Job Description

Assistant Public Defender

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website.

Summary of duties:

• Prepare cases for defense of indigent persons charged with criminal offenses
• Interviews clients and prospective witnesses
• Prepares or oversees the drafting of briefs, memoranda, pleadings, and other legal papers
• Conducts legal research
• Represents misdemeanor, felony, or juvenile clients in court arraignments, pre-trial hearings, trials, dispositions, and other proceedings
• Interviews clients in custody and makes initial decisions concerning bail, release from custody, and mental competency to stand trial
• Determines need for expert witnesses
• Performs related work as required

Attorney qualifications:

• Active member in good standing with The Florida Bar or recent law school graduate awaiting Bar Exam or results
• Reside in the 10th Circuit or surrounding community within a reasonable time of accepting employment
• Knowledge of criminal law and procedure
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of legal research and investigation
• Knowledge of judicial procedures and the Rules of Evidence
• Ability to manage a high volume caseload while maintaining adequate levels of communication and attention to individual clients
• Ability to make regularly scheduled court appearances; conduct case evaluation, investigation and preparation including but not limited to witness interviews, legal research, motion preparation, and related work as required; occasional unscheduled matters may arise
• Basic computer skills
• Commitment to public service and protecting the rights of the criminally accused

The benefits of working for the State of Florida:

• Annual and sick leave benefits
• Paid holidays and one personal holiday each year
• State group insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible spending accounts
• Tuition waivers
• And more!

The benefits of working in the 10th Judicial Circuit:

• On the I4 corridor midway between Tampa and Orlando
• Less congested than major metropolitan areas
• Less than an hour drive to the Gulf beaches and Florida's theme parks
• Low cost of living
• High quality schools
• Beautiful Bok Tower, Legoland, and spring training home of the Detroit Tigers
• World famous fishing and water sports on hundreds of lakes
• See the real Florida in numerous state and local parks with hiking trails and bountiful wildlife

We are an aggressive trial office. If you want to be responsible for your own cases; if you want to get off your chair, out of your office and into a courtroom; if you want to become a top notch trial lawyer this is the office for you.

To apply:

Submit resume through the People First website at

OR

Employer: Office of the Public Defender Tenth Judicial Circuit

Contact Name/Title: Tami Locke, Administrative Assistant

Address: P.O. Box 9000 Drawer PD; Bartow, Florida 33831

Phone: 863-534-4250; Fax: 863-534-4355; Email: pd10email@pd10.state.fl.us

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.

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