Public Defender 1 - Waterloo Juvenile

State of Iowa Waterloo, Iowa, United States Full-Time

About this position

<span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">Are you ready to make a meaningful impact through public service? The Iowa State Public Defender’s Office is seeking a highly motivated, skilled, and enthusiastic attorney to serve as a Public Defender 1 in our Waterloo Juvenile Office located in Black Hawk County, Iowa.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">Who We Are</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">The mission of the Office of the State Public Defender is to ensure that all indigent persons in Iowa are provided high quality legal representation in criminal, juvenile, and other eligible proceedings in the most efficient and fiscally responsible manner.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">What You’ll Do</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">As a Public Defender attorney in this position, you will:</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Advocate for indigent clients in assigned cases at every state of the criminal justice system at a trainee level.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Receive training and mentoring from dedicated, experienced public defenders in an atmosphere which encourages growth and development of an attorney’s skills and career.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Represent clients in court at pre-trial hearings, bench or jury trials sentencings and other court hearings.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Prepare a defense, conducting legal research, gathering facts, and interviewing the client and witnesses to determine the merits of case and appropriate course of action.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Conduct pretrial discovery, including depositions, withdraw pleas, and suppression motions.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Negotiate plea bargains, dismissals, or other disposition of assigned cases with prosecuting attorneys.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Work closely with clients, providing and discussing information, plan case strategy and trial preparation.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Maintain appropriate communication with clients about case status and answering client questions.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Identify potential legal issues to advance client’s case, research applicable law, and draft appropriate motions and briefs</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Prepare various legal documents, including written arraignments, written guilty pleas, motions, briefs, and letters.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• May direct work of investigators consistent with internal office policies.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Maintain client case files, prepare public defender time reports to the court, and close files consistent with office policies.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">This is a non-merit position for the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals &amp; Licensing - Public Defender.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">What We Offer</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">When you join the SPD, you become a part of a strong team culture that is committed to serving the community. In addition to providing a respect for work-life balance, we have a competitive total compensation package for all of our full-time employees, including:</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Annual pay ranging from <span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">$61,110.40 to $94,806.40</span>, depending on experience.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Robust benefits, including excellent health, dental, life and vision insurance.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Generous paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave accrual.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Opportunities for professional development.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Retirement Investors Club (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan).</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Employee Assistance Program for support when you need it most.</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, and more)</span><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">For additional information on benefits&nbsp;</span><a href="https://das.iowa.gov/media/3766/download?inline=" style="text-decoration: underline;color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">click here</a><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">.</span><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;<br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">Embark on a rewarding career dedicated to public service and make a difference with us!</span>&nbsp;<br><br><strong style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>This is a non-merit position with <span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">Department of Inspections, Appeals &amp; Licensing - Public Defender.</span></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong>&nbsp;</strong><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><br style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><strong style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;"><strong>Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.</strong><span style="color: inherit;font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;">&nbsp;</span></strong>&nbsp;

Applicants must have graduated from an accredited law school and possess a current license to practice law in the State of Iowa prior to commencing employment in positions in this job classification.<br><br>For additional information, please click on this <u><a href="https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClassDescriptions/PublicDefender1-00633.pdf" target="_blank">link to view the job description.</a></u>


Salary Information

$61110.4 - $94806.4 Annual Salary