The Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office is now accepting applications for the position of Assistant Public Defender. We are an office of 81 individuals, including attorneys, social workers, investigators, client engagement specialists, administrative assistants, and a paralegal. We handle every aspect of indigent criminal defense across juvenile, misdemeanor, felony, and appellate divisions. Our office is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally diverse staff with expertise and interest in serving our indigent clientele who come to us with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities to yield better results for our clients and our office.
The Office is seeking a self-motivated individual to represent indigent clients in the courts of Montgomery County, Ohio. The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated dedication to indigent defense, excellent communication (oral and written) skills, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work independently and in a collaborative environment.
Job Duties:
Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
– Gather evidence for cases to formulate defense and mitigation;
– Perform legal research, interview clients and witnesses, view crime scene, and perform any other necessary tasks in preparation for trial;
– Prepare legal briefs, and develop strategies, arguments, and testimony in preparation for the presentation of cases;
– Subpoena witnesses;
– Represent clients in court (including evenings) and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies of government;
– Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations;
– Confer with colleagues to establish and verify the basis for legal proceedings; Help other Assistant Public Defenders by participating in training sessions, offering advice, co-counseling cases, and covering cases;
– Perform all other duties as assigned by the Public Defender or Deputy Director.
Minimum Qualifications: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school. Ongoing compliance with CLE requirements. The candidate must be admitted in good standing to practice law in the State of Ohio and maintain ongoing compliance with CLE requirements. The candidate will also exercise sound judgment and decision-making ability and be capable of handling sensitive information.
A well-qualified candidate will be able to develop and maintain skills in time management and organization, as well as work independently, and contribute to a team-based environment. Starting salary for a newly licensed attorney is $70,000/year with full county benefits include participation in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS); access to deferred compensation programs; health insurance with the HSA match, dental and vision insurance, wellness programs, life insurance, paid vacation/sick/holiday leave, paid parental leave, and access to short-term disability and employee assistance programs. More information about benefits can be found on the Montgomery County Benefits website: www.mcbenefits.org