Sr. Assistant Public Defender

Under the general direction of the Deputy Public Defender, provides indigent defense services for Calhoun County. This is an experienced attorney position that regularly handles high severity and statutory life offense cases.

1. →Provides indigent defense services through a felony caseload including defendants charged with high severity and statutory life offenses.
2. →Serves as co-counsel on trials by other staff or contract attorneys.
3. →Researches and prepares criminal cases for trial, motion, sentencing, and other proceedings, including research of applicable law, interviewing witnesses, investigating claims, and developing trial strategies.
4. →Appears in court for arraignments, motions, trials, sentencing, and other related proceedings.
5. →Determines if additional investigation is necessary, including the identification, consultation, and hiring of applicable experts and investigators.
6. →Prepares briefs, legal documents, reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
7. →Participates in the office’s holistic approach to representing clients.
8. →Maintains the highest level of professional knowledge and expertise in criminal defense practice.
9. →Participates in professional organizations, conferences and training programs both locally, throughout the state and nationally.
10. →Provides support, mentoring, consultation, and training for less experienced attorneys in and outside the office.
11. →Performs other duties as assigned.

• A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school. Membership in good standing with the State of Bar Michigan.
• Passion for criminal defense work and representing indigent clients.
• Significant trial experience handling complex and statutory life offence cases.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively work with a diverse group of county personnel and citizens.
• Outstanding oral and written communication.
• Strong interest in mentoring and training less experienced attorneys.
• The highest professional integrity and standards for the practice of law.
• Computer skills necessary to effectively utilize word processing, case management software, database, spreadsheet, and presentation software applications.
• Possession of a valid Michigan vehicle operator’s license.

• →None

• Physical ability to occasionally lift, push, pull, or carry items weighting up to ten pounds.
• Physical ability to talk, hear, and communicate verbally with others.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally required to perform tasks involving repetitive movement, bending, stooping, kneeling and/or climbing. 
• Occasionally required to sit for extended periods of time.

Hybrid Work Classification:  Hybrid Eligible
Flexible Classification:  Flexible Schedule Eligible

• Normal office environment with occasional discomfort due to heat, dust, and noise
• Extended workdays (beyond eight hours/day and weekends) are occasionally required.
• On-call availability to handle work problems, attend meetings, handle emergencies/crisis situations, etc. may be required.
• Travel between county locations or out of county may be required. Out of county travel will occasionally be required training purposes.