Senior Public Defender

Genesee County, MI is seeking a Senior Public Defender to join our team. As a Senior Public Defender, you will be responsible for providing indigent defense services to adult criminal cases with a concentration in complex life-offense felonies.

The ideal candidate will have a thorough knowledge of modern principles and practices of law, including the Michigan Court Rules, Michigan Rules of Evidence, and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct. They will also possess proficiency in criminal law and trial practice per the MIDC Attorney Qualification Standard.

A strong ability to research and analyze legal problems and present findings in an orderly manner is essential. The successful candidate will also be able to maintain confidentiality with highly sensitive information and work effectively with economically disadvantaged individuals and diverse social, cultural, and ethnic populations.

This role requires strong leadership skills, as the Senior Public Defender will lead an interdisciplinary defense team in practicing holistic defense and provide indigent defense attorney services support, consultation, and training for less experienced attorneys and interns.

In terms of salary, this position offers an estimated $115,672 per year, commensurate with experience. Benefits include participation in community meetings, MIDC meetings, Fellowship and Internship programs, and advisory groups, as well as opportunities for professional growth and development.

• Responsibilities include appearing at arraignments, pretrials, probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, motion hearings, review hearings, dispositional hearings, and other critical stages
• Reviewing charging documents, police reports, and other discovery as provided by the prosecution
• Promptly meeting with clients as required by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC)
• Determining what further fact investigation to undertake and directing that investigation
• Negotiating with the prosecution and advising clients on the status of those negotiations
• Conducting complex criminal litigation in areas including but not limited to homicide, sexual assault, multiple co-defendant cases, gang-related criminal conduct, and continuing criminal enterprise crimes