Senior Assistant Public Defender

Job Summary

The Senior Assistant Public Defender provides support for adult indigent defendants at Superior Defense, a nonprofit organization that contracts with Iron, Delta, and Dickinson Counties to provide exceptional legal representation to indigent clients facing criminal charges. This position works closely with other members of the holistic defense team to perform legal research, handle cases in District and Circuit Court, and provide representation to individuals on the arraignment docket. This position serves as a case-review team member and mentor to Assistant Public Defenders.

Essential Job Functions

1. The Senior Assistant Public Defender provides legal representation to clients appointed to the office, primarily within the Delta County courts, and carries a full caseload as determined by the Chief Public Defender.
2. Handles all levels of criminal charges in District and Circuit Court and the specialty courts with a focus on high-level felonies.
3. Promptly meets with clients to understand goals and expectations and is passionate about advocating for client needs and interests
4. Analyzes charging instrument and discovery as furnished by the prosecution.
5. Conducts investigations and arranges for follow up investigation as necessary.
6. Able to handle all aspects of the clients matter through negotiations, plea, or trial; maintains appropriate client contact throughout the entire process.
7. Serves as temporary counsel for Defendants facing arraignment, confer with those Defendants, and determine whether they are requesting appointment of and qualify for court-appointed counsel.
8. Maintains relevance on current developments in the law through external and internal trainings and independent study of case law.
9. Ensures that files are kept current so that other members of the office can determine that status and provide coverage as necessary.
10. Performs legal research.
11. Maintains availability for mentoring and consultation as directed by the Chief Public Defender.
12. Serves as a team leader and mentor for other Assistant Public Defender in case review.
13. Serves as co-counsel on trials by other staff attorneys.
14. Directs or drafts any necessary motions, briefs, and orders.
15. Reviews pleadings and court filings drafted by the organization with a high level of scrutiny for proper grammar, style, and relevance.
16. Helps to create policies and procedures for organization interaction with the Courts and the Prosecution.

This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, or modified at any time.

Education and Experience

Candidates must possess a Juris Doctor degree with a law license from the State Bar of Michigan as evidence of continued good professional standing and authority to practice law through the state. Candidates are also required to have a minimum of three years of progressively more responsible roles in the practice of Criminal Law and significant jury trial experience. Experience as lead counsel on at least five felony-level jury trials is preferred.

Desired Qualifications

• Ability to work compassionately and respectfully with clients in crisis.
• Experience working with individuals from multi-ethnic communities.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Possess a demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and/or indigent defense.
• Ability to operate technology to search and retrieve information.
• Ability to operate digital equipment such as phones, computer, fax, calculator, printer, copier, scanner, digital video and digital cameras, cell phone extractions, video editing.
• Utilize services of interpreters as necessary to communicate with clients, witnesses and other persons related to the case.
• Maintain confidentiality with highly sensitive information.
• Accept direction and follow office policies and procedures.
• Work independently as well as collaboratively in a legal services team atmosphere.

Additional Requirements

• Must maintain regular, reliable and predictable attendance
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and the ability to access all courtrooms within Iron, Delta, and Dickinson Counties
• Comfortable with the daily use of technology
• Ability to perform responsibilities without additional clerical support, if necessary
• Must maintain State Bar of Michigan Certificate of Admittance throughout employment
• May be assigned to work in any public defender office or court location
• Comfortable working with individuals charged and/or convicted of a variety of criminal offenses, including in community and jail settings
• This position may have irregular assignments to other service areas
• Some call may become necessary

This description is intended to describe the type and level of work to be performed by a person assigned to this job.  It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required by the individual employed with Superior Defense.