First Assistant | Bee Regional Public Defender
BEEVILLE
$85000+
Texas RioGrande Public Defender (TRPD) seeks a First Assistant to assist in the management and administration of Bee County Regional Public Defender Office serving the counties of Bee, Live Oak, and McMullen. The First Assistant assists the Chief in planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating the operation of the assigned office.
TRPD’s program serves seven (7) rural Texas counties and indigent defendants charged under Operation Lone Star. Currently, TRLA has public defender offices in Beeville, Eagle Pass, and Harlingen. Each of these offices provides indigent defense for one or more of the counties near the office locations. TRLA PD offices are located near various natural and cultural attractions. They are also within reasonable driving distance from metro areas with international airports. Each of these offices provides indigent defense for one or more of the counties near the office locations.
TRPD Defenders are frontline advocates who have engaged in the movement to transform the criminal justice system and challenge the injustices faced by indigent defendants in rural south Texas for over a decade. TRPD Public Defenders provide complete, vertical representation from intake to resolution. Except for cases involving a conflict of interest or the death penalty, TRPD Defenders represent persons accused of crimes from initial arrest to final appeal.
TRPD delivers client-centered legal services to address the unique needs and limited resources available to clients residing in rural and border communities. Special initiatives within TRPD include advice on the immigration consequences of a criminal conviction, trauma-informed and mental health advocacy, assistance with applying for government aid and/or housing, and assistance with substance abuse as alternative solutions to incarceration.
With caseload controls, staff investigators, mental health and substance abuse caseworkers, and a litigation budget, TRPD is deeply committed to zealous, high-quality representation in rural South Texas. Attorney benefits include law school loan repayment assistance, generous paid leave, healthcare insurance, retirement plan, and training & travel stipends. TRPD Defenders train with the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Gideon’s Promise, the National Association for Public Defense, and other associations that are committed to the transformation of indigent defense and criminal justice reform.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Receives direction from the Chief Public Defender and the TRPD Director.
Assists in administering the programs and operations of the Bee County Regional Public Defender and managing staff.
Works in partnership with the Chief Public Defender to implement keys strategies and initiatives to achieve office goals and objectives
Maintain a caseload that includes high level felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile cases;
Manage cases from intake to final resolution, including pretrial, trial, appeals, and additional motion practice, as needed;
Work with the Chief Public Defender to identify systemic issues within their service area
Mentor and train newly licensed attorneys by assisting in case file reviews, developing trainings, attending court hearings with young attorneys, and serving as lead counsel or co-counsel on trials, as needed;
Maintain a supportive and positive work environment for their team; and
Contribute to the progress and development of the TRPD as a whole.
QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERENCES:
Licensed to practice law in Texas or willing to take the next available Texas bar exam;
At least five years of criminal litigation experience as a licensed attorney;
At least 3 trials before a jury as lead counsel;
Demonstrated management and leadership skills;
Proficiency in Office365, legal research software, and other case management systems; and
Professional fluency in Spanish (highly preferred).
Preferred applicants will demonstrate a commitment to indigent defense and criminal justice reform; have worked in a public defender office; have exceptional advocacy, management, and leadership skills; are solution oriented and creative in their ideas on how to solve systemic issues within the criminal justice system; are passionate about the development and training of the new generation of the indigent defense attorneys; and want to live and work in communities where TRPD clients have the greatest needs. TRPD is also looking for attorneys that aspire to become leaders both within the division and in the larger public defender community.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Step One – Submit completed online application. Complete applications include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and professional references.
Step Two – Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview (videoconference, telephone, or in-person).
Step Three – Depending on the circumstances, selected applicants will be invited to visit TRPD offices, meet with staff, and tour the local community. TRPD will provide travel, accommodations, and meals throughout the visit.
Step Four – Selected applicants will be offered a position. If an offer is made in the winter to a law student, the offer will remain open until mid-April near the deadline to apply to take the bar exam.