Trial Attorney (Exempt)

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Open Date: Jul 25, 2023
Close Date: Sep 5, 2023
Position Type: Full-Time
Job Vacancy #: PDS-2023-38
Location: 633 Indiana Avenue, NW Washington, District of Columbia 20004

About The Job

PDS Overview:

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. PDS provides legal representation to individuals who are facing a loss of liberty in criminal, delinquency, and mental health justice matters in the local District of Columbia justice system but who are financially unable to obtain adequate representation. PDS’s staff consists of approximately 100 attorneys and approximately 100 social workers, investigators, administrative, and technical staff. Most employees work at the main office at 633 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in certain federal benefit plans: health and life insurance, federal retirement, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Employees with creditable federal service will receive recognition of that service for leave accrual and retirement purposes.


Employment at the Public Defender Service is at will and is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment.



Division Overview:

Staff attorneys in the Trial Division zealously represent adults in criminal proceedings in the District of Columbia Superior Court (Superior Court) and children in delinquency matters. Attorneys are assigned to specific levels of cases, based on experience and performance. Those case levels are juvenile, general felony, serious felony and felony I. Most trial attorneys with less than three years of experience will spend their first year representing juvenile clients.

Position Description:

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia seeks candidates interested in joining our November, 2024 trial class. A major portion of the work of PDS consists of representing individuals in the District of Columbia’s local criminal legal system who are charged with committing serious criminal acts and who are eligible for court-appointed counsel. In the District of Columbia, public defense services are provided primarily by PDS (the “institutional defender”) and a panel of private attorneys, known ad Criminal Justice Act (CJA) attorneys, who are screened for membership on the panel and paid on a case-by-case basis by the D.C. courts. Because of its resources, well-regarded training program, and institutional practice knowledge, PDS lawyers handle the most serous criminal cases consistent with the best practices of the legal profession.

Major Duties:

Staff attorneys in the Trial Division zealously represent adults in criminal proceedings in the District of Columbia Superior Court (Superior Court) and children in delinquency matters. Attorneys are assigned to specific levels of cases, based on experience and performance. Those case levels are juvenile, general felony, serious felony and felony I. 

As specialists who participate in complex litigation, PDS trial attorneys are expected to handle all phases of litigation in the D.C. Superior Court, including demanding and reviewing discovery, conducting legal research and analysis, writing briefs, motions and other legal documents, attending court conferences, arguing motions and conducting trials. As part of their work, attorneys communicate regularly with clients, both in the community and at the D.C. Jail and the Central Treatment Facility. Trial attorneys work on individual and co-counseled cases and direct teams that include investigators, interns and law clerks. Due to the nature of the work, trial attorneys are often required to work nights, weekends and other non-traditional schedules. This is not a remote location position.



Required Qualifications:

J.D. or equivalent degree from an accredited law school by June 2024; excellent research, writing, and oral persuasion skills; strong discretion, judgment and the ability to analyze, interpret and make decisions based on complex factors and membership in the District of Columbia Bar or eligibility to practice pursuant to either D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 49(c)(9)(B) or 49(c)(9)(C). For law graduates, bar membership or eligibility to practice in D.C. should be specifically addressed in the cover letter. Successful applicants are required to make a three-year commitment to the Trial Division.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience interning at public defender or criminal defense-adjacent offices, participation in law school clinics or experience representing low-income clients charged with serious crimes. 

Number of vacancies:

10 - 12

Pay Series:

PDS AD 11/3 to PDS AD 12/1 (GS 11/3 to GS 12/1 Equivalent)

Compensation:

$83,830 to $94,199 DOE

Who May Apply:

Experienced candidates who qualify for the Lateral Trial Attorney position but who wish to be considered for the November, 2024 class may apply through this application.

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit:  (1) a cover letter; (2) a resume; (3) a list of three references (name, e-mail address, telephone number, and a brief statement of how each reference is able to evaluate your skills), (4) an unofficial law school transcript, and (5) a response to the question “Why do you want to be a public defender?” (Include a discussion of your background and/or any personal experience significantly contributing to your desire to do this work, no more than three typewritten pages, single- or double-spaced). All materials must be submitted online as a consolidated PDF through the PDS employment web portal at the 'apply' button below. 

For questions about the hiring process, requirements or assistance with applying, please contact: 
Jennifer Thomas, Director of Legal Recruiting, (202) 480-0385, [email protected]

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Disclaimer

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization; governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in the local criminal, delinquency, and mental health systems in the District of Columbia. PDS’s approximately 235 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS’s main office is located at 633 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in the federal health and life insurance plans, the federal retirement plans (FERS, FERS-RAE, FERS-FRAE, CSRS, CSRS-Offset), and the Thrift Savings Plan. Transferring employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Employment at PDS is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.

PDS is an E-Verify participating agency. Please see the Right to Work Poster and the E-Verify Participation Poster for more information.

 

PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and E-Verify Participant.