WAGE: $61.76 - $95.73
DEPARTMENT: Weber Public Defender Group
BENEFITS: Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement, 401k match, Sick/Vacation, Life Insurance, Short-term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness; Parental Leave; Maternity Leave
PERSONNEL STATUS: Full Time FLSA Exempt
Attorney III–Specialty Attorney-to serve as lead counsel on the County's most serious indigent defense cases. The specialty assignment covers F1 homicides, F1 sex offenses and State RICO offenses in the 2nd District, Ogden Department Courts. Capital cases are excluded.
The attorney represents qualified indigent clients prosecuted by the Weber County Attorney's Office and the Utah State Attorney General's Office. Work is performed under the direction of the Director and the Chief Attorney, with minimal day-to-day supervision. The attorney serves as lead counsel and supervises the attorney appointed as second chair on each assigned case.
Serve as lead counsel on assigned F1 homicide, F1 sex offense and State RICO cases in the 2nd District, Ogden Department Courts, from initial appearance through case resolution, including jury trial, sentencing and/or dismissal.
Competently and professionally handle the most serious and complex criminal actions.
Supervise the attorney appointed as second chair on each case, including delegating and monitoring responsibilities.
Lead a team of attorneys and staff as assigned, and mentor less experienced attorneys on all aspects of criminal defense.
Interview clients and perform a legal needs assessment: file the appearance of counsel, obtain and review initial discovery, identify legal issues and additional discovery needed, and follow up with the prosecuting office, law enforcement or other agencies to obtain it.
Identify issues requiring additional pleadings and motions, file them, and present competent and compelling arguments to the court.
Negotiate case resolutions with prosecutors in the best interests of the client.
Refer clients to the Forensic Social Work Division and coordinate with social workers on mitigation, mental health and substance abuse services. This requires the ability to recognize those issues in a client's case.
Seek investigators and experts for specific issues, in coordination with supervisors and the Director.
Set up and review case files in department-approved case management software, and maintain basic case information in it.
Maintain accurate case records and activity entries as WPDG requires.
Collaborate closely with team attorneys, staff and agencies to achieve favorable outcomes for clients.
Stay current on case law, statutes and general knowledge in the assigned practice areas. Attend required training and train teammates as directed by the Division Chief or Director.
Represent WPDG on local, county and state committees and coalitions, and serve on in-house committees or spearhead groups, as assigned.
Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Supervise the attorney appointed as second chair on each case, including delegating and monitoring responsibilities.
Education: Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school.
Licensure: Licensed attorney in the State of Utah in good standing. A provisional license is acceptable only if the full Utah State Bar license is obtained within one year of starting practice.
Experience: Ten (10) or more years as an attorney with criminal law experience, including a minimum of five years representing defendants in felony-level cases. Relevant pre-law experience may also be considered.
Knowledge of: Strong working knowledge of U.S. and Utah constitutional law, municipal and state statutes, current federal and state case law, Utah's Civil and Criminal Rules of Procedure, Rules of Evidence, and applicable administrative and local court rules.
Skills and Abilities to: Ability to analyze a case, research and identify legal issues, and draft legal documents addressing them. Strong oral and written communication skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, prosecutors, court personnel, law enforcement, other county and municipal departments, and the public. The position calls for a good listener with a perceptive mind and a desire to help. The attorney must follow written and verbal directions while remaining self-motivated.
YOUR SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Preferred: Rule 8 qualified attorney. Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Pro, Decisis, and client management software such as Defender Data. Advanced spreadsheet, chart, graph, AI and presentation skills are a plus.
Due to the nature of this position, the successful candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment background check prior to starting the position.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, see, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work in a typical office and courtroom setting with appropriate climate controls. Periodic travel and some after-hours work required in normal course of job performance.
Founded in 1850, Weber County occupies a stretch of the Wasatch Front, part of the eastern shores of the Great Salt Lake, and much of the rugged Wasatch Mountains.
The Weber Center is located at 2380 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401
Contact the Human Resource Department with any questions at 801-399-8623 or by email at humanresources@webercountyutah.gov
Consisting of 661 square miles and nestled between the Great Salt Lake and the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, Weber County is a great place for discoveries. The unspoiled beauty of the land, the friendliness of the people, and the fascinating history of the region offer limitless possibilities for fun and excitement. Weber County has long been the crossroads of Utah and the Intermountain West. Its eastern boundary is the spine of the Wasatch mountains, with their towering peaks and sharp valleys. In the west it extends into the Great Salt Lake. Both mountains and flatlands are laced by the Ogden and Weber Rivers and their tributaries.
