What are the responsibilities and job description for the Parent Defender position at State of North Carolina?
SALARY GRADE: Flat Rated
The Office of the Parent Defender (OPD) was created to provide and promote high-quality legal representation for parents with an abuse/neglect/dependency or termination of parental rights (AND/TPR) case at the trial or appellate level.
The Parent Defender is responsible for the assignment of appeals in AND/TPR cases, civil contempt cases, and when the respondent/defendant is indigent. The assignments are to in-house assistant parent defenders or to qualified and trained roster attorneys. Responsibilities regarding evaluation and compensation of appellate counsel, standards for appellate representation, substitution of counsel, and removal from the appellate roster lie with the Parent Defender.
The Parent Defender works with the UNC School of Government, Court Improvement Program, and others to develop training programs and other resources to ensure that trial and appellate attorneys have the qualifications, training, and support they need to be effective. The Parent Defender is responsible for creating and maintaining a website and briefbank, template motions and orders, research memos, and performance guidelines. The Parent Defender provides case consultations with trial and appellate attorneys in AND/TPR and contempt cases.
The Parent Defender is responsible for managing and expanding NC’s Interdisciplinary Parent Representation (IPR) Program, which pairs experienced social workers with parent attorneys to enhance legal representation for parents involved in an AND case. Additionally, the Parent Defender is responsible for managing and expanding OPD’s contract program to recruit and retain qualified attorneys by providing them with a simplified way of contracting and ensuring a monthly payment.
The Parent Defender collaborates with other state agencies and stakeholder groups around policy development, legislative proposals, and state-wide initiatives in AND/TPR cases to ensure the voice of the parents and their attorneys is represented.
The Parent Defender is also responsible for managing grant applications and funding opportunities to support the OPD’s programs and initiatives. This includes researching potential grants, writing proposals, ensuring compliance with grant requirements, and managing grant-funded projects.
Other duties of this position include: supervising legal, program, and support staff; creating and updating needed office policies; recruiting and supervising law interns.
The Parent Defender is appointed by the Commission on Indigent Defense Services to serve a four-year term effective May 1, 2025, and will serve at the pleasure of the IDS Commission.
Knowledge of: Must have extensive knowledge of the law and procedure governing AND/TPR cases in North Carolina. Must have extensive trial and/or appellate experience in AND/TPR cases. Teaching background or experience preferred.
Skills in: Must be able to work efficiently under time pressure, and handle and prioritize multiple tasks and projects. Must be able to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and be attentive to detail. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school and an active license to practice law in North Carolina, or eligible for admission by comity.
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Charmaine J. Leeks
NC Administrative Office of the Courts
Human Resources Division
https://www.nccourts.gov/about/about-judicial-branch/careers
Salary : $100,000 - $138,396
