What are the responsibilities and job description for the CHIEF DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER position at Clark County?
About The Position
The Clark County Public Defender and Special Public Defender's Office are seeking qualified candidates for the Chief Deputy Public Defender position. This position provides a wide variety of highly complex and specialized professional legal services, including handling the most complex cases, major criminal, capital murder, and other high-profile cases, and/or serve as Team Chief providing supervision of a unit of attorneys and other legal support staff in the Office of the Public Defender or Special Public Defender.
Public Defender: Chief Deputy Public Defenders assigned to the Public Defender's Office will provide dedicated and zealous representation to indigent members of our community and will work within a team of professionals to craft the best possible defenses to a variety of criminal charges, including felonies, misdemeanors, and juvenile court cases. Deputy Public Defenders interview, advise, and represent clients, structure and direct investigations, prepare trials, pleadings, and motions, and try cases before courts and juries.
Special Public Defender: Chief Deputy Public Defenders assigned to the Special Public Defender's Office will be involved in working in a collaborative team environment to provide zealous and effective legal representation to individuals charged with Category A felonies, such as capital murder, murder, and sexual assault. The position includes handling both trial and appellate work, requiring strong litigation, research, and writing skills. It may also include serving as a Team Chief, with responsibility for supervising and supporting a team of attorneys and support staff.
This is an open and continuous recruitment, scheduling dates will vary depending on when the application was received and reviewed by Human Resources.
Human Resources reserves the right to call only the most qualified applicants to the selection process.
Some positions may be confidential positions and are excluded from membership in the union.
Some positions may be non-union positions and are excluded from membership in the union.
NOTE: A resume is required in addition to the completed employment application. Applications submitted without a copy of the candidate’s resume are incomplete and will not be considered.
Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience: Possession of a certificate of admission to the Bar of the State of Nevada and eligibility to practice law before the courts of the State of Nevada, AND eight (8) years of experience in professional legal work, including four (4) years as a practicing attorney, OR five (5) years of professional legal experience as a Deputy Public Defender in the Public Defender's or Special Public Defender's Offices of Clark County.
All qualifying education and each experience must be clearly documented in the “Education” and “Work Experience” sections of the application . Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see attached resume" on your application. All details must be written in your own words and cannot be copied from job descriptions or other external sources.
Background Investigation: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation. Periodically after employment background investigations may be conducted.
Citizenship: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Please note, Clark County does not provide H1B visa sponsorships or transfers for any employment positions.
Pre-Employment Drug Testing: Employment is contingent upon the results of a pre-employment drug examination.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Mobility to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment, vision to read printed materials and a computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone. Stand for prolonged periods of time. Speak in a clear and comprehensible manner. Hear and respond to questions posed. Accommodation may be made for some of these physical demands for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodation.
The Clark County Public Defender and Special Public Defender's Office are seeking qualified candidates for the Chief Deputy Public Defender position. This position provides a wide variety of highly complex and specialized professional legal services, including handling the most complex cases, major criminal, capital murder, and other high-profile cases, and/or serve as Team Chief providing supervision of a unit of attorneys and other legal support staff in the Office of the Public Defender or Special Public Defender.
Public Defender: Chief Deputy Public Defenders assigned to the Public Defender's Office will provide dedicated and zealous representation to indigent members of our community and will work within a team of professionals to craft the best possible defenses to a variety of criminal charges, including felonies, misdemeanors, and juvenile court cases. Deputy Public Defenders interview, advise, and represent clients, structure and direct investigations, prepare trials, pleadings, and motions, and try cases before courts and juries.
Special Public Defender: Chief Deputy Public Defenders assigned to the Special Public Defender's Office will be involved in working in a collaborative team environment to provide zealous and effective legal representation to individuals charged with Category A felonies, such as capital murder, murder, and sexual assault. The position includes handling both trial and appellate work, requiring strong litigation, research, and writing skills. It may also include serving as a Team Chief, with responsibility for supervising and supporting a team of attorneys and support staff.
This is an open and continuous recruitment, scheduling dates will vary depending on when the application was received and reviewed by Human Resources.
Human Resources reserves the right to call only the most qualified applicants to the selection process.
Some positions may be confidential positions and are excluded from membership in the union.
Some positions may be non-union positions and are excluded from membership in the union.
NOTE: A resume is required in addition to the completed employment application. Applications submitted without a copy of the candidate’s resume are incomplete and will not be considered.
Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience: Possession of a certificate of admission to the Bar of the State of Nevada and eligibility to practice law before the courts of the State of Nevada, AND eight (8) years of experience in professional legal work, including four (4) years as a practicing attorney, OR five (5) years of professional legal experience as a Deputy Public Defender in the Public Defender's or Special Public Defender's Offices of Clark County.
All qualifying education and each experience must be clearly documented in the “Education” and “Work Experience” sections of the application . Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see attached resume" on your application. All details must be written in your own words and cannot be copied from job descriptions or other external sources.
Background Investigation: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation. Periodically after employment background investigations may be conducted.
Citizenship: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Please note, Clark County does not provide H1B visa sponsorships or transfers for any employment positions.
Pre-Employment Drug Testing: Employment is contingent upon the results of a pre-employment drug examination.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews work of subordinate staff in the preparation of cases for hearings and/or trial; assures appropriate handling of cases and the provision of quality professional legal services.
- Supervises new attorneys; provides for appropriate training of attorneys; assigns cases; reviews cases and settlement offers; evaluates staff performance.
- Provides assistance and advice to other attorneys with regard to issues in specified areas of expertise.
- Oversees cases and attorneys assigned to a team or unit; supervises and reviews the preparation and presentation of the Defense case in criminal, juvenile and dependency actions; counsels colleagues on legal strategies and legal issues; conducts preliminary evaluation of the case.
- Personally directs and/or handles the investigation and defense of family defense cases or difficult felony cases involving multiple defendants and multiple charges, capital murder cases, sensitive juvenile, dependency and other high profile cases having serious consequences of error or a high degree of public interest.
- Negotiates with the prosecution regarding the disposition of cases or modification of charges; performs specialized legal research and litigation in unique and/or complex areas of law. Interprets and applies laws, court decisions and legal points and authorities for use in the preparation of cases, opinions and briefs.
- Dictates legal instruments, correspondence and reports.
- Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit's service to its customers by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team.
- Maintains accurate records and files; prepares a variety of records and reports as assigned.
- Uses standard office equipment, including a computer in the performance of the work.
- May drive a personal or County vehicle in the course of the work or be capable of arranging for transportation to off-site locations in order to attend meetings and conduct other legal business.
Mobility to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment, vision to read printed materials and a computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone. Stand for prolonged periods of time. Speak in a clear and comprehensible manner. Hear and respond to questions posed. Accommodation may be made for some of these physical demands for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodation.
Salary : $60 - $92