Public Defense Attorney - Supervisor (ACAD)

Summary

Job Duties

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.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Supplemental Information

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.

• An online employment application completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.
• 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.

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