The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) in California is hiring a Supervising Attorney for its new division, the Indigent Defense Improvement Division (IDID).
IDID has a statutory mandate to provide training and technical assistance to improve indigent defense throughout California. The division is new, and this senior attorney position will have an opportunity to shape the mission and efforts of this division to have a real impact on improving access to quality indigent defense for all Californians. We are looking to hire creative, experienced, and flexible supervisors. This position will oversee the capacity building/technical assistance side of the division. These roles are telework-eligible but require being a member of the California Bar membership and California residency.
Job Responsibilities include:
• Compiling and analyzing information about the delivery of indigent defense services across the State;
• Identifying and increasing knowledge and use of best practices;
• Raising awareness of new, emerging, and innovative approaches;
• Helping county offices identify and address operational and programmatic needs;
• Developing resources that can improve access to Sixth Amendment rights
• Provide advice, expertise, and assistance to private counsel, public defenders, or members of criminal justice organizations on a variety of complex and sensitive issues, including issues related to the improvement of the overall quality of the criminal justice system and the coordination of functions and responsibilities with criminal justice agencies and organizations
• A demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, the Sixth Amendment, racial equity, and the belief that everyone deserves zealous representation.
• Knowledge of the indigent defense system in California, including the various type of service delivery methods.
• Experience with creation and/or implementation of performance standards, policy development, and service delivery evaluations and assessments. Work specific to Public Defense systems preferred.
• Experience working collaboratively, and communicating effectively, with multiple stakeholders across the State including, but not limited to, public defender offices and contract panel systems, associations, working groups, community groups, as well as county and state level officials. Experience facilitating high level stakeholder meetings preferred.
• Ability to develop and support pilot projects related to indigent defense services. Some experience with grant processes preferred.
• Ability to plan and direct the work of subordinate staff and effectively supervise the work of a group of attorneys and support staff; review and evaluate programs for goals, implementation, and efficacy; initiate and review personnel matters; and effectively promote equal opportunity employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
• Ability to collect, incorporate and analyze data, as well as conduct qualitative research and evaluations, and present clearly to internal and external audiences. Experience creating data reports for multiple audiences preferred.
• Ability to be flexible, creative, and self-driven while working with the Executive Director of IDID and the State Public Defender to build out the staffing, workload and implementation of IDID’s mission.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Experience with legislative work, coalition building, and data collection is preferred.
Please note that these are state civil service positions and require interested applicants to take and pass an “exam” before applying for the specific job. The “exam” is designed to evaluate an applicant’s knowledge, skill and ability to perform the duties of the classification – Supervising Deputy State Public Defender. Applicants with a passing score of 70% or higher are placed on an eligibility list and may apply for these positions. This eligibility list will be used by OSPD to fill vacancies in the IDID division as well as its Capital Appellate division. However, the IDID positions are NOT in any way death penalty related.
To apply and find more information please go to https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobContro...