Public Defender Services of Lane County is seeking an attorney with vision, integrity and empathy to lead
our talented team of attorneys and support staff. This is a job for someone with demonstrated passion for
public defense, and a proven track record of client-centered representation. Our office, a non-profit
founded in 1977 and located in downtown Eugene, is the second largest public defense provider in
Oregon, and the largest law firm in Lane County. We have 33 attorneys and represent more than 4,000
clients a year, including criminal cases, treatment courts, mental health matters, juvenile and delinquency
cases, legal clinic work and municipal appeals. Our work centers around our mission statement: We treat
our clients with dignity, empower them to make informed choices and fight to defend their rights.
PDSLC’s executive director is the public face of the office, and represents us in advocacy in our
community and statewide. This role requires the ability to build and maintain connections with
community partners throughout our public safety system, as well as the Oregon Legislature and the
statewide agency in charge of public defense, OPDC.
Our office has thrived and grown in the last decade. As the state has made investments in public defense,
we’ve reduced our caseload and increased our supervisor staffing to mentor and train our lawyers and
support professionals. The executive director manages our team supervisors, communicates regularly
with the entire office, and reports to our 9-member board of trustees. In addition, the executive director is
responsible for a small caseload of complex and challenging cases.
Essential Duties of the Executive Director
• Center PDSLC’s Mission Statement and Goals
• Meet regularly with senior management team and team supervisors.
• Respond to changes in the court system and system requirements in a manner which
promotes the interests of our clients.
• Build relationships with community partners while maintaining a balance given the adversarial
role of a public defender in the criminal punishment system.
• Coordinate with the business manager and other supervisors on human resource issues,
including hiring and supervising employees, structuring performance improvement plans
when required, and ensuring the staff who work here are client centered and the right people
for the job.
• Maintain availability to other staff members for consultation and education; participate in training
programs; maintain current knowledge of programs pertinent to clients.
• Maintain a professional demeanor within and outside the office.
• Train backup personnel, as assigned.
• Ethics requests – in conjunction with the assistant director, serve as a first-responder for ethics
question; ensure that every ethical withdrawal filed by any attorney has been reviewed first.
• Other duties as assigned.
Routine Management/supervision responsibilities
• Participate actively in management meetings, including formulation and implementation of
goals and objectives. Keeps team members informed about changes and important events.
• Effectively handle a small caseload and maintain the ability to cover all types of court
appearances.
• Demonstrate high standards of ethical conduct. Protect information considered to be personal
or confidential.
• Assist other managers and supervisors in evaluating alternatives before making decisions.
Follow through to ensure actions are accomplished.
• Solicit input for and prepare performance evaluations for attorneys within the small group,
and other supervisees as assigned.
Requirements to apply:
• A Juris Doctor degree, membership in good standing with the Oregon State Bar or another
bar organization + the ability to practice law in Oregon through the comity process.
• At least 6 years of legal experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing a diverse workforce consisting of attorneys,
investigators, and administrative staff.
• Strong leadership, management, and communications skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of public defense cases, including adult criminal, civil
commitment, and juvenile delinquency and dependency cases.
Compensation:
The annual salary for this position is $140,000 to $190,000, depending on experience. PDSLC provides a
generous compensation package, including health care and retirement plans, health savings
reimbursement, long-term disability insurance, paid family leave, professional liability insurance, 3 to 5
weeks paid vacation, and other employee benefits.
Equity Statement
PDSLC is committed to advance equity and diversity in our workplace, in our hiring, and in the way we
represent our clients. We are an equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications from members
of historically underrepresented groups to apply.
How to Apply
To apply, submit your resume and cover letter, describing how you meet the job requirements and
mission statement. Email the application to Bryan Lessley, President of the Board of Trustees, at
bryan@jeslaw.com, and cc his assistant emily@jeslaw.com. Email submissions are strongly preferred,
but written applications may be sent to 298 Pearl Street, Eugene, 97401. All applications will be
confidential. For questions, call Bryan at 541-225-8780. Please include the names and contact
information of three references who can speak to your background and qualifications. The deadline for all
submissions is close of business on September 3, 2024, but we will begin evaluating applications and
scheduling interviews on an ongoing basis.
PDSLC Mission Statement and Goals
PDSLC Mission Statement: We treat our clients with dignity, empower them to make informed choices
and fight to defend their rights.
PDSLC Goals – How We Fulfill Our Mission Statement:
1. We deliver outstanding legal services.
2. We uphold the presumption of innocence without regard to the accusations against our clients.
3. We deal ethically with our clients, witnesses, the courts, and all other representatives of the criminal
justice system.
4. We strive to lead by example in the criminal justice community.
5. We provide a supportive environment where employees and clients are treated with respect and
dignity, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, economic and cultural background, religion, age or
disability.