Public Defense Attorney - Supervisor (ACAD)
Public Defense Attorney - Supervisor (ACAD)
Posted on :
04-07-2025
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1 Vacancy
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Job Description
Summary
- This recruitment is INTERNAL ONLY and open to current career service King County Department of Public Defense employees.
The Department of Public Defense (DPD) seeks interested applicants for one (1) or more career service Public Defense Attorney Supervisor positions in ourAssociated Counsel for the Accused Division.
This recruitment will be used to fill future Career Service vacancies over the next six (6) months.
The successful applicant will have a passion for public defense and for representing clients focusing on their objectives interests and dignity. They will be committed to fighting institutional and structural racism and willing to address issues related to equity and social justice within the workplace and the broader work of public defense. They will have a demonstrated ability to supervise the work of other lawyers and support staff and to mentor develop evaluate and support employees in a fast-paced environment.
Candidates should be fully knowledgeable of court procedures and the law; have considerable trial experience; possess excellent writing research and analytic skills and have expertise in case preparation handling and disposition. In many instances attorney supervisors will carry a partial caseload.
Levels of responsibility will range from supervising entry-level attorneys to those who are highly experienced. The supervisor will ensure that caseload standards that foster excellence in legal representation are observed in accordance with Washington State Bar Association guidelines. Supervising attorneys will have a demonstrated commitment to clients the Division and DPD. The successful applicant will have an aptitude for management and leadership and will be able to work within a team of managers.
WHY JOIN DPD
The Department of Public Defense (DPD) provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies misdemeanors juvenile defense family defense (dependency cases) involuntary commitment (mental illness) sex offender commitment and inquests.
We also advocate to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal legal system and civil legal systems that restrict our clients liberty and to address systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive respectful and supportive premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD visit ourwebsite. Job Duties
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following
- Supervise attorneys.
- Develop evaluate train mentor and coach unit employees and interns.
- Ensure work conforms with prevailing professional standards applicable statues rules and DPD and county policies.
- In consultation and coordination with the ACAD Managing Attorney the Directors Office and Human Resource staff conduct disciplinary investigations and impose discipline when appropriate.
- Implement and monitor corrective and career development action plans and provide support to enable employees to make positive changes.
- Conduct performance evaluations of unit employees at least annually and as required for probationary periods TLTs and interns.
- Assign and balance workload among attorneys within unit.
- Ensure unit employees are up to date on DPD policies and developments relevant legislative proposals or enactments and administrative and case law changes that bear on the practice area.
- Act as a catalyst for problem-solving and conflict resolution within the unit and the Division.
- Carry a partial caseload requiring excellent legal representation and trial skills excellent rapport with clients strong legal research strong negotiation skills and all necessary skills required of a caseload-carrying attorney.
- Maintain and update as needed a computerized case-management system to track caseloads and individual assignments. Have a working knowledge of the case management system and learn to utilize reports to evaluate and support the work of the unit.
- Identify cases that present an ethical conflict of interest for the Department of Public Defense.
- Work with Directors Office to ensure unit employees have the training and resources they need to do their jobs well.
- Actively support and promote DPDs mission and all policies and practices including internal and external activities that strengthen public defense in King County.
- Serve at least twice a year on call and supervise the on-call attorneys.
- Be an active member of the Division Management Team attend meetings relay necessary information and assist with office-wide initiatives and operations matters.
- Work closely with all supervisors to coordinate overlapping work and support the efficient operation of the division.
- Set a positive and supportive tone in the Division.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Experience Qualifications Knowledge Skills
- Juris Doctor degree from accredited law school
- Member of the Washington State Bar Association in good standing and have been a lawyer for at least three years.
- Murder/Sex/Felony High qualified.
- Washington State Drivers License or ability to travel to required destinations.
- Community resources and referral agencies appropriate to the specific program service.
- Computer applications particularly as related to the performance of legal research and case management.
- Case management.
- Application of legal principles to individual cases or problems.
- Judicial and trial procedure and rules of evidence.
- The principles methods and practices of legal research and investigation.
- Collaborate with Human Resource Manager interpret and apply DPD and County Human Resource and Coalition Labor Agreements procedures and policies.
- Manage a work unit creating systems that allow for workflow to be predictable and staff to be supported to complete the necessary work.
- Build a strong attorney/client relationship.
- Communicate and work collaboratively with all segments of judicial and criminal justice systems.
- Investigate and document complaints and improve client relations.
- Train supervise evaluate mentor and improve the work of attorneys and professional legal and support staff including establishing goals and assigning responsibilities communicating work performance standards establishing work priorities evaluating and disciplining.
- Assess and make program changes and address and resolve safety training and personnel issues.
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills communicate clearly professionally and with empathy.
- Understanding and interpreting complex laws and regulations and analyzing complex legal documents and instruments.
- The ability to present facts evidence and precedents concerned in complex cases in the form of briefs opinions orders or decisions.
- Understanding and interpreting constitutional provisions statutes administrative regulations and precedents.
- Researching interpreting applying and explaining applicable laws codes regulations and court decisions.
- Working and building rapport with diverse cultural socio-economic and ethnic populations.
- Demonstrating commitment to the clients of DPD.
Supplemental Information
WHY KING COUNTY
At King County our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
King County offers great benefits to include a pension plan holidays transit pass plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.
ARE YOU READY TO APPLY
This recruitment is INTERNAL ONLY and open to current King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) employees.DPD is currently accepting applications to fill one (1) or more career service Public Defense Attorney Supervisor positions in our ACA Division. Practice area placement will be Seattle Felonies as the co-supervisor.
If you are a current supervising attorney in ACAD and wish to be considered for transfer to another practice area you should e-mail the ACAD Interim Managing Attorney Dee Brown at no later than the closing date of this recruitment.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and/or indicate transfer preferences.
Forms and Materials Required- An online employment application completed at cover letter no more than two pages summarizing your experience and how you meet the required qualifications knowledge and skills for the position.
- Resume.
Work Location and Schedule
DPD employees enjoy a flexible hybrid in-office/telecommute workplace structure. This role should expect to work both in the office and telecommute while being required to report to other locations such as court or jail facilities. Onsite reporting requirements are determined by the departments operational needs and may be adjusted accordingly.This position will be located at various ACAD offices in Seattle and Kent. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and not overtime eligible. This position is expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform the job and some night and weekend work is required.
DPD maintains physical offices in the following locations:- Dexter Horton Building 710 Second Avenue Seattle
- Jefferson Street Building 1401 East Jefferson Seattle
- Meeker Street Building 420 West Harrison Street Kent
Rotations of work/location andpractice areaand/or workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need.
DPD Policies
DPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedureswill apply to applicants such that if you work or have worked for one of DPDs divisions you may be ineligible to work in another division.
Outside Work Policy for Attorneyswill apply to employees such that you must receive approval from your supervisor and Managing Attorney before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.
Union
The position is represented by the Teamsters Local 117.
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington States best employers.
Together with leadership and our employees were changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a differenceCome join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nations best places to live work and play.
Guided by ourTrue North we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting support and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds andidentities to apply including Native American and people of color immigrants refugees women LGBTQ people living with disabilities and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race color religion national origin sex (including gender identity sexual orientation and pregnancy) age genetic information disability veteran status or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions including but not limited to recruitment hiring selection for training promotion transfer demotion layoff termination rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110 this salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidates current experience education skills and abilities related to the position. King County offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical dental vision flexible spending accounts life and disability insurance for employees and dependents; retirement and deferred compensation. For additional information please review the detailedsummary of benefitsoffered by King County.
Required Experience:
Manager
Employment Type
Full-Time
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