Attorney -III - Office of First Defense

The Office of First Defense provides quality legal defense to persons magistrated in Travis County under Article 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Magistration is the critical step in the Criminal Legal Process in which an Arrestee goes before a Magistrate Judge to have their bail and the conditions for their release set. The attorneys selected for this position will represent indigent arrestees at these bail hearings.

Once fully staffed, the office will represent approximately 14,000 clients each year in these limited-scope proceedings. This is an opportunity to help create a holistic, client-centered public defender office from the ground up.

Attorney I – III provide zealous representation for clients at a critical moment in the criminal legal process.

Magistration shifts occur during the day, night, weekends, and holidays. Individuals selected for this position will be required to work those days and hours.

• Attorney I:
  Handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences with supervision.
• Attorney II
  :
  Handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences without supervision.
• Attorney III
  :
  Handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences without supervision and handles cases and matters that are moderately complex and may result in moderately severe consequences with supervision.

• Attorney I: $85,500 - $86,089.16 annually
• Attorney II
  : $89,000 - $92,065.62 annually
• Attorney III
  : $92,000 - $ annually

• Provides high-quality criminal defense representation that complies with state and federal constitutions, state statutes, ethical rules, and state and national standards.
• Provides client-centered representation in proceedings held under Article 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to achieve client-centered goals.
• Communicates professionally with clients, conducts legal research, and advocates on behalf of clients in court.
• Interacts professionally with judges, prosecutors, and court personnel.
• Prepares clients and their cases for magistration.
• Wisely uses County services, equipment, facilities, and finances in advocating for clients.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

• Attorney I: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school.
• Attorney II
  : J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school and 18 months’ licensed attorney work experience.
• Attorney III
  : J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school and 3 years’ licensed attorney work experience.

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

• Applications with a cover letter detailing interest in the position, including why applicant wants to work in public defense for Travis County.
• Hearing and trial experience consistent with years of practice.
• Mission-aligned experience (work or lived) advocating on behalf of indigent clients.
• Effective client management skills and rapport-building techniques.
• Performs well in a high-volume, high-conflict area of litigation.
• Effective litigation techniques for presentation of cases in court and the ability to present facts and arguments verbally and in writing.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to criminal law.

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and practices related to criminal defense
• Philosophy and practices of client-centered and holistic defense practices.
• Principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research.
• Applicable federal, state, local, and county laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Methods, practices, and applications of criminal defense and effective litigation techniques.
• Criminal law, criminal procedure, and the rules of evidence.
• Investigative techniques.
• Policies, practices, and legal terminology related to the court system.
• National standards, including the ABA Defense Function Standards and ABA Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System.
• Computer equipment,…