Class Summary

The City of Spokane Public Defender's Office seeks creative, client-focused advocates to join our diverse team of public defense attorneys. If you have a passion for public defense and a commitment to representing people in need, you have found your team!

Successful candidates are dedicated advocates, think critically and creatively in a fast-paced environment and are open to accepting feedback and opportunities to grow.

You use independent judgment, to determine the proper course of action within the limits of law.
You have the ability to maintain extensive outside contacts, to obtain or supply factual information.
You must be able to prepare legal briefs and develop strategy, arguments and testimony.
You have strong negotiation skills and bring those to court, in defense of your clients.
You care about your community and the citizens that you serve.

Our Public Defenders have professional development opportunities, annual pay step increases, a flexible schedule and great employee benefits, including a pension plan!

As another benefit, a Public Defender I will automatically promote to a Public Defender II after one year, with a pay range of $82,705.68 to $121,250.16.

Examples Of Job Functions

Prepares and conducts legal defense before the Court including representation at first appearance and arraignment.
Gathers evidence and conducts legal research to formulate defense against charges.
Interviews clients and witnesses and may work with an investigator to ascertain case facts, and handles other details in preparation for trial or case resolution.
Prepares legal briefs, develops strategy, arguments and testimony in preparation for presentation of the case.
Negotiates resolution with prosecutors on non-trial cases.
Represents client in court, examining and cross-examining witnesses. Summarizes case to jury.
Provides advice by phone to DUI arrestees who have asked for such advice of counsel during business and non-business hours.
Confers with colleagues with specialty in area of law to establish and verify basis for legal proceedings, such as therapeutic courts.
Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Open Entry

(Must be met at time of application.)

Membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, whether by exam, diploma privilege by graduation from an accredited law school, or APR 6.

EXAMINATION DETAILS

For information on what to expect with the hiring process, a test information guide, and frequently asked questions, please visit our website.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and pass the examination for this position to be eligible for hire.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit a City of Spokane employment application online by 4:00 pm on the filing cut-off date.

Upon request, at time of application, the City of Spokane will provide alternative accessible tests to individuals with disabilities that impair manual, sensory, or speaking skills needed to take the test, unless the test is intended to measure those skills.

Training And Experience Evaluation Details

The examination will consist of a T&E (Training and Experience) Exam with weights assigned as follows:

T&E Examination 100%

The T&E examination consists of a Supplemental Questionnaire. The questions may be viewed online under the tab marked "QUESTIONS" on this job posting. The T&E must be submitted online at time of application.

Copies of your college or university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted) may be a required part of this application and will be used to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications, as posted in the job announcement.
Responses to your T&E questions should be consistent with the information given in your application details. Answers are subject to verification.
Failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score; therefore, it is advantageous for you to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question.
Resumes or questionnaires uploaded as attachments will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question online.
"See resume" or "see above," etc, and copy/paste from a previous answer are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.

All examination results will be merged into one eligible list according to final ratings, pursuant to the Merit System Rules of the Civil Service Commission: Rule IV, Section 13 – Continuous Examinations.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status, or disability status. As a Fair Chance Employer, the City of Spokane does not conduct initial background screening for non-public safety positions.

Benefit Compensation Value

In addition to a salary, The City of Spokane provides a generous benefits package valued between $24,902 - $34,218.

Insurance Benefits

Eligibility: Coverage begins for new hires and their dependents on the first day of the month following 30 consecutive days of employment.

Eligible Dependents: Spouse or Domestic Partner, birth, adopted children or children placed for adoption, Domestic Partner's children, step-children who live with employee, and any child for whom employee is legal guardian or for whom coverage is required by a Qualified Medical Support Order. Adult children under age 26 are eligible.

Medical

Qualified employees may select from two health carrier options; a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) administered by Kaiser Permanente or a Preferred Provider Option (PPO) administered by Premera Blue Cross. The monthly premium varies dependent upon plan and coverage level selected.

Vision

Vision coverage is included in the medical plan selected. Costs for eye exams and hardware; lenses, frames or contacts varies depending on the medical plan selected.

Dental

Dental insurance is provided by Delta Dental of Washington. The City pays the monthly premium in full for employee and eligible dependents.

Life Insurance - Employee Only

Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at one-and-a-half times the employee's annual base salary to a maximum of $150,000. The City pays the monthly premium in full.

Life Insurance - Eligible Dependent(s)

Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at $5,000 for spouse/domestic partner and $2,000 for each child. The City pays the monthly premium in full.

Flexible Spending Account

The City offers two optional Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA. The Health Care FSA allows an employee to use pre-tax dollars to receive reimbursement for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses. The Dependent Care FSA allows an employee to receive reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for dependent children up to age 13 and other eligible dependents as defined by IRS Code.

AFLAC

Supplemental insurance is optional and is provided by AFLAC to help pay benefits that major medical insurance does not cover. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.

AudioNet Hearing Aid Benefit

AudioNet Hearing Aid Benefit is optional. The City of Spokane has partnered with AudioNet America to offer a discounted Hearing Aid Program with fixed out-of-pocket costs.

LegalShield/ID Shield

Prepaid legal services and/or prepaid identity theft programs are optional. These programs pay for a limited number of documents to be reviewed, limited trial defense representation, the preparation of a standard will, identity theft consultation, restoration and monitoring according to terms of contract.

Pet Insurance

Get cash back on the everyday care your pet needs to stay healthy! Nationwide/Voluntary Pet Insurance is an optional plan in which City of Spokane Employees can enroll.

Voluntary Term Life Insurance

Voluntary Term Life Insurance is optional and is provided through The Standard Insurance Company and is subject to application review and approval. Additional coverage up to $300,000 is available for employees and their spouse/domestic partner. Dependent children can be insured for up to $10,000 each. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.

