Public Defense Attorney

This recruitment is open internally to current employees of the King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) who have completed their probationary period.

The Department of Public Defense (DPD) seeks interested applicants for one (1) or more career service Public Defense Attorney – Supervisor positions in our Associated Counsel for the Accused Division.Practice Area placement will be supervising the juvenile defense unit.

This recruitment will be used to fill future Career Service vacancies over the next six (6) months.

The successful applicant will have a passion for public defense and for representing clients, focusing on their objectives, interests, and dignity. They will be committed to fighting institutional and structural racism and willing to address issues related to equity and social justice within the workplace and the broader work of public defense. They will have a demonstrated ability to supervise the work of other lawyers and support staff and to mentor, develop, evaluate, and support employees in a fast-paced environment.

Candidates should be fully knowledgeable of court procedures and the law; have considerable trial experience; possess excellent writing, research, and analytic skills, and have expertise in case preparation, handling, and disposition. In many instances, attorney supervisors will carry a partial caseload.

Levels of responsibility will range from supervising entry-level attorneys to those who are highly experienced. The supervisor will ensure that caseload standards that foster excellence in legal representation are observed in accordance with Washington State Bar Association guidelines. Supervising attorneys will have a demonstrated commitment to clients, the Division, and DPD. The successful applicant will have an aptitude for management and leadership and will be able to work within a team of managers.

WHY JOIN DPD?

The Department of Public Defense (DPD) provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile defense, family defense (dependency cases), involuntary commitment (mental illness), sex offender commitment, and inquests.

We also advocate to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal legal system and civil legal systems that restrict our clients' liberty and to address systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following

• Supervise attorneys.
• Develop, evaluate, train, mentor, and coach unit employees, and interns.
• Ensure work conforms with prevailing professional standards, applicable statues, rules, and DPD and county policies.
• In consultation and coordination with the ACAD Managing Attorney, the Director's Office, and Human Resource staff, conduct disciplinary investigations and impose discipline, when appropriate.
• Implement and monitor corrective and career development action plans and provide support to enable employees to make positive changes.
• Conduct performance evaluations of unit employees, at least annually, and as required for probationary periods, TLTs, and interns.
• Assign and balance workload among attorneys within unit.
• Ensure unit employees are up to date on DPD policies and developments, relevant legislative proposals or enactments and administrative and case law changes that bear on the practice area.
• Act as a catalyst for problem-solving and conflict resolution within the unit and the Division.
• Carry a partial caseload, requiring excellent legal representation and trial skills, excellent rapport with clients, strong legal research, strong negotiation skills and all necessary skills required of a caseload-carrying attorney.
• Maintain and update, as needed, a computerized case-management system to track caseloads and individual assignments. Have a working knowledge of the case management system and learn to utilize reports to evaluate and support the work of the unit.
• Identify cases that present an ethical conflict of interest for the Department of Public Defense.
• Work with Director's Office to ensure unit employees have the training and resources they need to do their jobs well.
• Actively support and promote DPD's mission and all policies and practices, including internal and external activities that strengthen public defense in King County.
• Serve at least twice a year on call and supervise the on-call attorneys.
• Be an active member of the Division Management Team, attend meetings, relay necessary information, and assist with office-wide initiatives and operations matters.
• Work closely with all supervisors to coordinate overlapping work and support the efficient operation of the division.
• Set a positive and supportive tone in the Division.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

*Detailed specifics of job duties are assigned by case type and division.*

REQUIRED

• Juris Doctor degree from accredited law school
• Member of the Washington State Bar Association in good standing and have been a lawyer for at least three years.
• Murder/Sex/Felony High qualified.
• Washington State Driver's License or ability to travel to required destinations.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Community resources and referral agencies appropriate to the specific program service.
• Computer applications, particularly as related to the performance of legal research and case management.
• Case management.
• Application of legal principles to individual cases or problems.
• Judicial and trial procedure and rules of evidence.
• The principles, methods and practices of legal research and investigation.

ABILITY TO:

• Collaborate with Human Resource Manager, interpret and apply DPD, and County, Human Resource, and Coalition Labor Agreements, procedures, and policies.
• Manage a work unit, creating systems that allow for workflow to be predictable and staff to be supported to complete the necessary work.
• Build a strong attorney/client relationship.
• Communicate and work collaboratively with all segments of judicial and criminal justice systems.
• Investigate and document complaints and improve client relations.
• Train, supervise, evaluate, mentor, and improve the work of attorneys and professional legal and support staff, including establishing goals and assigning responsibilities, communicating work performance standards, establishing work priorities, evaluating, and disciplining.
• Assess and make program changes and address and resolve safety, training, and personnel issues.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, communicate clearly, professionally, and with empathy.

SKILL IN:

• Understanding and interpreting complex laws and regulations and analyzing complex legal documents and instruments.
• The ability to present facts, evidence and precedents concerned in complex cases in the form of briefs, opinions, orders, or decisions.
• Understanding and interpreting constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and precedents.
• Researching, interpreting, applying, and explaining applicable laws, codes, regulations, and court decisions.
• Working and building rapport with diverse cultural, socio-economic, and ethnic populations.
• Demonstrating commitment to the clients of DPD.

WHY KING COUNTY?

At King County, our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?

This recruitment is open internally to current employees of the King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) who have completed their probationary period. DPD is looking to fill one career service Public Defense Attorney – Supervisor position in our ACA Division. Practice Area placement will be supervising the juvenile defense unit. Location will be in Seattle.

If you are a current supervising attorney in ACAD and wish to be considered for transfer to another practice area, you should e-mail the ACAD Managing Attorney, Nathan Rouse, at no later than the closing date of this recruitment.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and/or indicate transfer preferences.

The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, references, a personnel file review going back the last three (3) years, and if applicable a background check. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.

Forms and Materials Required

• An online employment application completed at
• A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing your experience and how you meet the required qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.
• Resume.

Work Location and Schedule

The Department of Public Defense (DPD) offers a supportive and inclusive workplace. Onsite reporting requirements are based on operational needs. Public Defense Attorney Supervisors may be required to travel to various locations throughout King County, including courts, jails, hospitals and treatment centers.

If assigned to the civil commitment unit, you will primarily report to hospitals and treatment centers across the county. Because DPD prioritizes robust client contact and in-person court presence, work locations and reporting requirements may change to meet these priorities.

Rotation of work location, practice area, and workflow is an essential function of this position and may occur as needed to support operations.

You may be assigned to any of our Seattle or Kent offices:

• Dexter Horton Building – 710 Second Avenue, Seattle
• Jefferson Street Building – 1401 East Jefferson, Seattle
• Ninth & Jefferson Building – 908 Jefferson Street, Seattle
• Meeker Street Building – 420 West Harrison Street, Kent
• Kent Professional Center – 124 4th Avenue South, Kent

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As an exempt employee, you are expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform your job and will not be eligible for overtime pay or compensatory time.

Rotations of work/location and practice area and/or workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need.

DPD Policies

DPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedures will apply to employees, such that if you work or have worked for one of DPD's divisions, you may be ineligible to work in another division.

Outside Work Policy for Attorneys will apply to employees, such that you must receive approval from your supervisor and Managing Attorney before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.

Union

The position is represented by the Teamsters, Local 117.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles-we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

In accordance with RCW , this salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. King County offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance for employees and dependents; retirement and deferred compensation. For additional information, please review the detailed summary of benefits offered by King County.