Diversionary Programs and Alternative Courts Attorney

COUNTY OF BUCKS

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Bucks County Public Defender’s Office is seeking a trial attorney to fill a Diversionary Programs and Alternative Courts Attorney position. Our office has an attorney staff of twenty-seven, and a support staff that includes investigators, social workers and interns. We represent indigent criminal defendants from the preliminary hearing through pretrial motions, trial, sentencing, appeal and the post- conviction process. Our clients’ charges range from minor offenses, such as disorderly conduct, harassment and driving violations, to major offenses, such as robbery, homicide and capital murder. We also represent clients in juvenile delinquency proceedings, protection from abuse contempt hearings, child support contempt hearings, involuntary commitment hearings, and parole/probation violation hearings. Our office works toward getting our clients into various programs such as: Veterans Program, Recovery Court (both at the common pleas and district court levels), Wellness Court, Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition and the Youthful Offender Program. A Diversionary Programs and Alternative courts public defender, after a training period, will specialize in diverting public defender clients from the criminal justice system through the use of diversionary courts and programs, and alternative problem-solving courts and programs that divert clients from trials and final disposition hearings. The focus areas of this Attorney would involve handling cases in the problem-solving courts of Bucks County. This attorney will primarily practice in the Veteran’s Court; Mental Health and Wellness Court; Recovery Court; Mental Health and Competency Hearings, including SPMI Placements; Adult Probation Outmate Program; Youthful Offender Court; Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Court; Adult Probation ADH program; Bail Hearings and Bail Management; as well as other alternative diversionary and problem solving court programs that the County Courts, Adult Probation and other County Agencies may create in the future.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ability to perform the duties that are assigned by the Public Defender, as well as work independently.
• Ability to assume significant responsibility in the early stage of professional development and to assume increasingly higher levels of responsibility in rapid succession.
• Responsibilities include client and witness interviewing, researching and preparing clients for diversionary programs.
• Within 2 months from date of hire is able to demonstrate clear grasp of law. He or she is expected to be proficient in prison duty, client interviewing responsibilities and to be engaged and confident with assigned tasks and court hearings, training as directed by the Public Defender and senior staff.
• Within 9 months* from date of hire has achieved a level of independence where little direction is required in all miscellaneous court appearances such as preliminary hearings, bench warrants, PFA hearings, non-support hearings, bails, mental health, juvenile and various diversion proceedings.
• Other duties may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar or eligible to waive into the Pennsylvania Bar. Will consider candidate taking the bar exam.
• Has and maintains a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license and owns or has access to a vehicle that is insured.
• Exhibit intelligence, commitment and self motivation.

Job Details