Continued Medical/Dental Insurance

Employees separating from City service have the option to continue medical and/or dental insurance benefits in accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium in addition to a small monthly administrative fee.

Retirement Benefits

Spokane Employees' Retirement System

The Spokane Employees' Retirement System (SERS) is a defined benefit pension plan covering non-uniformed, permanent employees. As a participant, you contribute 11% of your salary toward your retirement. Contributions and earnings are tax-deferred. The City also contributes 11% of your salary toward your retirement. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2015 become vested (eligible for a monthly benefit at retirement age) at seven years of service.

Deferred Compensation

Enrollment in the City-sponsored 457 Deferred Compensation Plan administered by MissionSquare Retirement allows participants, on a voluntary basis, to defer a portion of their salary on a before or after tax basis. Contributions and associated earnings contributed on a before tax basis are eligible to receive City matching contributions and are tax deferred (not taxed until taken out). You can also choose to participate in the 457 Roth (after tax) contribution option. You may enroll in the 457 plan or change your contribution at any time. Minimum contribution is $15 per paycheck up to and is subject to the IRS annual limitations. The City will match employee contributions up to $120/month.

PAID TIME OFF

Official Holidays

The City observes seven official holidays as paid. An official holiday that falls on a Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday. An official holiday that falls on a Sunday will be observed on the Monday immediately following. The City observes Martin Luther King Jr's birthday but has not declared that day as an official holiday. For this reason, employees hired before the third Monday of January receive an additional eight hours of floating holiday time to be used in accordance with Local 270 Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions.

Floating (Personal) Holidays

Up to 48 hours administered throughout the year. Floating holiday hours may not be carried over into the next year and any unused hours will not be paid at termination.

Vacation Leave

Employees must be in paid status for 80% of that pay period to accrue vacation leave. The amount of vacation earned depends on the employee's length of service - from 12 days per year for a new employee to 27 days per year after 20 years of employment. Unused vacation hours carry over each year.

Sick Leave

Sick leave accrues at a rate of six (6) hours per biweekly pay period. Employees must be in paid status for 80% of that pay period to accrue sick leave. There is no maximum accumulation and unused sick leave hours carry over each year.

Other Leaves

The City also provides several other paid and unpaid leaves, such as: bereavement leave, Family and Medical Leave, maternity leave, jury duty, and military duty leave.

WORK/LIFE PROGRAMS

Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a referral and counseling service administered by Deer Oaks. It provides a myriad of services to employees and their household members. Services include receiving confidential assistance for personal issues, such as managing stress, depression, parenting, alcohol/drugs, grief, etc. Each household member is eligible to receive up to eight counseling sessions per issue per year at no charge. There is also a benefit relating financial or legal concerns in addition to Worklife/Convenience services and online tools.

Employer Sponsored Bus Pass (ESBP) Program

The City of Spokane encourages employees to use alternatives to driving alone to work and participates in the ESBP Program offered by Spokane Transit Authority (STA). The program provides a bus pass for unlimited rides free of charge.

Revised March 15, 2022

01

To qualify for this position, you must be a member in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). How did you gain admission to the WSBA?

Washington State Bar exam
Diploma privilege by graduation from an accredited law school
Law clerk program (APR 6)

02

Have you graduated from law school?

03

Have you attached your law school transcripts to this application? (If you answer “No”, your application may be considered incomplete.)

04

Please provide your major field of education and the level of your degree. (i.e. Bachelor’s, Master’s, J.D., etc.)

05

When did you graduate? (Please provide month and year.)

06

What was your rank in your law school class? (If you don’t know, please enter “N/A”.)

07

What was the size of your law school graduating class? (If you don’t know, please enter “N/A”.)

08

Please enter your membership number with the Washington State Bar Association.

09

Have you attached a copy of your WSBA membership card or certificate to this application? (If you answer “No”, your application will not be considered in the hiring process. You may attach your card or certificate at any time before submitting this application.)

10

The following Supplemental Questionnaire is the Civil Service T&E examination for this position and must be completed online at the time of application. Questionnaires submitted as an attachment to the online application will not be considered. In order to receive every consideration in the selection process, you must complete all questions with concise but detailed answers and provide all requested information. Each answer will be scored separately. References such as “See Resume/Application” as a response, or copy and paste from your work experience, will not be scored. By continuing in the examination process, you certify that all information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire is true and correct to the best of your knowledge.

I agree

11

List your work experience in the practice of law. You may include public defense, private firm, Rule 9 intern, court extern, and law clerk experience. Beginning with your most recent experience, provide this information in the following format. For each job, use the labels “a., b., … e.” instead of writing out each subtopic title. a. Company/Name of Employer b. Position Title (attorney, intern, law clerk, etc.) c. Dates of Employment (month/year) d. Average number of hours worked per week e. Briefly describe your primary responsibilities

12

Describe your experience handling a criminal caseload. You may include internship or externship experience. Include the names of your employer(s), your job title(s), months and years in this type of work, and your specific duties and responsibilities.

13

How many criminal cases have you argued to a verdict within the last 5 years?

14

If you have argued criminal cases to a verdict within the last 5 years, please provide at least 1-3 examples of case titles/numbers here.

15

Have you handled any criminal appeals or writs within the last 5 years? Please specify the issues.

16

Please use this space to list related experience or honors indicative of superior performance. Examples may include (but are not limited to) the following:

law review experience
writing experience
AmJur awards or other academic or professional honors
cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude law school graduate
JIS, Justware, or eSuite experience
participation in moot court, appellate advocacy, or client negotiation
Required Question

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