Public Defender

This is not a remote position.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position, which serves at the will of the Mono County Board of Supervisors, is responsible for managing the indigent defense program in Mono County. It is not anticipated, nor authorized without explicit Board of Supervisors consent, that the incumbent in this position will litigate cases on behalf of indigent individuals.

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED

Support staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(The following is used as a partial description and is not restrictive as to duties required.)

• Administers and directs a program of legal counseling and representation for persons accused of violations of criminal law, juveniles brought before the juvenile court, and persons undergoing involuntary commitment proceedings for mental illness, drug addiction, or alcoholism.
• Responsible for the creation of the standards, policies, training, procedures and data collection for the Public Defender's Office.
• Monitors and manages the performance of contracted public defenders.
• Assists in the hiring and evaluation of professional and support staff.
• Plans, organizes, directs and manages staff and contracted public defenders engaged in providing legal defense services to the public in accordance with policies, procedures and applicable laws including interviewing, hiring, training, mentoring; assigning and directing work; providing information, feedback, or assistance; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Supervises contract attorneys who will take appropriate steps to provide effective legal defense services in criminal court, juvenile delinquency court, conservatorships, and child welfare proceedings, including advising on proper pleas, investigation, research, motions, pretrial hearings, preliminary hearings, negotiations, trials and sentencing.
• Directs the preparation and administration of the office's annual budget.
• Seeks and oversees the application for grants and other state or federal aid that may become available.
• Makes annual, and as necessary, presentations to the Board of Supervisors.
• Acts as the primary representative of the Public Defender's Office in contacts with the public, community organizations, law enforcement agencies, criminal justice partnerships, and other government jurisdictions.
• Serves as liaison with judges and other representatives of the Court, the County's District Attorney Office, Probation Department, and other County departments, and law enforcement agencies.
• Confers with defense and prosecution attorneys, probation authorities, investigators, court officials, mental health professionals, agencies providing services to clients, and law enforcement agencies to discuss diversion programs, alternatives to traditional models of prosecution and other cross-departmental collaborative projects to improve community safety.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of :

Ability to :

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be :

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possession of a valid driver's license and an active California Bar Association License, in good standing.

Applicants may be subject to :

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sit for extended periods, frequently stand, and walk; normal dexterity and hand-eye coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 pounds; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, copiers and FAX; ability to operate an automobile

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is usually performed in an office environment, with frequent contact with staff and the public.

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