Chief Trial Lawyer

General Summary:
Under direction of the Public Defender, manages, coordinates, and oversees the daily operations and activities of the Office of Public Defender. Coordinates activities of strategic planning, budget development, administration, and supervision of assigned employees. Represents indigent defendants in felony, high profile, or serious criminal defense cases.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Represents indigent clients in complex, and/or high profile, and/or serious criminal cases, including life offenses.
• Develops and implements long and short-term strategic planning initiatives, including procedures required to comply with and measure compliance with indigent criminal defense standards.
• Completes special projects and assignments necessary to department operations.
• Assists others in determining needs, addressing issues, and administering department policies and procedures.
• Collaboratively develops and implements department policies and procedures.
• Conducts staff meetings, Roster Attorney file reviews and Public Defender attorney file reviews as assigned.
• Manages and supervises daily department operations of the Office of Public Defender, including department technology and department website.
• Assists in the preparation and administration of the department budget and grants.
• Reviews financial information, record management, and department practices, and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Provides oversight and approval of external communication, news releases, press releases and other external communications before distribution in publicity cases.
• Represents the Office of Public Defender at job-related meetings, as directed.
• Assists with review of Expert and Investigator requests.
• Assists with management of investigator and Social Worker resources, as assigned.
• Operates an automobile to perform assigned job functions.
• Performs department related work as required.

Qualifications:
Required Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited college or university is required
• Five (5) years of experience in the practice of criminal and/or civil law
• Qualified as a class A, B, and C attorney with the Macomb County System of Indigent Defense or eligible to be qualified

Required licenses or certifications:

• Current membership in good standing in the State Bar of Michigan
• Possession of a valid Michigan driver's license and operable, insured automobile for authorized travel

Competencies for Successful Performance of Job Duties:
Knowledge of:

• Conducting electronic Legal Research
• Zoom and Webex conferencing
• Use of forms as part of department operations
• Budget and personnel policies and procedures
• Microsoft Office and Google Workspace products
• Modern office procedures and methods
• Manual and electronic Court filing, office file record keeping, and office record retention procedures
• Methods for obtaining and retention of electronic Discovery
• Database applications and report writing, data mining and collection for operational review

Skill in:

• Interpersonal skills necessary to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships with staff and the public
• Providing customer service to internal and external customers via phone, email and in person
• Performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature
• Organization and time management
• Assigning, prioritizing, monitoring, and reviewing work assignments
• Operating personal computers with current versions of office efficiency software and applications

Ability to:

• Collaborate on matters of department Policy making
• Make decisions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations
• Work with diverse populations
• Work in an environment which embraces the county's Dignity Campaign
• Effectively speak, write and understand the English language
• Effectively speak, write and understand a language other than English is preferred
• Understand and carry out oral and/or written instructions
• Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files
• Maintain the confidentiality of information
• Work independently
• Train, supervise, direct, and organize the work of others
• Learn new policies, practices and procedures
• Read and understand laws, rulings and other published guidance