Attorney - Senior Assistant Public Defender - Chesterfield

Title: Attorney - Senior Assistant Public Defender - Chesterfield

Hiring Range: $78,465.00 + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: CHESTERFIELD 326

Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Virginia Defenders- Indigent Defense Commission (IDC) is excited to announce the opportunity to be on the front lines of what many consider to be the modern-day Civil Rights Movement-criminal justice and justice reform. This is a unique platform to develop and pursue social change and impact the lives of clients. The IDC’s Chesterfield Public Defender Office is seeking an experienced, dynamic criminal defense attorney to serve our mission of protecting and defending the rights and dignity of clients through zealous, compassionate, high-quality legal advocacy. The Senior Assistant Public Defender reports to the Chief Public Defender of the Chesterfield Office and is employed at-will.

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

Duties:
Duties include conducting client and witness interviews, working with staff investigators to investigate cases, and litigating pretrial motions. The attorney will be responsible for trying cases in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts, as well as identifying appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients. The Senior Assistant Public Defender will serve as a role model for client-centered representation and collaborative office culture. This position includes assisting the Chief Public Defender in supervising and training attorneys.

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctor (J.D) and Virginia State Bar admission or eligibility for admission by waiver, extensive criminal litigation experience, comprehensive knowledge of Virginia Criminal Law, Constitutional Law and the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel are required. The qualified applicant will be well-organized and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. 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 possess the ability to lead, mentor, and manage and have at least three years of experience as a criminal defense attorney. A valid driver’s license and the means to travel to all courts and regional jails is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Significant experience working in a public defender office is preferred.
Fluency in Spanish is preferred.

Special Instructions: 

RMS provides a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS account to check the status of your application for this position.

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.

You will receive a confirmation number once your application has been successfully submitted. Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry to 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 Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.