Assistant Public Defender

Assistant Public Defender (NS)

SALARY RANGE: $65,000.00 - $70,000.00

The Office of the Public Defender-5th District (Duplin, Jones, & Sampson) represents indigent clients in all criminal and juvenile delinquency matters. Attorneys will represent indigent criminal clients in district and superior court. Lawyers must be cross-trained and capable of handling all casework required to provide quality legal services for indigent clients. Additionally, the applicant will be required to represent clients during first appearances.

All applicants 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 Assistant Public Defenders must be capable of handling difficult cases and clients, while maintaining positive professional relationships with co-workers, clients, and the public. Attorneys are 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 employees, 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, including volunteer programs which occur during evenings and weekends.

The Office of the Public Defender-5th District (Duplin, Jones, & Sampson) 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 the attorney will be specifically assigned to the Duplin and Jones offices, there may be occasions when attorneys are required to report to the Sampson office for training, meetings, and other work obligations. Duplin County will be the home station for this position; however, there may be travel to Jones and Sampson counties.

The ability to fluently speak Spanish is preferred but not required.

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, and legal research methods.

Applicants will likely be assigned misdemeanor and probation cases in district court and need to be prepared to represent clients with complicated impaired driving cases.

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

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

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. Spanish language fluency is preferred but not required.

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

You may email your resume and cover letter to View email address on click.appcast.io or attach to your application.

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.