The Office of Indigent Defense Services is seeking a qualified individual to work to advance Indigent Defense Services (IDS) mission to safeguard individual liberty and the Constitution by equipping the North Carolina public defense community with the resources it needs to achieve fair and just outcomes for clients by serving as the primary point of contact for contract attorneys and judicial officials. Work location may be in either Durham or Wake County.
Currently, IDS has contracts for adult criminal work in Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Orange, Person, Pitt, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wayne counties. The Executive Director will make the final county assignments for the next Regional Director, based on county needs and staff locations.
Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Conduct courtroom observations; and meet with contract counsel and other system actors, and conduct any needed review of contract attorneys' work to ensure that the attorneys are providing quality representation and are providing complete and reliable data to IDS.
-Monitor workloads and dispositions for contract counsel, develop methods for handling complaints from defendants and others, and recruit qualified counsel attorneys to handle indigent cases, including working with attorneys to help them become qualified for the rosters.
-Assist in the evaluation, and the selection of attorneys for contracts and work with the Defender Administrator to identify and negotiate with individual attorneys for contacts.
-Work with IDS staff, School of Government, and others to ensure that training is available for private assigned counsel and that other resources, such as trial manuals and brief and motions banks, are adequate for the needs of private assigned counsel.
-Consult with attorneys on specific cases as needed.
This position requires frequent and extensive travel within a designated region using a state issued vehicle.
Knowledge of: NC General Statutes and applicable caselaw to define the parameters and responsibilities of the contract attorneys; general management, budgetary and organizational practices to properly organize and manage the contract attorneys; the NC court system and the principles and practices of current models and methods of provision of legal services to indigents.
Skills in: direct representation of indigent defendants and/or respondents; problem solving; personnel management; interpersonal communications; making presentations; relationship building; and interviewing skills.
Ability to: plan, establish, direct, and implement standards for the contract attorneys; provide oversight to professionals; write reports and policy and procedures; deal tactfully with sensitive situations; schedule and counsel employees; work with multiple groups representing diverse interests in a constructive and productive manner; and communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
North Carolina law license, Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited ABA law school and five (5) years of experience in criminal defense work including indigent representation involving a variety of case types from district court through serious superior court matters; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Management prefers candidates with five (5) years of legal experience, and in private practice of law, either as a solo practitioner or in a firm with some supervisory or teaching experience. Experience trying criminal cases is required, and experience with jury trials is preferred.
MUST HAVE A VALID NORTH CAROLINA DRIVER'S LICENSE.