Title: Senior Assistant Public Defender/Deputy Public Defender - Harrisonburg-Rockingham County State Role Title: Senior Assistant Public Defender/Deputy Public Defender - Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Hiring Range: $97,306.00 / $108.104.00 + State Benefits Agency: Indigent Defense Commission Location: Harrisonburg Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org Recruitment Type: General Public - G Job Duties Virginia Defenders- Indigent Defense Commission (IDC) is excited to announce the opportunity to be on the front lines of what many consider to be the modern-day Civil Rights Movement-criminal justice and justice reform. This is a unique platform to develop and pursue social change and impact the lives of clients. The IDC's newly established Harrisonburg-Rockingham Public Defender Office is seeking experienced and dynamic criminal defense attorneys who will serve our mission of protecting and defending the rights and dignity of clients through zealous, compassionate, high-quality legal advocacy. The Deputy Public Defender and Senior Assistant Public Defender report to the Chief Public Defender of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Office and are employed at-will. Duties: Duties include conducting client and witness interviews, working with staff investigators to investigate cases, filing pretrial motions, and litigating motions. The attorney will be responsible for trying cases in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts and identifying appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients. The Deputy and Senior Assistants will serve as role models for client-centered representation and collaborative office culture. These positions will assist the Chief Public Defender in supervising and training attorneys and supporting the defense team by providing direction and guidance for case preparation, trial strategies, client contacts and communications, plea negotiation, appellate practice, and sentencing advocacy. Additional duties of the Deputy include working with the Chief Public Defender to ensure that attorneys and staff receive appropriate training and continuing education, and to ensure all attorneys receive and maintain certification for court appointments and fully comply with the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel. Duties of the Deputy position also include serving as the acting Chief Public Defender in the absence of the Chief Public Defender which will involve submitting input and carefully managing the office budget, and preparing and ensuring all required administrative reports and documentation are timely submitted The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce and staff. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Minimum Qualifications * Juris Doctor (J.D) and Virginia State Bar admission or eligibility for admission by waiver, extensive criminal litigation experience, comprehensive knowledge of Virginia Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, and the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel is required. * The qualified applicant will be well-organized and communicate effectively orally and in writing. * Teamwork is highly valued in this office, and the qualified applicant will have demonstrated proficiency in working with others as a member of the criminal defense team to achieve successful outcomes for clients. * Applicants must have demonstrated history and proficiency with leadership, management, and mentoring capabilities, and have four (4) or more years of experience as a criminal defense attorney. * Applicants should have experience mentoring new attorneys. * A valid driver's license and the means to travel to all courts and regional jails is required. Additional Considerations Applicants who have familiarity with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham legal landscape and community and its various client resources will be strongly considered. Special Instructions Applications for this position require a cover letter and resume. Failure to submit both may disqualify you from further consideration. You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position. While creating an account through the state system will save your basic information (please remember your username and password), applications are NOT saved for future openings. We encourage you to apply to any and all of the positions you may be considering within the IDC. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. IDC uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship. Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted. IDC does not accept "see resume" as a response to any question. Information on the application is the primary source used for screening the position. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants if requested, during the application and/or interview process. This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan. Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry into the status of an application. Please login to the RMS system for status updates. Contact Information Name: Ashley Washington Phone: 804-662-7249 Email: recruiting@vadefenders.org In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019. Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.