Job Description

The Office of the Municipal Public Defender has been in existence since 2015 in the City and County of Denver.  We are excited to invite applications for a Staff Attorney for this growing agency. 

 

The Municipal Public Defender's Office provides holistic criminal defense to the indigent accused of Denver who are facing the possibility of jail for traffic offenses and municipal ordinance violations.  The Chief Municipal Public Defender reports directly to the Municipal Public Defender Commission.  The Deputy Public Defenders report to the Public Defender Supervisor and Director.

 

We are currently hiring for a Deputy Public Defender Staff attorney to join our growing team. Our ideal candidate must have a passion for public defense work and should exhibit empathy in dealing with clients. This role will work closely with clients from Denver’s indigent community, ranging from clients with mental health issues to substance abuse issues, and everything in between.

 

We appreciate your interest and are excited for the opportunity to build a strong team of Public Defenders for the City and County of Denver.

 

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Representing defendants accused of municipal ordinance and traffic violations
• Providing representation in all phases of litigation from arraignment, through plea negotiation, to trial and appeals
• Preparing and litigating all manner of motions, including constitutional motions, evidentiary issues, and other pleadings
• Performing legal research and writing appeals 
• Interviewing and advising clients in the office and in detention facilities to gather information in preparation for trial 
• Representing clients in problem-solving courts and advocating for clients at problem-solving team meetings
• Working closely with the Client Support Team comprised of social workers and peer navigators
• Performing other duties as assigned

 

What We Offer  

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $80,371.00 - $132,612.00 yearly. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to: 

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 
• 457B Retirement Plan 
• 132 hours of PTO earned within first year
• 11 Paid Holidays per year, plus 1 personal holiday, and 8 hours of Denver Good Deeds volunteer time
• Education Refund Program (ERP) - a chance for the city to support your continued learning and career growth by investing in your future with the city
• Care Bank – 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave (after the probation period is passed)
• Free RTD Eco Pass
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date 

 

Our ideal candidate will have:

• A license to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court
• A strong passion for public defense and a desire to be a litigator
• Previous internship or legal clinic experience in public defense
• Experience within the Denver County Court System
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities
• Experience working with indigent populations

 

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

• Education: Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree or Bachelor of Laws Degree
• Experience: None
• License/Certifications: Possession of a license to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court at the time of application. Positions with the Public Defender's Office are dependent upon the rules and regulations in place at the time of application and subsequent hiring.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment
• Equivalency:  No substitution of experience for education is permitted

 

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Resume
• Cover Letter, please include the following:
• Colorado license #
• A description of, or interest in, litigation experience
• A description of your experience working with the indigent population
• A description of why you want to be a municipal public defender

 

Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until Sunday January 14, 2024. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than Sunday January 14, 2024 at midnight to ensure consideration.  

 

 

 

Position Type

Unlimited - Fulltime

 

Position Salary Range

$80,371.00 - $132,612.00

 

Starting Pay

Based on experience

 

Link to Apply – Must apply by January 14, 2024 at 11:59PM

https://denver.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CCD-denver-denvergov-CSC_Jobs-Civil_service_jobs-Police_Jobs-Fire_Jobs/job/Downtown-Denver/Deputy-Public-Defender-Staff-Attorney_R0063981 

 

Benefits Link

https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Work-With-Us/Benefits/Get-to-Work-and-Back/Taking-Transit