DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER

About The Position

The Clark County Public Defender's Office is seeking qualified candidates to apply for the Deputy Public Defender position. This position 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.

This examination will establish an Open Competitive Eligibility list to fill current and/or future vacancies that may occur within the next six (6) months or may be extended as needed 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 at time of employment.

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

• Incumbents are assigned to handle misdemeanor criminal cases, felony arraignments, complex gross misdemeanor, felony criminal, juvenile and/or dependency cases assigned to the Public Defender or Special Public Defender.
• Investigates cases; interviews and counsels indigent defendants and witnesses; may visit crime scenes, jails, and case related sites.
• Confers with investigators regarding the collection of facts and evidence.
• Obtains documents by subpoena and other discovery methods.
• Negotiates with prosecutors, probation officers and judges regarding the disposition or modification of charges.
• Orders investigations; confers with investigators to monitor progress of investigation; interviews defendants and witnesses; prepares for trial, and conducts trial defense of indigent juveniles and adults; appears with and for defendants at court hearings.
• Researches, prepares, files, presents and argues motions; attends pre-trial police lineups; attends arraignments, preliminary hearings, hearings and trials and defends indigent clients in a variety of cases before County or State courts.
• Advise clients on settlement offers, options, and potential for success at trial or other dispositions of cases.
• Conducts legal research and performs various studies; interprets and applies laws, court decisions and legal points and authorities for use in the preparation of cases, opinions and briefs for the defense.
• Prepares legal pleadings; dictates legal instruments, correspondence and reports.
• When assigned to Juvenile or Dependency, works closely with family members, school officials, community groups, treatment programs, probation officers and the Courts.
• May be involved in handling defense cases involving sexual assault, child molestation, child abuse and/or domestic violence.
• Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit's service to its customers by offering suggestions and participating as an active member of a work team.
• Maintains accurate records and files; prepares a variety of records and reports as assigned.
• May assist Chief Public Defenders in the handling of capital punishment or other high profile cases.
• 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.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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.