staff, law enforcement, witnesses, social work agencies, vendors, contractors, other county employees, and the general public.