Public Defender

SUMMARY OF JOB PURPOSE

The Public Defender defends indigent adults and juveniles in criminal and delinquency cases in the justice and district courts. This position is appointed by the Elko County Board of County Commissioners. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Manages, trains, and monitors the performance of assigned staff. Responsible for recruiting, hiring, evaluating, and disciplining.
• Prepares motions, pleadings, briefs, appeals and other legal documents in connection with trials, hearings, and other legal proceedings. 
• Prepares cases and witnesses for court. Represents the client in a professional, competent, and articulate manner.
• Conducts hearings.
• Negotiates plea agreements.
• Conducts legal research and analyses, interprets, and applies statutes, regulations, court decisions, and other legal authorities to use in preparing legal briefs, motions, and cases.
   Prepares responses to opposing counsel's motions or briefs.
• Provides legal advice, guidance, opinions, and interpretations to clients. Informs client of updates and conducts follow-up conversations.
• Attends Continuing Legal Education (CLE) as required.
• Represents the department with dignity, integrity, and a spirit of cooperation.

• Graduation from a recognized law school and five years of full-time experience in the practice of law with a focus on criminal defense.
• Current membership  in the Nevada State Bar is required at the time of appointment.
• Qualification under Nevada Supreme Court Rule 250 to act as lead counsel in a capital case is preferred.
• Valid Driver's License at the time of appointment.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the current concepts, policies, and practices of criminal and civil law.
   Knowledge of legal research methods and materials
• Working knowledge and correct usage of business English including spelling, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and formats.
• Working knowledge of business correspondence formats, record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.
• Working knowledge of personal computer hardware and software including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases for the purposes of creating, editing and distributing information.
• Thorough knowledge of all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, county ordinances and regulations, department rules and regulations, case law and relevant court rulings.

Skills 

• Supervising, assigning, directing, and motivating employees and planning their work assignments effectively. Creating a fair, unbiased, cooperative work atmosphere.
• Negotiating as a method of securing support, concurrence, acceptance, or compliance.
• Presenting information and arguments in a persuasive and convincing manner.
• Writing clear, concise, and effective reports and legal documents.
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Understanding and carrying out complex written and oral communications.
• Using the tools and equipment listed below.

Abilities

• Analyzing complex legal issues.
• Establishing a good rapport with clients.
• Dealing appropriately with exposure to the consequences of acts of violence perpetrated against others.
• Complying with Elko County policies and departmental procedures.
• Managing multiple deadlines and competing demands successfully.
• Executing job duties under highly stressful circumstances.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative, and considerable independent judgment to manage relationships and situations whether or not established guidelines exist.
• Maintaining confidentiality.
• Solving practical problems and dealing with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with subordinates, peers, supervisors, city, county, state and federal officials and the public as needed. Dealing with problems courteously and tactfully.

An employee in this position must meet the following physical requirements upon application:

• Work is performed in an office or courtroom setting. 
• Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear, sit, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand or walk, frequently for extended periods of time.
• The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 25 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be exposed to angry, upset or abusive individuals.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. 
• Environment is generally clean with limited exposure to conditions such as dust, fumes, noise or odors. 
• Tools and equipment used include personal computer, printer, scanner, telephone, calculator, copy machine, fax machine, postage machine and other associated office equipment. 
• Incumbent will be asked to travel in a passenger vehicle.