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- Description of Work
- ***THIS POSITION IS BEING REPOSTED. PREVIOUS APPLICANTS DO NOT NEED TO RE-APPLY.***
SALARY GRADE: Flat Rated***This position is time-limited, grant funded, full-time.*****Funding for this position will end on June 30, 2025.**
The Office of the Public Defender, District 14, seeks a qualified individual to serve as an Assistant Public Defender. The selected candidate will join our team in representing indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in District and Superior Court.
We are a qualified employer for Public Student Loan Forgiveness as well as the NC Legal Education Assistance Foundation loan repayment assistance program for law school debt.
Come join an amazing team and gain trial and advocacy experience, as well as make a difference in the lives of justice-involved individuals. Cumberland County is home to Fort Liberty and has a culturally rich and diverse community. There are many things to do in Fayetteville for children and adults, from world-renowned museums, incredible event venues, charming local shops, international dining options, lots of outdoor recreation, and a wide variety of spectator sports. Fayetteville is about an hour from Raleigh and its larger city offerings, 45 minutes from world-class golf in Pinehurst, and only two hours from many NC beaches.
This position has some flexibility and can encompass a variety of responsibilities: juvenile cases, misdemeanor and traffic cases, high-level felony cases, and a hybrid focus involving both misdemeanors and low-level felonies. Prior experience will determine the level of cases assigned and there is opportunity to work with a varied level of staff experience. The court staff in this district are very collaborative and have a supportive and positive working relationship with each other.
Our office is in the Cumberland County Courthouse, with courtrooms right outside our doors. The office provides a nice working space downtown, within walking distance to shops and restaurants. Flexibility and autonomy are part of the office culture. CLE opportunities, the annual Public Defender Conference, eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and expert forensic resources are available to support you with the work you will do to defend indigent clients.
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies
Knowledge of: Federal, State, common and constitutional law; judicial procedures and rules of evidence; case, statutory, regulatory and common law; NC General Statutes to defend criminal cases; judicial and quasi-judicial procedures; and legal research methods.
Skills in: strong communication, writing, interviewing, and organization.
Ability to: analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and related written documents and apply applicable law to those facts; conduct legal research; plan, develop and execute an effective litigation strategy to achieve desired results; prepare, organize and conduct witness examinations; deliver opening statements, closing arguments, and evidentiary objections; and express complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear and concise manner.
- Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school and an active license to practice law in North Carolina.
Applicants with experience in criminal district and/or criminal superior court trials is helpful but not required. Spanish language fluency a plus although not required.Attach cover letter and résumé.- Supplemental and Contact Information
INSTRUCTIONS:
Applicants must complete an on-line application by clicking the above APPLY link. Mailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.
Before applying, please read the Online Employment Application Guide for instructions on creating your profile and applying for specific postings.
It is important your application includes all of your relevant education and work experience and that you answer all questions associated with the application to receive proper credit. Résumés are not accepted in lieu of fully completed applications.
*NOTE* Many job postings require certain documents be attached to an application. Verify your application is complete and uploaded documents are attached to your application before submitting it. Applications may not be altered after they have been submitted.
Carefully review the FAQs if you experience difficulty with the application process or attaching documents. For technical issues with applications or attachments, call the NeoGov Help Line at 855-524-5627.All NC Judicial Branch agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.
The North Carolina Judicial Branch participates in E-Verify, an internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from the US Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more, click on these links:
E-Verify Participation
E-Verify Participation (Spanish)
Right to Work
Right to Work (Spanish)
Travis Davis
NC Administrative Office of the Courts
Human Resources Division
https://www.nccourts.gov/about/about-judicial-branch/careers
- $54,369 - $96,328/year
