Senior Assistant Public Defender - Portsmouth

Title: Senior Assistant Public Defender - Portsmouth

State Role Title: Senior Assistant Public Defender - Portsmouth

Hiring Range: $97,306.00 + State Benefits + $12,000.00 Local Salary Supplement

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location:PORTSMOUTH 305

Agency Website:www.vadefenders.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Portsmouth Public Defender Office of the IDC is looking for an experienced and dynamic criminal defense attorney to fill the position of Senior Assistant Public Defender. Successful candidates will demonstrate commitment to our mission of protecting and defending the rights and dignity of our clients through zealous, compassionate, high-quality legal advocacy. The Senior Assistant Public Defender reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Portsmouth Office and is employed at-will.

Duties:

• Conducting client and witness interviews, working with staff investigators to investigate cases, and filing and litigating pretrial motions.
• Litigating or assisting others to litigate cases, including serious felonies, in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts, as well as identifying appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients.
• Serving as a role model for client-centered representation and collaborative office culture built on candor, trust, and teamwork.
• Assisting the management team and the Chief Public Defender in the supervision, mentoring, and training of attorneys and management of the office.
• Direct supervision of a team of attorneys and core staff.

The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce and staff. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D) and Virginia State Bar admission or eligibility for admission by waiver, extensive criminal litigation experience (including jury trial experience as lead counsel), comprehensive knowledge of Virginia Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, and the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel are required.
• A valid driver's license and the means to travel to all courts and regional jails are required.
• The qualified applicant will be well-organized and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Candidates must have the ability to argue legal positions persuasively, master complex subject matter, and thoroughly prepare cases.
• Extensive knowledge of criminal law, criminal procedure, and evidence is required as well as the ability to mentor and serve as a role model of effective, zealous representation.
• Teamwork is highly valued in this office, and the qualified applicant will have demonstrated proficiency in working with others as a member of a criminal defense team to achieve successful outcomes for clients.
• Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to developing attorneys and staff with a teaching/mentoring mindset and a management approach that aims to create a culture dedicated to client-centered representation, fosters candor between colleagues, and is receptive to constructive criticism and feedback.

Additional Considerations

Significant and recent experience working in a public defender office or as a criminal defense attorney representing indigent clients will be strongly considered. Significant and serious criminal jury trial experience will be strongly considered. Prior experience in a supervisory or leadership role will be strongly considered. Prior experience with the Portsmouth court system will be strongly considered.

Special Instructions

Applications for this position require a cover letter and resume. Failure to submit both may disqualify you from further consideration.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

While creating an account through the state system will save your basic information (please remember your username and password), applications are NOT saved for future openings. We encourage you to apply to any and all of the positions you may be considering within the IDC.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. IDC uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship.

Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted. IDC does not accept "see resume" as a response to any question. Information on the application is the primary source used for screening the position. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants if requested, during the application and/or interview process.

This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan.

Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry into the status of an application. Please login to the RMS system for status updates.

Contact Information

Name: Ashley Washington

Phone: 804-662-7249

Email: recruiting@vadefenders.org

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.