Conflicts Counsel

 Amenities: 

The County of Northumberland offers a full benefits package to employees including health insurance, prescription, vision, dental, vacation, holiday, sick, personal time, and retirement. 

Position Summary: 

This full-time position represents financially qualified criminal defendants, including juveniles, for whom the Public Defender’s Office is unable to represent the defendant due to a conflict of interest and indigent parents of children involved in juvenile dependency cases when the full-time Special & Conflicts attorneys are conflicted or unavailable. Duties include representation at all levels of the litigation process from inception through exhaustion of appeals. The work requires a wide range of independent decision-making within legal and general policy and regulatory guidelines.

This position reports to the County Commissioners through the Chief Special & Conflicts Counsel.

What You’ll Do: 

• Represent financially qualified clients with criminal cases originating in one of the County’s Magisterial District Courts as assigned.
•  Represent other financially qualified criminal defendants and parents/guardians in dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings as appointed by the Court.
•  Serves as defense attorney to clients by:
•  Attend all hearings, conferences, trials, and other proceedings relating to client cases.
•  Negotiating with the prosecution attorneys for case disposition or modification.
•  Performing pretrial work and trial work including filing motions, jury selection, examination and cross-examination and arguing the defense case.
•  Maintains and manages individual caseloads in a timely and effective manner.
•  Monitors legal developments including legislation and com1decisions related to defense of the accused.
•  Perform all acts necessary to effectively represent clients consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct.
•  Maintain up to date knowledge of the Northumberland County Local Rules, State and Federal Statutes and Juvenile and Appellate Rules of Procedure.
•  Reviews cases for potential conflict of interest.
•  Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
  
   

Job Requirements/Skills & Abilities:

•  Principles, philosophy and practice of criminal law and juvenile law.
•  Principles, methods and practices of legal research and investigation.
•  Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
•  Pleadings and practices and effective techniques in the presentation of trial cases.
•  State and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting public defense and juvenile dependency and delinquency from pre-trial through appeal.
•  Perform complex legal research, analyze complex problems, evaluate alternatives, and make sound recommendations.
•  Prepare clear, concise, and complete legal documentation and reports, correspondence and other written materials.
•  Analyze and apply legal principles and precedents and make effective court and hearing presentations.
•  Represent the assigned client effectively in hearings, courts of law, and meetings with others.
•  Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
•  Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
•  Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
•  Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.

Minimum Training & Experience:

•  Holds degree of Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.
•  Is admitted to practice before the Courts of the Commonwealth.
•  Always maintains good standing to practice before the Courts of the Commonwealth.