A Defense Attorney II practices in District Court, Juvenile Court or Superior Court with minimal supervision from a higher-level defense attorney.
District Court: Manages a full misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor caseload. Prepares cases for trial, pre-trial and post-trial hearings and/or plea bargains the cases with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. Also, handles miscellaneous calendar duties such as arraignment calendars, initial appearance calendars, and interpreter calendars.
Juvenile Court: Manages a full misdemeanor and felony caseload (A, B, C felonies). Prepares cases for trial, pre-trial and post-trial hearings and/or plea bargains the cases with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. Also, handles miscellaneous hearings such as arraignment calendars, detention calendars, and probation violation calendars.
Juvenile Court (Civil): Manages a full caseload of parents in dependency and termination cases, including representation at all statutorily required hearings, conferences and family treatment court. Performs case evaluation, additional investigation, trial/hearing preparation, settlement negotiations, motions and trials.
Superior Court: Manages a full or partial felony caseload (A, B, C felonies). Prepares cases for trial, pre-trial and post-trial hearings and/or plea bargains with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. Handles miscellaneous court hearings, including but not limited to, preliminary calendars, arraignment calendars, non-compliance calendars, ability to substitute in Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Involuntary Treatment Act hearings.
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS
•Reviews police reports, interviews witnesses, works with court and Prosecutor to resolve cases. Appropriately utilizes non-attorney professional services.
•Reviews reports from DSHS, interviews appropriate parties, works with attorneys general, case workers, social workers, experts, court and related court personnel to resolve cases.
•Performs a variety of legal office work, prepares appropriate legal pleadings, does necessary research, maintains required statistical information.
•Provides back-up defense for District and Juvenile Courts and is knowledgeable of District and Juvenile Court rules and procedures.
•Maintains accurate and complete statistical information to be used for future needs and projections.
•Performs other legal work as required.
•Learns and adopts the Thurston County Public Defense representation model which is client centered and requires working with family members, the clients' community and the use of social workers and other professionals when appropriate.
•Graduation from an ABA accredited school of law and must be a member of the Washington State Bar Association with a minimum of two years of practice as an attorney with criminal trial experience or its equivalent.
•Knowledge of all criminal rules of Washington State, techniques of interviewing and preparation and defense of all variety of criminal cases, with emphasis on felonies.
•Knowledge of RCW 13.34, good communication with parents, legal custodians and guardians.
•Ability to perform legal research; analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence, and precedents to legal problems.
•Present law, facts, evidence and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form.
•Work harmoniously and maintain good public relations.