JOB
Accepting candidates Licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan with criminal law, jury trial, and high-severity felony case experience to serve as the attorney of record of indigent defendants in criminal cases ensuring that Jackson County meets all constitutional and legislative requirements. Easily apply by entering your personal contact information into our job application and uploading your cover letter and resume.SALARY COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE: To qualify for placement as Public Defender II, III or IV candidates must have a Juris Doctorate degree, State Bar License with evidence of good professional standing. Qualifications as set forth in MIDC proposed Standard 7, compliance with Standard I CLE, and experience levels defined below. Higher compensation determined based on years of criminal defense experience with a record of high-quality criminal trial court representation and ability to handle high severity felony cases.Public Defender II: $76,752.00 - $86,832.40Served as co-counsel or second chair in a prior trial (misdemeanor, felony, bench or jury) or equivalent experience. Criminal Law experience preferred.Public Defender III: $82,534.40 - $92,851.20Has practiced criminal law for one full year (as prosecutor, public defender, or private criminal defense) and has been trial counsel alone or handled a significant portion of a trial in two criminal cases that have reached a verdict with a minimum of one trial that included a jury.Public Defender IV: $90,771.20 - 102,148.80Has practiced criminal law for five years and been trial counsel alone or as lead for seven felony criminal cases that have been submitted to a jury or has a significant record of consistently high quality criminal trial court representation and the ability to handle a high-severity felony case.RESPONSIBILITIES: Performs all case related legal work as required and authorized by the Chief Public Defender. The Assistant Public Defender III will represent indigent and partially indigent defendants in felony cases and will serve as co-counsel or second chair to an Assistant Public Defender IV in high-severity felony cases. Essential functions include but are not limited to: 1. Promoting and protecting the expressed interest of the client at all times, represents indigent and partially indigent adult criminal offenders at arraignments, pretrial conferences, pretrial motions, probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, bench trials, jury trials, sentencings, and probation violation hearings.2. Prepares for court appearances by conducting interviews with witnesses, law enforcement personnel and any other applicable entity.3. Conducts legal research; analyzes evidence; drafts briefs; reviews exhibits, reports and statements; engages in negotiations with the Prosecutor and clients; presents evidence, calls/examines witnesses, argues motions, presents opening statements and closing arguments.4. Serves as co-counsel or second chair to Assistant Public Defender IV’s in high-severity felony cases.5. May handle high-severity felony assignments if qualifications are met as set forth in proposed MIDC Standard 7.6. Interacts with other internal departments, police agencies, private investigators, private attorneys, social agencies and the general public.7. Must possess effective communication and interpersonal skills; the ability to understand and interpret constitutional provisions, statues, administrative regulations and precedents and procedures; the ability to analyze facts, evidence and precedents and arrive at logical interpretation; set forth findings of fact and conclusions in written legal form.8. Monitors legal developments, including legislation and court decisions which may impact the work of the department.9. Maintains confidentiality with highly sensitive information and ensure confidential information is being stored in an appropriate manner consistent with the law and Rules of Professional Conduct.10. Maintains accurate, complete and legible case files.11. Attends meetings, conferences and continuing education opportunities as approved by the Chief Public Defender.*. Must attend a minimum of (12) CLE hours annually.
