Responsibilities

Provides legal counsel and criminal defense to individuals charged with Murder, all levels and classes of felonies and misdemeanors, and violations of probation.

Provides legal counsel and defense for juvenile offenders in delinquency cases, as well as for children and parents in CHINS and Termination of Parental Rights cases. Also assigned to other legal matters as needed and as assigned by the Judges of the Wayne Circuit and Superior Courts.

Interviews clients and gathers information.

Interviews witnesses for formal legal discovery.

Research suppression issues in cases.

Negotiates with Prosecutors to determine best resolution of cases.

Meets with clients to discuss negotiations and pre-sentence reports.

Prepares clients for mercy plea hearings and trials.

Attends plea and sentencing hearings.

Reviews advance sheets for law changes and conducts legal research. Attends legal seminars to meet required continuing education laws.

Prepares related trial work for court and jury.

Performs related duties as assigned by the Judges of the Wayne Circuit and Superior Courts.

Qualifications

Doctoral Degree in Jurisprudence and Indiana license to practice law.

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Thorough knowledge of criminal law, juvenile law, constitutional law, and federal, state, and local laws/ordinances, with the ability to effectively administer department operations, counsel clients, and argue cases before the court.

Knowledge of standard legal procedures and practices of Wayne County courts and Public Defender’s Office.

Ability to use standard office equipment, including computer, printer, calculator, and transcriber/dictaphone.

Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences between data, people, or things.

Ability to analyze, evaluate, observe, diagnose, and investigate.

Ability to coordinate, place, make determinations, take action based on data analysis.

Ability to understand and follow oral or written instructions, write notes, and request supplies in writing or orally.

Ability to file, post, mail materials, copy data from one document to another and to interview to obtain information.

Ability to prepare presentations and interview/counsel/advise people.

Ability to write detailed reports, such as motions and briefs.

Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with irate/hostile persons.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to state requirements.

Ability to comply with all employer/department personnel policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to work alone with minimum supervision.

Ability to work on several tasks at the same time, and work rapidly for long periods, often under time pressure.

Ability to read and carry out simple instructions.

Ability to plan and lay out assigned work projects.

Ability to read/interpret detailed prints, sketches, layouts, specifications, and maps.

Ability to count, make simple arithmetic additions/subtractions.

Ability to occasionally respond to emergencies from off duty status.

Possession of a valid operator’s license and demonstrated safe driving record.

Incumbent defends individuals in accordance with legal requirements, exercising judgment to effectively research and investigate cases, prepare, and argue cases before the court, and ensure most appropriate defense as individual cases demand. Incumbent’s work involves a range of duties often requiring careful consideration of a variety of circumstances and involves multiple choices and interrelationships.