Attorney in Port Orchard, WA

Government

Port Orchard, WA

Attorney in Port Orchard, WA

Attorney

Max 9 yrs required

No

Job Title: Rural Public Defense Fellowship

Job Responsibilities:
- Assist supervising attorneys and appear in court on the record at hearings as assigned, which may include arraignment, pretrial, motions, sentencings, and probation review hearings.
- Research, analyze, and write motions, briefs, and/or legal memos in support of supervising attorneys.
- Participate in trial preparations and potentially provide on-the-record participation in jury trials.
- Communicate directly with clients, social workers, service providers, and other public defense professionals.
- Read and analyze police reports and review other evidence pertinent to cases.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or office.

Education and Experience Information:
- Candidates must qualify as a Rule 9 pursuant to APR 9 by meeting one of the following criteria:
- . student enrolled and in good academic standing in an approved law school who has completed two-thirds of the law school's three-year program.
- Enrolled Law Clerk (Rule 6) who has completed five-eighths of the four-year program.
- Recent . graduate (within nine months) from an approved law school who has not been admitted to practice in any state or territory.
- Rule 6 who has completed the program (within nine months) who has not been admitted to practice law in any state or territory.
- Candidates must possess good moral character and fitness to practice law as outlined in the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Candidates should have an interest and ability in working with indigent individuals of diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds, and inspire their confidence in the legal proceedings.
- Effective writing and communication skills are required.
- Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work independently or with a team.
- Willingness to relocate to the job placement site for 10 weeks as necessary.
- Demonstrated commitment to public service.

Desired Qualifications:
- Multilingual skills, with proficient Spanish communication being a plus.
- Basic knowledge of criminal procedure and the rules of evidence.
- Commitment to equitable and client-centered representation.
- Experience working with people living in poverty or from other marginalized communities.

Salary Information:
- Financial compensation of up to $28 per hour.
- Housing stipend up to $900 per month for three months.

Additional Information:
The Rural Public Defense Fellowship (RPDF) is a 10-week summer program aimed at those eligible to practice as Rule 9 interns who are interested in gaining experience in public defense. The **Members Only** (OPD) coordinates this program to address the public defender crisis in rural and underserved parts of Washington State by placing eligible candidates in local public defense offices in these areas. The fellowship offers mentorship, intensive skill training, and financial support, with the goal of encouraging fellows to consider employment opportunities in public defense. Fellows will gain real-world experience under the mentorship of an experienced public defense attorney, actively representing clients and litigating cases. The program is designed to offer invaluable experience, preparing candidates for a career in public defense, with extensive training and support from OPD. Fellows will work in collaboration with supervising attorneys to ensure that the promises of the Constitution are upheld for their clients.

Work Schedule:
Fellows are anticipated to work a 40-hour workweek, Monday through Friday.

Placement:
Fellows will be placed in one of thirty rural or underserved counties in Washington State, depending on the availability of placement sites. Efforts will be made to accommodate the applicant's placement requests where possible.

Application Process:
Interested candidates should email the required documents, including an RPDF application cover sheet, a cover letter addressing specific questions, and a current resume, with the subject line "RPDF Application." Applications will be reviewed upon receipt until all positions are filled, and interviews will be granted to qualified applicants on a rolling basis. The OPD reserves the right to close the job posting at any time.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
The organization pursues diversity in the workforce and encourages applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 years of age, LGBTQIA+ individuals, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, those with prior child welfare involvement, and military veterans. The organization is committed to ensuring a respectful, safe, and supportive working environment for all fellows.