Criminal Law - Defense Attorney in Gooding, ID

Government

Gooding, ID

Criminal Law - Defense Attorney in Gooding, ID

Attorney

No

Job Title: Contract Attorneys

Job Responsibilities:
Contract attorneys are responsible for providing high-quality legal representation to indigent individuals across the state in various types of cases, including felony, misdemeanor, juvenile, child protection, and post-conviction cases. They have the flexibility to accept or decline cases based on their preferences, which allows them to manage a mix of private and public cases according to their practice needs. Contract attorneys work closely with the District Public Defenders and executive staff at the State Public Defender office and report their activities accordingly.

Education and Experience Information:
While the text does not specify the exact educational requirements, it is implied that contract attorneys must possess a legal education and be qualified to practice law in the state. Experience is crucial, particularly in handling public defense cases. Contract attorneys should be adept in legal research, case management, and courtroom representation. Additionally, those seeking to hire investigators or paralegals must ensure these professionals meet specific educational and experiential qualifications. Investigators should be qualified through education, training, and experience, while paralegals must have a two-year paralegal certificate or a degree in paralegal studies.

Salary Information:
Contract attorneys are compensated at a rate of $100 per hour for non-capital cases. In capital cases, where the death penalty is a possibility, the lead counsel earns $150 per hour, and the second chair or co-counsel earns $125 per hour. Additionally, attorneys have free access to Lexis legal research for public defense cases, and they are required to use the LegalServer case management system for tracking their time and case progress. Travel time outside their primary county is compensated at $50 per hour, and investigators and paralegals working on cases are paid $65 per hour and $45 per hour, respectively.

Legal Terminology and Important Duties:
- Contract attorneys are required to have a contract with the State of Idaho to perform public defense work by October 1, 2024.
- They must use the LegalServer CMS to manage case data, which is critical for statewide policy and funding decisions.
- Attorneys are expected to track their time in 6-minute increments to ensure accurate billing and resource allocation.
- The SPD does not offer flat fee contracts to ensure accountability and prevent minimal effort in case handling.
- All contracts are with individual attorneys, and there are no unique county-wide contracts for public defense.
- Contract attorneys can take private clients, but they must ensure high-quality constitutional representation in public defense cases.
- The SPD assigns child protection cases based on specific circumstances, and attorneys are not provided for guardians ad litem.
- In emergencies, contract attorneys can request another state-contracted attorney to cover their cases with SPD approval.
- The SPD will withdraw from cases after sentencing and restitution unless an appeal is involved, and probation violations require reappointment by a judge.

Overall, contract attorneys play a crucial role in providing legal defense to indigent individuals, ensuring accountability, and maintaining high standards of legal representation.