What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Public Defender position at Law Office of the Public Defender, Tenth Judicial Circuit?
ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Salary: $65,000; Competitive Raises
Geographic Location: Bartow, Polk County
Starting Date: Immediately
RESPONSIBILITIES/SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
- Prepare cases for defense of indigent persons charged with criminal offenses
- Interviews clients and prospective witnesses
- Prepares or oversees the drafting of briefs, memoranda, pleadings, and other legal papers
- Conducts legal research
- Represents misdemeanor, felony, or juvenile clients in court arraignments, pre-trial hearings, trials, dispositions, and other proceedings
- Interviews clients in custody and makes initial decisions concerning bail, release from custody, and mental competency to stand trial
- Determines need for expert witnesses
- Performs related work as required.
ATTORNEY QUALIFICATIONS:
- Active member in good standing with The Florida Bar or recent law school graduate awaiting Bar Exam or results
- Reside in the 10th Circuit or surrounding community within a reasonable time of accepting employment
- Knowledge of criminal law and procedure
- Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of legal research and investigation
- Knowledge of judicial procedures and the Rules of Evidence
- Ability to manage a high-volume caseload while maintaining adequate levels of communication and attention to individual clients.
- Ability to make regularly scheduled court appearances; conduct case evaluation, investigation and preparation including but not limited to witness interviews, legal research, motion preparation, and related work as required; occasional unscheduled matters may arise
- Basic computer skills
- Commitment to public service and protecting the rights of the criminally accused
WE ARE AN AGGRESSIVE TRIAL OFFICE. IF YOU WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN CASES; IF YOU WANT TO GET OUT YOUR CHAIR, OUT OF YOUR OFFICE AND INTO A COURTROOM; IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A TOP NOTCH TRIAL LAWYER – THIS IS THE OFFICE FOR YOU.
THE BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA:
Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:
- Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
- Paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
- State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
- Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com)
- Flexible Spending Accounts;
- Tuition waivers;
- And more!
For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN THE 10TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT:
Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties are ideally located:
- On the I-4 corridor midway between Tampa and Orlando
- Less congested than major metropolitan areas
- Less than an hour drive to the Gulf beaches and Florida’s theme parks
- Low cost of living
- High quality schools
- Beautiful Bok Tower, Legoland, and spring training home of the Detroit Tigers
- World famous fishing and water sports on hundreds of lakes
- See the real Florida in numerous state and local parks with hiking trails and bountiful wildlife
TO APPLY:
- Submit resume through the People First website at https://jobs.myflorida.com/; or
- Submit resume to the Office of the Public Defender, Tenth Judicial Circuit via U.S. mail to Tami Locke, Administrative Assistant, P.O. Box 9000 – Drawer PD. Bartow, Florida 33831; or
- Submit resume to the Office of the Public Defender, Tenth Judicial Circuit via email to pd10email@pd10.org.
Salary : $65,000