Conflicts Counsel

Description:

Amenities:

The County of Northumberland offers a full benefits package to employees including health insurance, prescription, vision, dental, vacation, holiday, sick, personal time, and retirement.

Position Summary:

This full-time position represents financially qualified criminal defendants, including juveniles, for whom the Public Defender's Office is unable to represent the defendant due to a conflict of interest and indigent parents of children involved in juvenile dependency cases when the full-time Special & Conflicts attorneys are conflicted or unavailable. Duties include representation at all levels of the litigation process from inception through exhaustion of appeals. The work requires a wide range of independent decision-making within legal and general policy and regulatory guidelines. This position reports to the County Commissioners through the Chief Special & Conflicts Counsel.

Requirements:

What You'll Do:

Represent parents/guardians for shelter care and adjudication proceedings on Mondays and Thursdays as needed. Serves as attorney to ONLY financially qualified clients by: o Review applications and income statements to determine eligibility o Attending permanency review hearings and termination hearings scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays o Negotiating with the CYS attorneys for case disposition or modification o Performing pretrial work and trail work including filing motions, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and arguing the dependency case o Maintain and manage individual caseloads in a timely and effective manner Maintain and manage individual caseloads in a timely and effective manner Monitor legal developments including legislation and court decisions related to dependency law Perform all acts necessary to effectively represent clients consistently with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct Maintain up to date knowledge of the Northumberland County Local Rules, State and Federal Statues and Juvenile and Appellate Rules of Procedure Review cases for potential conflict of interest Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the

County Commissioners Job Requirements/Skills & Abilities:

Proficiency in the principles, philosophy and practice of juvenile and dependency law Proficiency in the principles, methods and practice of legal research and investigation Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence Proficiency in practices and effective techniques for litigation Knowledge of State and Federal Laws and constitutional provisions affecting juvenile dependency and delinquency from pre-trial through appeal Proficiency in performing complex legal research, analyzing complex problems, evaluating alternatives, and making sound legal recommendations Proficiency in preparing clear concise, and complete legal pleadings, reports, correspondence, and other written materials Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted int eh course of work Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software application programs

Minimum Training & Experience:

Holds degree of Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school. Is admitted to practice before the Courts of the Commonwealth. Always maintains good standing to practice before the Courts of the Commonwealth.