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SUMMARY: The Nueces County Public Defender’s Office is seeking an Assistant Public Defender – Misdemeanor Attorney I to represent indigent individuals facing misdemeanor charges. The Assistant Public Defender will provide a full range of legal services to indigent clients. Although the primary responsibility is misdemeanor cases, the Assistant Public Defender may also work on felony, juvenile, and appeal cases.

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.

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

Performs such other duties as may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Assign and review work of Paralegals, Legal Secretaries, and Investigators. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Nueces County policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; 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.

A qualified unlicensed law school graduate who meets all requirements as set out in House Bill 424 of the 64th Legislature to obtain a Temporary Trial Card from the State Bar of Texas is eligible to apply for this position. The applicant must obtain a Temporary Trial Card from the State Bar of Texas within 60 days of the date of hire.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: License from the Texas State Bar to practice law in the State of Texas. Current Texas Operator's License. Attorneys use their own private vehicles, rather than County cars.

A qualified unlicensed law school graduate who meets all requirements as set out in House Bill 424 of the 64th Legislature to obtain a Temporary Trial Card from the State Bar of Texas is eligible to apply for this position. The applicant must obtain a Temporary Trial Card from the State Bar of Texas within 60 days of the date of hire.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management and public groups.

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 technical instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 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 sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 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 the 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to risk of low radiation while working at the computer terminal. Employee could possibly be exposed to a dangerous defendant or mentally unstable person capable of violence. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

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