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 $ 80,680.32 to $118,285.20
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 Requirements:
(Open-entry applicants must meet all requirements when they apply.)
- 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 p.m. on the filing cut-off date.
Upon request, at time of application, 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.
The examination will consist of a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), with scoring weight assigned as follows:
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EVALUATION DETAILS:
The T&E examination consists of a Supplemental Questionnaire. The questions may be viewed online under the tab marked "
QUESTIONS" on the job announcement page.
The T&E must be submitted online, at the 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 on 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, City of Spokane does not conduct initial background screening for non-public safety positions.
