ABOUT THIS POSITION

Join the City of Phoenix Public Defender’s team and make a meaningful impact in the lives of your clients. This team is dedicated to providing the highest level of representation to their clients by protecting and defending their constitutional rights.
The Public Defender’s Office is seeking an Assistant City Attorney Ill who is passionate for justice. This role will be assigned to work with and provide legal assistance to defendants in the Municipal Court Behavioral Health Court (BHC). This court is specifically for defendants who have mental/behavioral health issues. The goal of this court is to restore participants to being successful, contributing members of the community and/or getting them in touch with treatment and counseling options that will enrich their health, safety, and lives. This court focuses on ensuring that people with behavioral health issues get assigned specific programs to address the root causes of the behavior that resulted in their arrest.
The Assistant City Attorney Ill, assigned to this role, will work with defendants throughout the City of Phoenix criminal justice system. They will interact with judges, legal professionals, and court staff and serve as a representative of the Public Defender’s Office in meetings. They also work together with a legal assistant and a social worker assigned to the Behavioral Court team and collaborate with other Specialty Court team members as needed. Additionally, they will be responsible for appearing at the Maricopa County Superior Court for Rule 11 proceedings and hearings.

Job duties include:

• Appearing at court to cover court dockets.
• Attending Maricopa County Superior Court for Rule 11 proceedings and hearings.
• Working with case managers and the in-house social worker for staffing of cases.
• Verifying defendant’s eligibility for Specialty Court assignment.
• Staying in contact with clients and ensuring they are following through on their treatment plans, counseling, and/or medication(s).
• Drafting motions, pleadings, and status reports.
• Reviewing discovery.
• Maintaining client confidentialities, including HIPAA compliance.

Some of the work may take place at legal services events, and the assignments and work locations may vary based on the best interests of the City, as determined by the Public Defender. The attorney assigned to this role will be cross trained with Veteran’s Court and Community Court and may be tasked to assist with other specialty courts, as needed.
This position may be eligible for telework one day per week implemented at the discretion of the Director. Attorneys are expected to meet the needs of their clients and the Department, including any court obligations, city council or city management meetings, or other in-office obligations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor from an accredited school of law and in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona. Please include your Arizona State Bar license number on the resume or cover letter.
• Three years of experience as a practicing attorney, including the review, negotiation, and drafting of contracts or participation in other transactional work; client contact.
• Experience in litigation, pleading, and motion-practice.
• Some experience with government law practice
• Some knowledge of the legal subject matter involved with the department to which assignment will be made.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• The City job description can be found here.
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions,
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PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:

• Trial and/or significant criminal defense experience in municipal courts.
• A background in mental health/behavioral health treatment is preferred.
• Experience working within a Specialty Court environment, i.e. Homeless Court, Behavioral Health Court, and/or Veterans Court.
• Experience:
• With Rule 11 processes and procedures.
• Interacting and having contact with clients.
• Counseling clients on medical and/or mental health treatment options/alternatives.
• Drafting pleadings.
• Experience working in/with:
• Vulnerable populations.
• A paperless environment as we are transitioning to a paperless office.
• Community-based health care systems for mental/behavioral health needs.
• A high-volume caseload environment.
• Knowledge and experience with MS Office and Adobe Acrobat.
• Spanish speaking is preferred but not required.

• Appearing at court to cover court dockets.
• Attending Maricopa County Superior Court for Rule 11 proceedings and hearings.
• Working with case managers and the in-house social worker for staffing of cases.
• Verifying defendant’s eligibility for Specialty Court assignment.
• Staying in contact with clients and ensuring they are following through on their treatment plans, counseling, and/or medication(s).
• Drafting motions, pleadings, and status reports.
• Reviewing discovery.
• Maintaining client confidentialities, including HIPAA compliance