Mentoring Attorney

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Job location
507 W. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78731
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Capital Area Private Defender Service
Street address: 
507 W. 11th Street
City: 
Austin
State: 
Texas
ZIP: 
78731
Job type: 
Legal - Defender
Position Description: 

Mentor Attorney:
Job Description: Responsible for providing assistance to panel attorneys, educating panel attorneys, and ensuring that all indigent state clients are receiving quality representation. Assist the Directors with duties as delegated with extensive latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment.

Primary Responsibilities:
• Consult with, advise, and assist panel attorneys in the conduct of pending cases.
• Consult with panel members regarding defense strategies.
• Assist panel members with preparation for trial, including voir dire and punishment hearings. Act as second chair in court proceedings as required.
• Observe panel members in court, in order to evaluate their performance.
• Assist panel members with personal bonding efforts and working toward best outcomes in the jail reduction docket.
• Review comments and suggestions of assigned panel attorney mentors to evaluate the training and experience needs of newer panel attorneys.
• Evaluate and advise the Directors concerning the qualifications, abilities, and performance of panel members. Together with the Directors, evaluate the work of panel attorneys.
• Assist in the development and training of panel attorneys and with monitoring the quality and quantity of defense of criminal cases.
• Together with the Directors, investigate and respond to inquiries and comments from members of the public, clients and from members of the judiciary. Receives complaints from members of the public, clients and from members of the judiciary; evaluates the nature and number of such complaints as they relate to the quality of representation provided by panel attorneys. Complaints from members of the public, clients and from members of the judiciary will be referred to the Review Committee.
• Attend meetings of the Review Committee as necessary to provide information relevant to the conduct of panel attorneys.
• Assist in advising the Review Committee in which attorneys are placed on the attorney panel. Also responsible for assisting in the determination of the levels of offenses for which each attorney on the panel is qualified, including advancements of and restrictions upon the attorneys comprising the attorney panel.

Additional Responsibilities:
• As designated by the Directors, acts as the representative of the Office of Managed Assigned Counsel on various commissions, committees, and boards to enhance the role of the Office in this community.
• Attend programs of training and education to maintain and enhance skills required in the practice of criminal law. Must complete a minimum of 25 hours of CLE per year. The CLE must relate to criminal law, ethics, and/or law office management/administration.
• Keep abreast of legislative updates and legal opinions. Notify panel members when there is a new law or relevant appellate opinion released.
• Assists in the preparation of agency budget and the annual county appropriation requests.

Requirements:
• Demonstrated commitment to indigent defense.
• Minimum three years criminal defense experience, preferably as assigned counsel or as a public defender.
• Member of Texas Bar or ability to waive into the Texas Bar.
• Knowledge of best practices for defense investigation.
• Knowledge of best practices for use of social workers in indigent defense.
• Knowledge of best practices for use of an immigration attorney in indigent defense.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Comfortable working with a wide variety of people.
• Demonstrated trial and hearing experience.
• Experience supervising or mentoring attorneys preferred.

Requirements: 

We are seeking an attorney committed to indigent defense who is knows best practices and is comfortable teaching client-centered representation.

To apply: 

Electronic Submissions Only. Please send cover letter and resume, addressed to Ira Davis, to [email protected].

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer