Assistant Public Defender, Juvenile Division

Position Description

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Court Function: Attend all scheduled court activities with client and family/guardian, including detention hearings, non-issue court settings, trials and psychosocial evaluations.

• Client Contact (in Custody): Visit client in the Juvenile Detention Center or other secure holding facility to gather case information, give case updates, or to assess general well-being of client.

• Evidentiary Function: Seek all necessary evidence related to your client's case(s) through use of subpoenas, open records request, telephone calls/letter writing, investigator requests, and discovery requests of the state.

• Communication with Client & Family/Guardian: Keep client and family/guardian informed of all aspects of case outside of the regular court activities.

• Legal Research: Obtain answers or solutions to client case issues through office research tools, use of appellate division, or seeking answers by soliciting outside agencies or organizations.

• Holistic Approach: Assist client and family/guardian with issues that arise outside the normal course of legal representation, such as housing, education, medical, immigration and mental health.

• Case Review: Assist other members of the Juvenile Division with help with trial and non-trial cases, either with ideas to resolve case issues or physically standing in for other division members unable to attend court or other case-related activities

• Administerial Duties: Maintain client case files, provide new and closed case information to proper staff, make concurrent data entries into office data system, and organize all other materials germane to attorney caseload.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:

• A Juris Doctorate degree or equivalent.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must be able to work in an open office environment and assist attorneys in other divisions within the PDO if requested.

• Effective organizational and time management skills.

• Manages a demanding caseload of cases assigned from juvenile courts.

• Proficient written and oral communication skills and trial skills.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

• Five (5) years' experience as a criminal defense attorney.

• Juvenile Law experience.

• Bilingual in English/Spanish.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Regular Full-time

• Monday

• Friday | 8:00 A.M.

• 5:00 P.M.

• Sometimes requires evening and weekend hours.

Salary:

• Depends on Qualifications

• Based on 26 pay periods

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

BENEFITS

Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.

The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:

• Medical Coverage

• Dental Coverage

• Vision Coverage

• Wellness Plan

• Life Insurance

• Long-term disability

• Employee Assistance Program

• Ten (10) days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service

• Accrual rates increase based on years of service

• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays and one (1) floating holiday

• Professional development opportunities

• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan

• Healthcare Reimbursement Account

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:

• Retirement Pension (TCDRS)
• Flexible schedule (varies by department)
• Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:

https://benefitsathctx.com/

01

Do you have a Juris Doctorate degree or equivalent?

• Yes

• No

02

Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.

03

Are you currently licensed to practice law within the State Bar of Texas?

• Yes

• No

04

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience as a criminal defense attorney? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than five (5) years

• Five (5) years but less than six (6) years

• Six (6) years but less than seven (7) years

• Seven (7) years or more

• I do not have this experience

05

Please provide details about your verifiable experience as a criminal defense attorney. Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.

06

Do you have Juvenile Law experience?

• Yes

• No

07

Are you bilingual in English and Spanish? If yes, do you consider yourself fluent?

• Yes, I am fluent in both of these languages

• No, I am fluent in only one of these languages

• No, I am not fluent in either one of these languages

Required Question

Agency Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx