Assistant Public Defender

SALARY GRADE: Flat Rated

We are seeking a NC licensed attorney, OR persons who are awaiting licensure/bar results.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK: The Pender County Public Defender Office, Burgaw, NC, is a newly created office which represents indigent clients in all criminal and juvenile delinquency matters, and parents in abuse, neglect, and dependency matters, and in civil contempt matters. Attorney must have a strong desire and commitment to client advocacy and indigent defense. Attorney must be attentive to detail, organized, possess an ability to effectively communicate and litigate cases in the courtroom and have exceptional legal research and writing skills. A high level of technology and computer knowledge is essential. All attorneys in the Pender County Office will be required to handle all types of legal matters which are handled by the Office, regardless of any primarily assigned obligations. Attorney must be prepared to handle difficult cases and clients and have the ability to maintaining positive professional relationships with co-workers, clients, and the public. Attorney will be expected to visit clients at the jail and in prison facilities, and to travel outside the office to conduct other investigative procedures. As a public service employee, it is expected that all Assistant Public Defenders will engage in community service and participate in outreach programs relevant to the services we are providing. The Pender County Public Defender Office strives to create a diverse staff with expertise and interest in serving our indigent clients who come to us with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, and disabilities. Although employment obligations are located in Pender County, there may be occasions when the attorney will be required to report to New Hanover County for training, meetings, and other work obligations. The ability to fluently speak Spanish is preferred but not required.

Salary

• $55,000 - $75,000/year

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

Knowledge Required: 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, juvenile cases, child support contempt cases and parent representation cases; and legal research methods.

Applicant will likely be assigned many DWI cases and will need to be prepared to represent clients with complicated impaired driving cases.

Applicant will likely be assigned to cover treatment court, teen court and other initiatives that may arise to better serve our community.

Applicant will be expected to cover all areas of indigent representation in Pender County.

Skills Required: Applicant must have persuasive communication, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills.

Applicant must be able 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; and maintain a high volume caseload in a professional and efficient manner.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Juris Doctorate 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 is preferred.

Attach a résumé and a persuasive cover letter.

How to Apply

INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants must complete an on-line application by clicking the above APPLY link. Mailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Attached a resume and a cover letter describing your personal and professional credentials for employment with the Public Defender Office.

Please email your resume and cover letter to Thomas.L.Woodrum@nccourts.org

**Applications without a resume & cover letter will not be considered.**

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.
Charmaine J. Leeks
NC Administrative Office of the Courts
Human Resources Division Benefits

Judicial Branch employees are eligible for the North Carolina State Government benefits package. The package consists of a comprehensive collection of benefit options including medical coverage, defined benefit retirement, supplemental retirement, flexible benefits, supplemental insurance, and other miscellaneous benefits.

Employees of the North Carolina Judicial Department have the opportunity to participate in an array of benefit offerings depending on employment status. The Benefits Eligibility Chart describes benefit eligibility by employment status.