Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services (SBIDS)

Our mission is to fulfill the constitutional promise of a zealous defense by providing our clients with team-based advocacy that champions their human dignity and achieves just outcomes on their behalf.

The Board of Indigents’ Defense Services (BIDS), through its regional public defender offices like the Third Judicial District Public Defender Office, represents adults charged with felonies who cannot hire an attorney. By supporting and elevating public defense in the State of Kansas, BIDS empowers its team to provide relentless representation and collaborative, holistic advocacy in service of client-centered outcomes.

SBIDS Current Job Openings

About the Position:

• Who can apply: Anyone
• Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
• Full/Part-time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
• Veterans’ Preference Eligible: Yes

Compensation:

• Annual Salary Range: $45,000.00 - $66,150.00

Note: Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.

Employment Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
• Sick & Vacation leave
• Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
• Paid State Holidays
• Employee discounts with the STAR Program
• Retirement and deferred compensation programs

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information

Position Summary & Responsibilities:

Position Summary:

The Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services is accepting applications for the position of Mitigation Specialist in the Third Judicial District Public Defender Office in Topeka, Kansas. We are looking for dynamic, client-centered Mitigation Specialists who are passionate about the importance of public defense and are interested in aiding our efforts to fundamentally rebuild our system and transform the public defender office in the Third Judicial District into a model of collaborative public defense practice.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

Mitigation Specialists operate under the supervision of the Chief Public Defender or the Deputy Public Defender. Mitigation Specialists play an important role on the defense team, providing holistic defense case management and mitigation expertise to defense counsel through relevant sociological and mental health research and the application of that research to individual cases by building close working relationships with clients, assessing the clients’ needs, assisting clients in accessing services to address those needs, and assisting attorneys with defense strategies and sentence mitigation. Candidates for this position should have strong communication, organization, and analytical skills. Mitigation Specialists must abide by the ethical and professional standards required of criminal defense teams.

It is expected that the duties of a Mitigation Specialist will include the following (in addition to other tasks, as assigned)

• Acquiring and maintaining the necessary skills to investigate and support cases involving clients who may have physical or psychological issues.
• Meeting with clients and witnesses in custody (jail, prison, courthouse) and out of custody, including at their place of residence or employment, and obtaining signed releases.
• Evaluating clients to determine potential issues and needs.
• Researching and maintaining information about available resources.
• Making appropriate referrals to address clients’ needs and assisting them with accessing resources.
• Searching for and obtaining relevant social history records from schools, medical facilities, psychiatric facilities, drug treatment providers, and the VA, among others.
• Identifying, contacting, and interviewing witnesses, taking witness statements, preparing affidavits, and offering testimony when needed on witness statements.
• Coordinating with and providing records to experts.
• Maintaining sufficient knowledge of current research and trends in relevant topics.
• Using expertise and gathered factual mitigation to assist attorneys in developing humanizing narratives and defense strategies to improve outcomes for clients.
• Assisting attorneys in preparing for court; presenting information and testimony in court at the direction of attorneys.
• Other projects as assigned by the Chief Public Defender or Deputy Public Defender.

Qualifications:

Education

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent
• College degree or higher with a focus in social work, human services, psychology, or a related field, preferred.

Licensing & Certification

• Must have a valid driver’s license

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must be able to develop the skills necessary to complete the tasks required, and become proficient in managing a range of tasks for a team of attorneys and staff members.
• Must be able to work independently and manage their time to complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
• Must be able to respectfully interact with clients, colleagues, and the courts.
• Must have strong observation skills and attention to detail, with the ability to remember and accurately record information from interviews and investigation.
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Must follow the highest standards of professional conduct, with the ability to keep client confidences and protect confidential information. Must have a keenly developed and uncompromising set of personal and professional ethics.
• Must be committed and able to understand the diverse needs of our clients, to raising one’s cultural competence, to challenging oppressive practices, and to strive at all times towards compassion.
• Frequent local travel and occasional statewide travel.

Recruiter Contact Information:

• Name: Bryan Crouch
• Email: bidsrecruiter@sbids.org
• Phone: 785-296-6631
• Mailing Address: 700 SW Jackson Street, Suite 500 Topeka, KS 66603

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and positions are open until filled.

Job Application Process

• First Sign in or register as a New User.
• Complete or update your contact information on the Careers> My Contact Information page. *This information is included on all your job applications.
• Upload required documents listed below for the Careers> My Job Applications page. *This information is included on all your job applications.
• Upload other required documents, and submit when it is complete.
  • Manage your draft and submitted applications on the Careers> My Job Applications page.
• Check your email - My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.
  • Email – sent to the Preferred email on the My Contact Information page
  • Notifications – view the Careers> My Job Notifications page

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How to Apply for a Job – Instructions” and “How to Search for a Job – Instructions"

Required Documents for this Application to be Complete

Upload these on the Careers - My Job Applications page

• DD214 (if you are claiming Veteran’s Preference)

Upload these on the Attachments step in your Job Application

• Cover letter
• Resume
• List of three professional references

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How, What, & Where do I Upload Documents”

Post-Offer/Pre-employment Requirements

Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate required:

In accordance with Executive Order 2004-03. Each applicant (even non-residents) who is selected for a State of Kansas job vacancy must apply for a Tax Clearance Certificate within 10 days from the date of the offer letter by accessing the Kansas Department of Revenue's (KDOR) website at www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/taxclearance/Default.aspx .

If you need assistance with the tax clearance, please contact KDOR at (785)296-3199 or by email at kdor_specialprojects@ks.gov

How to Claim Veterans Preference

Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Veteran’s Preference

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.