Job Details

Attorney II - Legal Defender - Public Defense Services

Open to current Pima County employees only.

Job type: Unclassified. Job classification: 3002 - Attorney II. Salary grade: A3. Pay range: $94,494 - $179,524 Annually.

The Attorney II coordinates and conducts professional legal work in the Public Defense Services Department. Attorneys at this level prepare, defend or prosecute, and resolve complex legal matters involving serious cases and voluminous caseloads requiring specialized experience and training. Work is performed with considerable latitude, independent judgment, and professional discretion.

Pima County Public Defense Services represents indigent individuals in felony cases, misdemeanor cases, juvenile delinquency matters, dependency and severance proceedings, Title 36 proceedings, guardianship cases, and appeals. Attorneys provide direct client representation and handle diverse caseloads of various offenses, allegations, and degrees of seriousness.

Essential Functions

• Prosecutes or defends the most difficult and complex criminal or civil cases, or voluminous caseloads requiring specialized experience and training, brought for and against the County, in State or Federal Courts;
• Manages the most demanding criminal or civil cases in public sector law or manages caseloads requiring specialized skills and experience;
• Represents County departments, boards and commissions in civil litigation and administrative matters;
• Prepares the ordinances, resolutions, contracts and leases for consideration by county officials;
• Prepares legal opinions and advises county officials on a variety of legal matters;
• Engages in negotiations for compromise and settlement of cases and complies with Victims' Rights;
• Engages in pretrial, trial, post-trial and appellate practice as required by cases;
• Prepares litigation, deposes witnesses, provides witness notification, and conducts complex bench and jury trials;
• Develops, refines, and presents legal strategies, reviews legal documents, extracts relevant information, evaluates legal issues and legal system variables and negotiates agreements;
• Conducts research and provides consultation involving complex and difficult legal issues;
• Researches and drafts legal motions, pleadings, briefs and other legal documents;
• Reviews, evaluates, and participates in investigations;
• Complies with all rules regulating professional responsibility;
• Upholds the values and goals of the assigned Department and County.

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctorate AND five (5) years of relevant prosecution, defense, or civil experience. Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum five (5) years of prosecution, defense, or civil experience;
• Experience handling serious cases or voluminous caseloads requiring specialized experience and/or training;
• Experience with little to no supervision on serious case types handled.

Selection Procedure

Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated or scored against any advertised preferred qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidate from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments or testing may be required as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information

Licenses and certificates: Admission to the Arizona State Bar at the time of appointment, which must be maintained in good standing. All positions require a valid Arizona Class D driver license at the time of application or appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the required licensure shall be grounds for termination. The County requires pre‑employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post‑offer, pre‑employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County. All positions may require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems.

Physical/Sensory and Working Conditions

Frequently operates a computer and other office equipment; frequently observes details at close range; frequently speaks to clients, witnesses, and other case involved parties, such as law enforcement agencies and experts in‑person and/or on the phone. Regularly works in a professional office setting; occasionally drives to conduct field work; occasionally must lift and carry items; occasionally remains in a stationary position; occasionally moves around inside an office. Regular daily attendance is an essential function for this position. Regularly receives and responds to telephone calls, text messages and emails. Drives to visit clients and witnesses at residence or at jail, and other locations to speak with other case involved parties.

EEO Information

Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.