SPVR ATTNY DISTRICT COURT DIV: DISTRICT VI - MONTGOMERY CO.

About the job

Introduction

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) seeks an experienced,\r\nzealous, and dedicated leader to serve as a Supervising Attorney for the\r\nDistrict Court Division in the District VI - Montgomery County office. The Montgomery\r\nCounty office is a large suburban public defender office with more than 60\r\nemployees providing client-centered representation to individuals charged with\r\nmisdemeanors and felonies throughout the various courts in Montgomery County.\r\nMontgomery County is a metropolitan jurisdiction that provides representation\r\nfor thousands of clients each year in a litigation intensive environment\r\nopposite a well-resourced police department and prosecutors�office.\r\nSupervising attorneys for the OPD are directly responsible for the operations\r\nof the divisions they lead and�for the training and guidance of the staff\r\nthey supervise.\r\n�\r\nOPD strives to achieve Justice, Fairness, and Dignity for All. Our\r\nemployees are committed to the core values of a culture of excellence,\r\nclient-centered representation, tenacious advocacy, and are united as a team in\r\nachieving the OPD’s mission. OPD is committed to building a culturally diverse\r\nstaff and strongly encourages people historically underrepresented in the\r\npractice of law to apply.\r\n

GRADE

STD0023\r\n

LOCATION OF POSITION

District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County - Rockville\r\n191 E. Jefferson Street, Third Floor\r\nRockville, MD 20850\r\n\r\n\r\nDistrict Court of Maryland for Montgomery County – Silver Spring\r\n8552 Second Avenue, First Floor\r\nSilver Spring, MD 20910\r\n

Main Purpose of Job

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION\r\n�\r\nThe District Court Supervising Attorney combines their demonstrated\r\ndedication to the representation of indigent clients with strong leadership and\r\nlitigation skills to ensure the highest standard of client-centered\r\nrepresentation in a team-oriented environment. The Supervising Attorney is\r\nresponsible for the day-to-day operations of the District Court Division and\r\nsupervision of attorneys in that division. The Supervising Attorney is expected\r\nto maintain an active and substantial caseload while providing direct and\r\nconsistent supervision, training, guidance, and support to the attorneys and\r\nstaff on their team. The Supervising Attorney will be required to interface\r\nwith the Judiciary, promote community engagement in the County, and work with\r\nthe leadership team of the district to advance the OPD’s mission and the\r\nsupport the policies, vision and directives of the District Public Defender.\r\nThis position will be primarily located in the Rockville District Court office,\r\nhowever the Supervising Attorney will be expected to manage and supervise\r\nattorneys and staff in both the Rockville and Silver Spring courthouses.\r\n\r\nPRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES\r\n�\r\n● Reports to the District Public Defender and the Deputy District Public\r\nDefender.\r\n● Works closely with the District VI leadership team to maintain a high\r\nstandard of representation through mentorship, teamwork, training,\r\ncommunication, and accountability.\r\n● Supervises attorneys handling misdemeanor and felony cases in both\r\nDistrict and Circuit courts.\r\n● Monitors the attorney caseloads and works with the other District Court\r\nSupervising Attorney to create a schedule, manage calendars, and provide\r\nlogistical support to ensure optimal client outcomes and attorney development.\r\n● Consistently physically present in the office, court, at community\r\nevents, and at stakeholder meetings to\r\neffectively supervise the team, provide feedback and represent the OPD.\r\n● Actively consults with attorneys on case preparation and trial\r\nstrategy.\r\n● Ensures positive, consistent, effective and timely communication with\r\nclients and responds to client\r\ncomplaints and concerns regarding matters of the District Court Division;\r\nincluding by visiting clients at jails, prisons and detention facilities.\r\n● Organizes and conducts regular in-house training programs and CLEs.\r\n● Ensures accountability through the regular evaluation of attorney\r\nperformance.\r\n● Works closely with the Training Division and other Statewide Divisions\r\nto ensure effective representation\r\nthrough the development of relevant policies, practices, and trainings.\r\n● Works collaboratively, professionally and assertively with stakeholders\r\nand community partners to support the mission of OPD and the policies,\r\nobjectives and directives of the District Public Defender.\r\n● Performs other duties as determined by the District Public Defender,\r\nDeputy District Public Defender, and the Public Defender.\r\n● Represent clients in all stages of their criminal case including at\r\ninvestigatory stages, bail hearings, motions hearings, trial, and post-trial\r\nhearings.�\r\n● Conducts complex legal research and analysis, including regarding\r\nchanges in laws, pending legislation, procedural rules, and court decisions in\r\npreparation for trial and to determine/ anticipate legal problems and propose\r\nresolutions.\r\n● Drafts and prepares pleadings, memoranda, briefs, motions, and\r\ncorrespondence for clients.\r\n● Effectively and compassionately communicate with clients, team members,\r\ncolleagues, and service providers to ensure optimal outcomes for clients.�\r\n● Counsel and advises clients on factual and legal issues.\r\n● Investigate clients’ cases and diligently interface with investigators,\r\nsocial workers, forensic experts and other professionals.\r\n● Negotiates with prosecutors, judges, and other stakeholders to\r\nestablish agreements to resolve cases favorably for the client.\r\n● Competently and independently manage a full caseload, including all\r\ntrial preparation, discovery review and pretrial litigation.\r\n● Being available both during and outside of traditional business hours\r\nto support client and colleagues as part of a dynamic legal team.\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS\r\n�\r\n� At least 5 years of\r\ncriminal litigation experience (3 years jury trial experience preferred).\r\n� Demonstrated leadership,\r\nmentorship, communication, supervisory, and management experience or ability.\r\n� Demonstrated commitment\r\nto serving marginalized communities, and a clear dedication to challenging\r\nsystemic racism, prejudice, and unfairness in the criminal legal system\r\nboth in court and through participation in community advocacy and outreach\r\nevents.\r\n� Excellent research,\r\nwriting, and oral advocacy skills.�\r\n� Strong interpersonal\r\nskills and the ability to communicate effectively with people from different\r\nbackgrounds and lived experiences.�\r\n� Ability to thrive in a\r\nfast-paced, diverse, and team-oriented environment.\r\n� Demonstrated and\r\nconsistent professional judgment.\r\n� Exceptional understanding\r\nof the Maryland Rules of Evidence, Professional Responsibility, the Criminal\r\nLaw, and the fundamentals of District Court practice (both conceptually and\r\nspecifically in this jurisdiction); the ability to teach the same to attorneys\r\nof their team.\r\n� Demonstrated commitment\r\nto and ability to support, maintain and operate within the chain of command for\r\nthe District.\r\n� Exceptional\r\norganizational, legal, and administrative skills necessary to handle a high\r\ncaseload, and the\r\nmanagement of a large and diverse team of attorneys and staff.\r\n� Ability to obtain\r\nclearance to enter detention facilities and other secured areas to visit\r\nincarcerated clients.\r\n� Active membership in good\r\nstanding in the Maryland Bar or Bar of another state.\r\n

