Assistant Public Defender I

Starting Compensation:

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Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY

• Attorney providing professional legal representation to indigent adults charged with crime and to juveniles in delinquency proceedings. 
• Practice in magisterial district court, court of common pleas, and Pennsylvania appellate courts.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1.  IN-COURT REPRESENTATION

• Provide competent and effective legal representation to adult defendants and to allegedly delinquent children in the following court proceedings:
• Preliminary hearings in magisterial district court for adults charged with homicide, felony offenses, misdemeanor offenses.
• Trials in magisterial district court for summary offenses in which incarceration is a likely punishment.
• Jury and non-jury trials in the court of common pleas for adults charged with homicide, felony offenses, and misdemeanor offenses.
• Pre-trial hearings, guilty plea hearings, and sentencing hearings in the court of common pleas for adults charged with homicide, felony offenses, and misdemeanor offenses.
• Parole/probation violation hearings in the court of common pleas.
• Administrative parole violation hearings initiated by the Pennsylvania Parole Board.
• Post-Conviction Relief Act hearings in the court of common pleas.
• Proceedings under the Protection from Abuse Act in the court of common pleas.
• Representation of adults in the court of common pleas in miscellaneous matters: support contempt hearings; bench warrant court; fines & costs hearings; summary appeal hearings; Drug Court; Mental Health Court; Veterans Court; and ARD Court.
• Adjudicatory and dispositional hearings in the court of common pleas for children in juvenile delinquency cases.
• Detention hearings in the Youth Intervention Center for children in juvenile delinquency cases.
• Post-dispositional review hearings for children in juvenile delinquency cases.
• Direct appeal of any of the above matters in the Pennsylvania appellate courts.

  2.   OUT-OF-COURT REPRESENTATION

• Provide competent and effective legal representation to adult defendants and to allegedly delinquent children in the following out-of-court activities:
• Communicate with clients in various settings: live office interviews; prison interviews; telephone calls; and letters.
• Communicate with client's family, loved-ones, doctors, teachers, social workers.
• Perform factual investigation individually or coordinate factual investigation with     Public Defender investigative staff.
• Review file materials, including all police reports, witness statements, expert reports, and medical records.
• Coordinate the involvement of defense expert either hired by Public Defender or appointed by the court.
• Perform legal research.
• Prepare legal documents for filing in the court of common pleas and the Pennsylvania appellate courts.
• Prepare oral presentations for the court proceedings identified above at Essential Job Function #1.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Baccalaureate degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science).
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• License to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge skills and ability to perform this job.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/CLEARANCES

• License to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the rules and regulations of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; if meeting the criteria for "driver" designation under the Lancaster County Transportation Policy, then compliance with "Authorized Driver Guidelines" under same Policy; Criminal history background check.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Commitment to providing a high level of professional service to indigent adults charged with crime and to children in delinquency proceedings. 
• Ability to communicate with clientele, opposing counsel, judges, court-related personnel, prison personnel, and witnesses.

• Work is sedentary in nature. 
• Except in the context of driving a motor vehicle in the course of employment, there are no specific physical demands.

The County of Lancaster offers comprehensive benefits to our employees.  Read more about our benefits here.
Lancaster County Government provides Equal Employment Opportunity for all persons regardless of race, religion, age, sex, national origin, genetic information or disability. The County also observes all applicable laws regarding Veterans status. The County reflects this action in all areas of employment and compensation practices and policies. Employment with the County is based upon the ability to perform the job as well as dependability and reliability once an individual is hired.