Conflicts Counsel

Job Title

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 parents/guardians for shelter care and adjudication proceedings on Mondays and Thursdays as needed.
• Serves as attorney to ONLY financially qualified clients by:
• Review applications and income statements to determine eligibility
• Attending permanency review hearings and termination hearings scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays
• Negotiating with the CYS attorneys for case disposition or modification
• Performing pretrial work and trail work including filing motions, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and arguing the dependency case
• Maintain and manage individual caseloads in a timely and effective manner
• Monitor legal developments including legislation and court decisions related to dependency law
• Perform all acts necessary to effectively represent clients consistently 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 Statues and Juvenile and Appellate Rules of Procedure
• Review cases for potential conflict of interest
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Commissioners

Job Requirements/Skills & Abilities

• Proficiency in the principles, philosophy and practice of juvenile and dependency law
• Proficiency in the principles, methods and practice of legal research and investigation
• Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence
• Proficiency in practices and effective techniques for litigation
• Knowledge of State and Federal Laws and constitutional provisions affecting juvenile dependency and delinquency from pre-trial through appeal
• Proficiency in performing complex legal research, analyzing complex problems, evaluating alternatives, and making sound legal recommendations
• Proficiency in preparing clear concise, and complete legal pleadings, reports, correspondence, and other written materials
• 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
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software application 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.