Deputy Division Chief Appellate Division

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) is seeking anexperienced highly motivatedattorney to serve as the Deputy DivisionChief for our Appellate Division. This is a criticalleadership role thatassists the Division Chief in managing all aspects of the offices appellatepractice ensuring high-quality legal representation forindigent clients in appeals to theAppellate Court of Maryland and theSupreme Court of Maryland. The Appellate Division is a busy public defenderoffice of approximately 40 attorneys and staff. MOPDs vision isforJustice Fairness and Dignity for All. This is an internalpromotional opportunity and isopen to current Office of the PublicDefender attorneys only.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive appellate experience strongmanagement andmentorship abilities and an unwavering commitment topublic defense and equal justice. We arecommitted to building aculturally diverse staff and strongly encourage peoplehistoricallyunderrepresented in the practice of law to apply.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The Deputy Division Chief (Deputy DC) is responsible for working togetherwith the DivisionChief to ensure the highest standards of clientrepresentation supervision of personnel andoperations for the StatewideAppellate Division. The Deputy DC should have strong leadershipskills toensure consistent implementation of OPDs core values and vision. TheDeputy DC willbe responsible for providing management supervision andpersonnel decisions in the AppellateDivision.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Deputy Division Chief will work closely with theDivision Chief and undertake a combination of administrative supervisory andlegal duties including:

Assisting in the direct supervision and evaluation ofa team of appellate attorneys paralegals and support staff.

Assisting in the management of the Appellate DivisionPanel including the assignment of cases to panel counsel.

Providing mentorship and training to less experiencedstaff on brief writing oral argument preparation and complex legal research.

Conducting case reviews to monitor attorneyperformance case loads and adherence to legal and professional standards.

CASE MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY:

Helping to develop and implement appellatestrategies policies and best practices.

Managing a personal caseload of complexhigh-profile or time-sensitive appeals.

Reviewing and editing drafts of appellate briefsmotions and petitions to ensure legal excellence and compliance with theMaryland Rules of Procedure.

Advising and assisting trial attorneys in identifyingand preserving issues for appeal.

ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS

Assisting in budgeting resource allocation anddeveloping annual goals for the division.

Representing the Appellate Division in internal andexternal meetings including collaborating with other OPD divisions andexternal stakeholders (Maryland Courts Defense Bar).

Ensuring compliance with court rules reportingrequirements and OPD policies.

Responding to written and oral communications fromprospective and current clients of the Appellate Division.

Continuously seek professional and personal development throughtrainings CLEs and trialskills courses.

Performs other duties as determined by the State Public Defender andDivision Chief.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND REQUIREMENTS

Demonstrated leadership abilities including management & supervisory abilities (2-5 years).

Excellent writing research and oral advocacy skills.

Commitment to addressing systemic inadequacies and inequities in thecriminal and juvenilejustice systems.

Demonstrated mentorship communication supervisory client advocacyand managementabilities.

Substantial litigation experience and strong litigation skills (min. 2years appellate litigationexperience).

Experience arguing cases before the Supreme Court of Maryland or theAppellate Court ofMaryland.

Deep knowledge of Maryland criminal law and Maryland appellateprocedure.

Exceptional organizational and administrative skills necessary tomanage dynamic teams andhigh-volume caseloads.

Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to communicateeffectively with colleaguesadversaries clients and parents.

Active membership in good standing in the Maryland Bar or Bar ofanother state. Attorneysbarred in another state must become member of theMaryland Bar within 18 months of thestart date.

Current member of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is a promotional opportunity for current MOPD attorneys at Grade 23or below. Salary isdependent on experience and salary rules will apply toState of Maryland employees.

Assistant Public Defender Headquarter Supervisor- starting at$134802.00 (Grade 24: Step 15)

Please visit the State of Maryland Employees page here to review benefitinformation.

HOW TO APPLY

If you wish to be considered please click here to fill out theapplication and upload the followingdocuments in one PDF attachmentthrough the Resume Tab in the JobAps Application: (1) acurrent resume(2) a cover letter and (3) a list of four professional references.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Assistant Public Defenders are full-time employees and cannot engage inthe privatepractice of law while in this position. MD Code CriminalProcedure Art. Section 16-203(d)(2). Assistant Public Defenders cannot engagein the private practice of law while inthis position.

As a State agency the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) isan affirmativeaction and equal opportunity employer. MOPD is committed tothe full inclusion of allqualified individuals without regard to racecolor religion sex physical or mentaldisability age sexualorientation gender identity national origin veteran status orgeneticinformation.

All applicants must be able to communicate with clients and visitors andpossess the abilityto complete tasks in a fast-paced work must be able to work invarious positions and travel to variouscourtrooms office environments and detentionfacilities throughout thestate. MOPD is further committed to providing equal opportunityandreasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment itsservicesprograms and activities by modifying or adjusting the job applicationprocess or the job orwork environment to make reasonable accommodationsto the known applicant oremployee to enable the applicant or employee beconsidered for the position they desire; toperform the essentialfunctions of the position in question; or to enjoy equal benefitsandprivileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situatedemployees withoutdisabilities unless the accommodation imposes an unduehardship.

Applicants must be able to operate a computer and other office have access to a motor vehicle or be able to navigatepublic transportation. If areasonable accommodation is needed pleasecontact Tawanda Jackson Human ResourcesSupervisor at