Deputy Public Defender (Public Defender IV) at National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Position Description

Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services

Open Position – Call for Applicants

Deputy Public Defender (Public Defender IV) 29th Judicial District Public Defender Office (Wyandotte County)

Kansas City, KS

Deputy Public Defender (Public Defender IV)

The Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services is accepting applications for the position of Deputy Public Defender (PD IV) in the 29th Judicial District Public Defender Office (Wyandotte County) in Kansas City, Kansas.

The position of Deputy Public Defender is reserved for attorneys who hold a formal and designated supervisory position, and who act as part of their office’s management team.

The Mission

The Board of Indigents’ Defense Services (BIDS), through its regional public defender offices like the 29th Judicial District Public Defender Office, represents adults charged with felonies who cannot hire an attorney. By supporting and elevating public defense in the State of Kansas, BIDS empowers its team to provide relentless representation and collaborative, holistic advocacy in service of client-centered outcomes.

The Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services is in the process of remaking its public defense model with a renewed emphasis on building public defense offices with an interdisciplinary team-based collaborative defense system that uses community connections and resources to better represent not just an individual’s case, but the client as a whole.

The office of the 29th Judicial District Public Defender is entirely new in Wyandotte County. We are looking for dynamic, client-centered advocates who are passionate about the importance of public defense and are interested in aiding our efforts to fundamentally rebuild our system and transform the new public defender office in the 29th Judicial District into a model of collaborative public defense practice.

Responsibilities

Deputy Public Defenders assist with the evaluation of employee performance within their office and perform administrative tasks as assigned by their Chief Public Defender. Deputy Public Defenders assign work to the attorneys and staff, assist in personnel matters, schedule and lead office and project meetings as needed, and conduct trainings when called upon to do so. Deputy Public Defenders assist the Chief Public Defender in addressing office matters and larger criminal justice issues in their jurisdiction.

Deputy Public Defenders represent adults charged with criminal felonies in their local district court jurisdiction who are deemed indigent and unable to afford to hire an attorney. They also carry a slightly reduced caseload to allow for their duties providing active supervision of the other attorneys and support staff in the office, as directed by the Chief Public Defender.

Deputy Defenders are readily and regularly accessible to the employees in the office. Deputy Defenders help to develop a positive office culture and support and implement the directives of the Chief Public Defender and the Executive Director. Deputy Defenders may help the Chief Public Defender write objective and comprehensive employee evaluations, recognize and answer ethical questions, and make client-conflict determinations, among other office management duties. Deputy Public Defenders may also serve as a liaison between the District Court, the County or District Attorney Office, community legal or justice oriented associations or committees, and the Public Defender Office.

Salary and Benefits

Compensation for this position (Public Defender IV) ranges from $85,000.00 – $120,750.00. Salary may vary depending upon experience or qualifications. We are happy to discuss salary expectations with interested applicants.

The State Of Kansas Employment Benefits Package Includes

• Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
• Sick & Vacation leave
• Work-Life Balance programs, parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
• Paid State Holidays
• Fitness Centers in select locations
• Employee discounts with the STAR Programs
• Retirement and deferred compensation programs
  
  

Please Be Aware That If An Offer Of Employment Is Made, Actual Employment Is Subject To Two Pre- Employment Conditions Which Include

• Confirmation of licensure as an active attorney in good standing the State of Kansas, or successful admission to the Kansas Bar, prior to start date.
• Governor’s salary approval.
  
  

Tax Clearance Information

Each applicant (even non-residents) applying for a State of Kansas job vacancy must obtain a valid Kansas Certificate of Tax Clearance by accessing the Kansas Department of Revenue’s website. A Tax Clearance is a comprehensive tax account review to determine and ensure that an individual’s account is compliant with all primary Kansas Tax Laws. A Tax Clearance expires every 90 days. All applicants, including current state employees, are responsible for submitting a valid certificate with all other application materials to the hiring agency. This is in accordance with Executive Order 2004-03. If you need assistance with the tax clearance, please contact 785- 296-3199. Clearance forms can be procured here: https://www.ksrevenue.org/taxclearance.html

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.

Advertised by Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services.