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SUMMARY: The Nueces County Public Defender’s Office Assistant Chief Public Defender will represent indigent individuals facing felony charges. The Assistant Chief Public Defender will provide a full range of legal services to indigent clients. The Assistant Chief Public Defender will maintain a partial caseload. Although the primary responsibility is felony cases, the Assistant Chief Public Defender may also handle misdemeanor, juvenile, and appeal cases. The Assistant Chief Public Defender will assist the Chief Public Defender upon request in developing policies and procedures, and in supervising and training all staff. The Assistant Chief Public Defender will assume the duties of the Chief Public Defender in their absence.

The employee is required to be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies, as directed by the Department Head.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

Perform case evaluation, preparation, and management.

Research case law and legal issues. Draft necessary motions, responses, and briefs, and argue them in court.

Conduct background investigation, interview witnesses, victims, and law enforcement officers where appropriate.

Represent clients in court for pretrial, evidentiary hearings and jury/bench trials.

Communicate case evaluation and status to client effectively and in timely manner.

Communicate effectively with judges, court staff, prosecutors, family members, witnesses, and other interested parties.

Participate in training and continuing education to remain informed of new court decisions, laws, and rules and regulations.

Prioritize and organize work to meet filing deadlines and court appearances.

Collaborate with public defender team and relevant service providers.

Supervise and delegate responsibilities to legal secretaries and investigators.

Assist in training less experienced public defenders as requested by Chief Public Defender.

Maintain legal files and records, document case evaluation and activity.

Collaborate with Chief Public Defender to create policies and procedures that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of indigent defense.

Collaborate with Chief Public Defender to provide training and supervision for attorneys and staff.

Perform any other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Shares with Chief Public Defender responsibility for supervising all staff in the Public Defender’s Office. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record which meets standards set by the County and the County's insurance carrier.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Graduation from an accredited law school; at least six years of criminal law experience as an attorney, preferably as a criminal defense attorney; and at least three years of management or supervision experience, which may include management of a law firm or office.

Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, may be considered for current Nueces County employees only.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions in and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: License from the Texas State Bar to practice law in the State of Texas. Texas Driver’s License.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of management principles and practices and ability to motivate, train, supervise and objectively evaluate subordinate professional and support personnel.

Knowledge of local, state, and federal law.

Knowledge of trial procedures.

Ability to evaluate facts, procedures, and legal precedents relevant in complex court cases.

Skill in making persuasive legal arguments.

Knowledge of investigative tools and techniques.

Skill in conducting legal research.

Ability to use computers and relevant software programs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee will visit with clients as necessary at county jail or prison facilities. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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