Description:
Position Summary:Why It's a Great Opportunity: A Government Entity provides the opportunity to work in a supportive environment with significant training and opportunities to improve trial skills by providing active courtroom experience with ongoing support.
As a DAC employee you will make a difference in people's lives and a positive contribution to A Government Entity. Attorneys will represent indigent clients in all stages of misdemeanor criminal proceedings, including arraignment, motions, trial, and review hearings.
How to be Successful in the Role: To succeed in this role you must have strong interpersonal skills, excellent research and writing skills, demonstrated commitment to social justice, and provide quality legal representation and zealous advocacy for indigent clients at all stages of criminal proceedings.
If you are committed to social justice, passionate about advocating for their clients, are prepared and detail-oriented, can adjust to unexpected circumstances, and ask questions when assistance or guidance is needed, then this role is for you. Prior courtroom experience is preferred but not required.
Your Future in this Role: To advocate for clients at all stages of criminal proceedings, gaining experience and expertise, and progressively taking on new challenging cases and legal issues. New attorneys will have at least one other attorney assigned to a courtroom with them, they will be assigned a mentor, and the Department regularly hosts in-house trainings throughout the year (approximately 18 per year), as well as, provides access to other training resources, including statewide memberships.
Core Daily Responsibilities:
- Provide legal representation for accused at in-custody arraignment proceedings.
- Preparation and presentation at pretrial motion practices.
- Trial preparation, investigation and presentation.
- Plea negotiation processes.
- Responsibility to present appeals to Superior Court and provide legal representation during the appellate process.
- Representation at sentencing proceedings, post-trial motions and revocation proceedings.
- May supervise Rule 9 Legal Licensed Legal Interns, if eligible.
- Manage a substantial caseload of clients.
- Provide legal representation to all eligible clients who are the subject of civil commitment proceedings in superior court, including representation at 72-hour hearings, 14-day hearings, 90-day hearings, 180-day hearings, motions to revise, appeals and other applicable motions practice.
- Trial preparation, investigation and presentation.
Recruiting Requirements:
- Graduation from an accredited law school
- Member of the Washington State Bar Association (in good standing)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in a courtroom or clinic
Special Requirements/Qualifications:
- As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration
- A valid Washington State Driver's License is required
