Summary
This recruitment is INTERNAL ONLY and open to current career service King County, Department of Public Defense employees. The Department of Public Defense (DPD) is looking to fill one (1) Special Duty Public Defense Attorney – Supervisor position in our Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons Division (SCRAPD). This assignment is anticipated to last up to six (6) months with the possibility of being extended or ending early based on business needs. Special duty assignments are available to current King County employees who have successfully completed their initial probation period.
The successful applicants will have a passion for public defense and for representing clients, focusing on their objectives, interests, and dignity. They will be committed to fighting institutional and structural racism and willing to address issues related to equity and social justice within the workplace and the broader work of public defense. They will have a demonstrated ability to supervise the work of other lawyers and support staff and to mentor, develop, evaluate, and support employees in a fast-paced environment.
Candidates should be fully knowledgeable of court procedures and the law; have considerable trial experience; possess excellent writing, research, and analytic skills, and have expertise in case preparation, handling, and disposition. In many instances, attorney supervisors will carry a partial caseload.
Levels of responsibility will range from supervising entry-level attorneys to those who are highly experienced. The supervisor will ensure that caseload standards that foster excellence in legal representation are observed in accordance with Washington State Bar Association guidelines. Supervising attorneys will have a demonstrated commitment to clients, the Division, and DPD. The successful applicant will have an aptitude for management and leadership and will be able to work within a team of managers.
Job Duties
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following:
- Supervise attorneys.
- Develop, evaluate, train, mentor, and coach unit employees and interns.
- Ensure work conforms with prevailing professional standards, applicable statutes, rules, and DPD and county policies. In consultation and coordination with the SCRAPD Managing Attorney, the Director’s Office, and Human Resources staff, conduct disciplinary investigations and impose discipline, when appropriate.
- Implement and monitor corrective and career development action plans and provide support to enable employees to make positive changes.
- Conduct performance evaluations of unit employees, at least annually, and as required for probationary periods, TLTs, and interns.
- Assign and balance workload among attorneys within the unit.
- Ensure unit employees are up to date on DPD policies and developments, relevant legislative proposals or enactments and administrative and case law changes that bear on the practice area.
- Act as a catalyst for problem-solving and conflict resolution within the unit and the Division.
- Carry a partial caseload, requiring excellent legal representation and trial skills, excellent rapport with clients, strong legal research, strong negotiation skills and all necessary skills required of a caseload-carrying attorney.
- Maintain and update, as needed, a computerized case-management system to track caseloads and individual assignments.
- Have a working knowledge of the case management system and learn to utilize reports to evaluate and support the work of the unit.
- Identify cases that present an ethical conflict of interest for the Division and/or Department of Public Defense.
- Work with Director's Office to ensure unit employees have the training and resources they need to do their jobs well. Actively support and promote DPD's mission and all policies and practices, including internal and external activities that strengthen public defense in King County.
- Serve at least twice a year on call and supervise the on-call attorneys.
- Be an active member of the Division Management Team, attend meetings, relay necessary information, and assist with office-wide initiatives and operations matters.
- Work closely with all supervisors to coordinate overlapping work and support the efficient operation of the division.
- Set a positive and supportive tone in the Division.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
*Detailed specifics of job duties are assigned by case type and division.*
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
REQUIRED
- Juris Doctor degree from accredited law school.
- Member of the Washington State Bar Association in good standing and have been a lawyer for at least three years.
- Washington State Driver's License or ability to travel to required destinations.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
- Computer applications, particularly as related to the performance of legal research and case management.
- Application of legal principles to individual cases or problems. Knowledge of judicial and trial procedure and rules of evidence.
- The principles, methods and practices of legal research and investigation.
ABILITY TO:
- Learn and apply Human Resources, DPD, and County procedures and policies.
- Manage a work unit, creating systems that allow for workflow to be predictable and staff to be supported to complete the necessary work.
- Build a strong attorney/client relationship.
- Communicate and work collaboratively with all segments of judicial and criminal justice systems. Investigate and document complaints and improve client relations.
- Train, supervise, evaluate, mentor, and improve the work of attorneys and professional legal and support staff. Supervise other attorneys, including establishing goals and assigning responsibilities, communicating work performance standards, establishing work priorities, evaluating, and disciplining.
- Assess and make program changes and address and resolve safety, training, and personnel issues. Have strong interpersonal skills, communicate clearly, professionally, and with empathy.
SKILL IN:
- Understanding and interpreting complex laws and regulations and analyzing complex legal documents and instruments.
- Presenting facts, evidence and precedents concerned in complex cases in the form of briefs, opinions, orders, or decisions.
- Understanding and interpreting constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and precedents. Researching, interpreting, applying, and explaining applicable laws, codes, regulations, and court decisions. Working and building rapport with diverse cultural, socio-economic, and ethnic populations.
- Demonstrating commitment to the clients of DPD.
Supplemental Information
At King County, our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.
ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?
This recruitment is INTERNAL ONLY and open to current King County, Department of Public Defense employees. Please apply at
DPD is currently accepting applications to fill one Special Duty Public Defense Attorney – Supervisor position in our SCRAP Division. Practice area placement will be dependent upon the experience of the successful candidate and occur in any practice area. This recruitment will be used to fill future Special Duty vacancies over the next three months.
If you are a current supervising attorney in SCRAPD and wish to be considered for transfer to another practice area, you should e-mail the SCRAPD Interim Managing Attorney, Shannon Blackman, at no later than the closing date of this recruitment.
All interested applicants are encouraged to apply or indicate transfer preferences.
Note: Special Duty opportunities are only open to current King County career service employees that have completed their initial probation. Special Duty applicants must have approval from their current supervisor to accept an assignment.
Pay Upon Special Duty Placement
Current employees selected for special duty will be compensated based upon the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement or Coalition Labor Agreement for their base assignment.
Work Location and Schedule
This position will be located at various SCRAPD Division offices in Seattle and Kent. The positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and not overtime eligible. The workweek is normally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Rotations of work location and practice area and/or workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need.
Forms and Materials Required
- An online employment application completed at
- A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing your experience and how you meet the required qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.
Selection Process
Materials will be reviewed for qualifications, and the most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a panel interview process. Applicants may be required to demonstrate their qualifications at the time of the interview and/or skills assessment. Personnel file reviews and references may be conducted for the most competitive candidates prior to a placement decision.
For more information, contact:
Falisha Forgash
Human Resource Analyst
206-263-2041
DPD Policies
DPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedures will apply to applicants, such that if you work or have worked for one of DPD's divisions, you may be ineligible to work in another division.
Outside Work Policy for Attorneys will apply to applicants, such that you must receive approval from your supervisor and Managing Attorney before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.
Union
The position is represented by the Teamsters, Local 117.
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, this salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. King County offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance for employees and dependents; retirement and deferred compensation. For additional information, please review the detailed summary of benefits offered by King County.
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