Description
Licensed Attorney in the State of New Jersey, Respondent shall have (5) years of experience defending cases in municipal court or superior court. Respondents shall be able to manage a legal office. Respondent shall be available to provide legal services to clients entitled to a public defender where representation conflicts exist.
Respondent shall be available for court matters, as scheduled by the Atlantic City Municipal Court Administration.
Examples of Duties
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular
position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all
duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Examples Of Work
Has general responsibility for the operation of the office of the Public Defender.
Supervises 18 trial offices and sub-regions and the Appellate Office within the Office of the Public
Defender.
Appoints and removes such deputies, officers, and other personnel as may be required for the
conduct of the Office of the Public Defender.
Establishes policy for the Office of the Public Defender.
Adopts, issues and promulgates in the name of the Office of the Public Defender, such rules and
regulations as may be authorized by law.
Directs the maintenance of one or more trial pools of lawyers who shall be available to serve as
counsel on a case basis as needed and engages such counsel as necessary in order to achieve a
proper balance between the services to be provided and the efficiency of the operation as a whole,
as well as to stimulate the continual development of professional experience and interest in the
administration of criminal justice.
Engages counsel on a case basis whenever needed to meet caseload demands, or to provide
independent counsel to multiple defendants whose interests may be in conflict.
Enters into contracts with private or public organizations that are equipped to provide legal
services for indigent defendants or to execute any lawful functions of the Office of the Public
Defender, as occasion may require.
Presents speeches to varied groups on subjects pertinent to the Office of the Public Defender.
Directs arrangements for the services of volunteer workers or consultants at no compensation or at
nominal or token compensation and directs their reimbursement for proper and necessary
expenses.
Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively
recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
Consults and cooperates with professional bodies and groups concerning and concerned with the
causes of criminal conduct, the development of effective means for reducing and discouraging the
commission of crime, the rehabilitation and correction of people charged and convicted of crime,
the administration of criminal justice and the administration and conduct of the Office of the Public
Defender.
Directs the maintenance of proper financial records in respect to particular cases handled and
develops records for use in calculation of direct costs of all or any aspect of the operation of the
office.
Directs the necessary arrangements to coordinate the services of the Office with any federal
program to provide counsel to the indigent, and to arrange for the receipt by the Office, whenever
possible, of sums allowable under such federal programs.
Directs liens are made against defendants for services rendered by the Office as required.
Directs provisions for legal representation for juveniles as required.
Directs the investigation of the financial status of each defendant represented by the Office.
Solicits and accepts grants of funds from the Federal government and from private foundations,
and allocates or restricts the use of such funds as may be required by the grantor.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording information
systems used by the agency, office or related unit.
Typical Qualifications
Five (5) years of legal and administrative experience in government or the private sector, or
equivalent skills.
License
Admission to the bar of the State of New Jersey.
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation
of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
Knowledge And Abilities
Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations in the field of criminal law.
Knowledge of judicial procedures.
Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret laws and to develop policy, regulations and programs
therefrom.
Ability to assign, instruct and direct a large and varied staff.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with the Department Heads and key
staff in the key local, state and federal members of the judiciary, law
enforcement agencies and of the legal profession.
Ability to present speeches to varied groups on subjects pertinent to the Department.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions
and recommendations.
Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording information systems
used by the agency, office or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the
duties of this position. American Sign Language or braille may also be considered as acceptable
forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential
functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the
accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such
persons may not be eligible.
The City of Atlantic City offers a complete benefits package to
- Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holiday, Personal and Sick Time)
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Prescription Plan
- Pension
- Life Insurance
- Various Voluntary Benefits