Assistant Public Defender I

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Job Description:
Job Summary:

• Attorney providing professional legal representation to indigent adults charged with crime and to juveniles in delinquency proceedings.
• Practice in magisterial district court, court of common pleas, and Pennsylvania appellate courts.

Essential Job Functions:
In-Court Representation

• Provide Competent and Effective Legal Representation to Adult Defendants and To Allegedly Delinquent Children in The Following Court Proceedings:
• Preliminary Hearings in Magisterial District Court for Adults Charged with Homicide, Felony Offenses, Misdemeanor Offenses.
• Trials in Magisterial District Court for Summary Offenses in Which Incarceration Is a Likely Punishment.
• Jury and Non-Jury Trials in The Court of Common Pleas for Adults Charged with Homicide, Felony Offenses, and Misdemeanor Offenses.
• Pre-Trial Hearings, Guilty Plea Hearings, and Sentencing Hearings in The Court of Common Pleas for Adults Charged with Homicide, Felony Offenses, and Misdemeanor Offenses.
• Parole/probation Violation Hearings in The Court of Common Pleas.
• Administrative Parole Violation Hearings Initiated by The Pennsylvania Parole Board.
• Post-Conviction Relief Act Hearings in The Court of Common Pleas.
• Proceedings Under the Protection from Abuse Act in The Court of Common Pleas.
• Representation of Adults in The Court of Common Pleas in Miscellaneous Matters: Support Contempt Hearings; Bench Warrant Court; Fines & Costs Hearings; Summary Appeal Hearings; Drug Court; Mental Health Court; Veterans Court; and Ard Court.
• Adjudicatory and Dispositional Hearings in The Court of Common Pleas for Children in Juvenile Delinquency Cases.
• Detention Hearings in The Youth Intervention Center for Children in Juvenile Delinquency Cases.
• Post-Dispositional Review Hearings for Children in Juvenile Delinquency Cases.
• Direct Appeal of Any of The Above Matters in The Pennsylvania Appellate Courts.

Out-Of-Court Representation

• Provide Competent and Effective Legal Representation to Adult Defendants and To Allegedly Delinquent Children in The Following Out-Of-Court Activities:
• Communicate with Clients in Various Settings: Live Office Interviews; Prison Interviews; Telephone Calls; and Letters.
• Communicate with Client's Family, Loved-Ones, Doctors, Teachers, Social Workers.
• Perform Factual Investigation Individually or Coordinate Factual Investigation with Public Defender Investigative Staff.
• Review File Materials, Including All Police Reports, Witness Statements, Expert Reports, and Medical Records.
• Coordinate the Involvement of Defense Expert Either Hired by Public Defender or Appointed by The Court.
• Perform Legal Research.
• Prepare Legal Documents for Filing in The Court of Common Pleas and The Pennsylvania Appellate Courts.
• Prepare Oral Presentations for The Court Proceedings Identified Above at Essential Job Function #1.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Baccalaureate Degree (e.G. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science).
• Juris Doctor (j.D.) Degree.
• License to Practice Law in The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Any Equivalent Combination of Education, Experience and Training that Provides the Required Knowledge Skills and Ability to Perform This Job.

Required Licenses/certifications/clearances
License to Practice Law in The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Under the Rules and Regulations of The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; if Meeting the Criteria for "driver" Designation Under the Lancaster County Transportation Policy, Then Compliance with "authorized Driver Guidelines" Under Same Policy; Criminal History Background Check.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Commitment to Providing a High Level of Professional Service to Indigent Adults Charged with Crime and To Children in Delinquency Proceedings.
• Ability to Communicate with Clientele, Opposing Counsel, Judges, Court-Related Personnel, Prison Personnel, and Witnesses.

Physical Requirements/work Environment

• Work Is Sedentary in Nature.
• Except in The Context of Driving a Motor Vehicle in The Course of Employment, There Are No Specific Physical Demand

The County of Lancaster Offers Comprehensive Benefits to Our Employees. Read More About Our Benefits Here.