Amenities:

The County of Northumberland offers a full benefits package including health insurance, prescription, vision, dental, vacation, holiday, sick, personal time, and retirement.

Position Summary:

This full-time position represents financially qualified criminal defendants, including juveniles, for whom the Public Defender's Office is unable to represent the defendant due to a conflict of interest and indigent parents of children involved in juvenile dependency cases when the full-time Special & Conflicts attorneys are conflicted or unavailable. Duties include representation at all levels of the litigation process from inception through exhaustion of appeals. The work requires a wide range of independent decision-making within legal and general policy and regulatory guidelines.

This position reports to the County Commissioners through the Chief Special & Conflicts Counsel.

What You'll Do:

Represent financially qualified clients with criminal cases originating in one of the County's Magisterial District Courts as assigned.

Represent other financially qualified criminal defendants and parents/guardians in dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings as appointed by the Court.

Serves as defense attorney to clients by:

Attend all hearings, conferences, trials, and other proceedings relating to client cases.

Negotiating with the prosecution attorneys for case disposition or modification.

Performing pretrial work and trial work including filing motions, jury selection, examination and cross-examination and arguing the defense case.

Maintains and manages individual caseloads in a timely and effective manner.

Monitors legal developments including legislation and com1decisions related to defense of the accused.

Perform all acts necessary to effectively represent clients consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct.

Maintain up to date knowledge of the Northumberland County Local Rules, State and Federal Statutes and Juvenile and Appellate Rules of Procedure.

Reviews cases for potential conflict of interest.

Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Job Requirements/Skills & Abilities:

Principles, philosophy and practice of criminal law and juvenile law.

Principles, methods and practices of legal research and investigation.

Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.

Pleadings and practices and effective techniques in the presentation of trial cases.

State and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting public defense and juvenile dependency and delinquency from pre-trial through appeal.

Perform complex legal research, analyze complex problems, evaluate alternatives, and make sound recommendations.

Prepare clear, concise, and complete legal documentation and reports, correspondence and other written materials.

Analyze and apply legal principles and precedents and make effective court and hearing presentations.

Represent the assigned client effectively in hearings, courts of law, and meetings with others.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.

Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.

Minimum Training & Experience:

Holds degree of Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.

Is admitted to practice before the Courts of the Commonwealth.

Always maintains good standing to practice before the Courts of the Commonwealth.

County of Northumberland

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