LIMITATIONS ON SELECTION

THIS RECRUITEMENT IS FOR CURRENT OPD EMPLOYEES ONLY.\r\n

BENEFITS

Salary is dependent on experience and salary rules will apply to State of\r\nMaryland employees. Please visit the State of Maryland Employee’s page to\r\nreview benefit information.\r\n�\r\nThis is a promotion opportunity for current MOPD attorneys at Grade 22 or\r\nbelow. This would be a lateral transfer for MOPD attorneys currently at Grade\r\n23.\r\n�\r\nAssistant Public Defender, Supervisor: $124,302.00 (Starting at Grade 23:\r\nStep 13)\r\n

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO APPLY\r\n\r\nIF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION AND\r\nUPLOAD THE FOLLOWING�DOCUMENTS IN ONE PDF ATTACHMENT THROUGH THE RESUME\r\nTAB OF THE MARYLAND STATE GOVERNMENT JOB�OPENINGS: (1) A CURRENT RESUME,\r\n(2) A COVER LETTER, (3) A LIST OF FOUR PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES, AND (4)\r\nA�WRITING SAMPLE NO LONGER THAN FIFTEEN (15) PAGES.\r\n\r\nINCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.��\r\n\r\nSECOND ROUND INTERVIEWS WILL BE IN-PERSON.\r\n�\r\nASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND CANNOT ENGAGE IN\r\nTHE PRIVATE PRACTICE OF LAW�WHILE IN THIS POSITION. MD CODE, CRIMINAL\r\nPROCEDURE ART., SECTION 16-203(D)(2).\r\n�\r\nAS A STATE AGENCY, THE MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER (MOPD) IS\r\nAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND EQUAL�OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. MOPD IS COMMITTED TO\r\nTHE FULL INCLUSION OF ALL QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT�REGARD TO RACE,\r\nCOLOR, RELIGION, SEX, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION,\r\nGENDER�IDENTITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, VETERAN STATUS, OR GENETIC\r\nINFORMATION.�\r\n�\r\nALL APPLICANTS MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH CLIENTS AND VISITORS AND\r\nPOSSESS THE ABILITY TO COMPLETE�TASKS IN A FAST-PACED WORK ENVIRONMENT.\r\nAPPLICANTS MUST BE ABLE TO WORK IN VARIOUS POSITIONS AND TRAVEL�TO VARIOUS\r\nCOURTROOMS, OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS, AND DETENTION FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.\r\nMOPD IS�FURTHER COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE\r\nACCOMMODATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH�DISABILITIES IN EMPLOYMENT, ITS\r\nSERVICES, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES BY MODIFYING OR ADJUSTING THE\r\nJOB�APPLICATION PROCESS OR THE JOB OR WORK ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE REASONABLE\r\nACCOMMODATIONS TO THE KNOWN�APPLICANT OR EMPLOYEE TO ENABLE THE APPLICANT\r\nOR EMPLOYEE BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION THEY DESIRE;�TO PERFORM THE\r\nESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION IN QUESTION; OR TO ENJOY EQUAL BENEFITS AND\r\nPRIVILEGES OF EMPLOYMENT AS ARE ENJOYED BY OTHER SIMILARLY SITUATED EMPLOYEES\r\nWITHOUT DISABILITIES, UNLESS THE�ACCOMMODATION IMPOSES AN UNDUE\r\nHARDSHIP.�\r\n\r\nAPPLICANTS MUST BE ABLE TO OPERATE A COMPUTER AND OTHER OFFICE EQUIPMENT.\r\nAPPLICANTS MUST HAVE ACCESS�TO A MOTOR VEHICLE OR BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE\r\nPUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. IF A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IS�NEEDED, PLEASE\r\nCONTACT TAWANDA JACKSON, HUMAN RESOURCES SUPERVISOR, AT 410-767-8503\r\nOR�TAWANDAL.JACKSON@MARYLAND.GOV.\r\n