Managing Attorney (Three Positions)
- Summary
The King County Department of Public Defense is nationally recognized for providing excellent legal representation. DPD represents indigent persons in several practice areas, including felonies, misdemeanors (on both a county and municipal level), juvenile offenders, family defense, involuntary commitment, civil commitment of sexually violent predators, and contempt of court.
DPD is committed to effective, high-quality, client-centered representation and consists of one central administrative office and four independent divisions. The Department is seeking three Managing Attorneys to lead its Northwest Defenders Division, Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons Division, and the Defenders Association Division. As a division director, the Managing Attorney is responsible for ensuring that the divisions provide effective, high-quality, and client-centered representation in each case assigned to the division. The Managing Attorney is a part of the Public Defender's leadership team responsible for providing guidance, oversight and support to a highly skilled public defense team.
King County
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King, Jr., King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures.?Together, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.
We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make King County one of the nation's best places to live, work, and play.
Who May Apply
This position is open to all qualified applicants. This recruitment is open until filled, and applications will be evaluated as they are received.
Work Schedule
This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. The position's base work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; work outside of the normal workday will be required.
Forms and Materials Required
An online employment application,completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs, with employment history going back at least ten years if you have ten years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience), a resume, and a cover letter summarizing why you are interested in this position, and why you believe you will be a strong fit for the position are required. Please see application instructions at the end of this posting for more details.
Questions
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Susan Eddy, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Human Resource Manager
susan.eddy@kingcounty.gov
206-477-6003- Job Duties
The Managing Attorney will supervise day-to-day activities within the division in multiple King county locations; manage workloads, schedules, and case assignments for all of the staff within the division; ensure strong communication between the division and other parts of the Department; and handle myriad facility and operational needs within the division. The Managing Attorney will lead and direct he wok of the division's supervisors in each of the practice areas.
Specifically, the Managing Attorney will:
- Coordinate with supervising attorneys to
- Proactively ensure attorneys are at or below caseload standards
- Ensure equitable distribution of cases among attorneys
- Ensure compliance with the Standards for Indigent Defense
- Coordinate with supervisors to ensure equitable distribution of work among non-attorneys
- Responsible for ensuring accurate and timely entry into DPD's case management system
- Communicate with the Director's Office regarding staffing needs in a timely manner
- Manage staff transfers to enable professional development goals of staff members, meet the division's business needs, and ensure such transfers are not unnecessarily disruptive to clients
- Monitor use of supplemental credits to ensure appropriate use
- Assist division staff with ethics issues, case strategy, and other guidance as needed
- Verify the Division is in compliance with all King County and DPD policies
- Liaise with courts and other stakeholders regarding caseload and personnel issues
- Effectively manage staff by:
- Ensuring employees are recognized for positive contributions
- Ensuring timely completion of performance appraisals for division employees, including ongoing performance management and support throughout the year
- Ensure all employees have regular check-ins with their supervisor to increase two way communication and feedback.
- Partner with supervisors to ensure a positive culture of mutual respect and open communication in the division
- When necessary, work to recognize and remedy morale issues in partnership with employees where warranted
- Support employees in their development and career pathways
- Recommend and/or approve staff trainings as appropriate
- Support Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) work in the division and ensure staff behave consistently with ESJ values
- Actively participate in DPD recruitment and selection processes as needed
- Liaise with the Director's Office by:
- Attending and participating in meetings as assigned
- Communicating regarding office space, technological, or other logistic or resource needs
- Ensure information from the Director's Office flows through the Division in a timely, clear manner, and that communication from the Division reaches the Director's office in the same manner.
- Model DPD's expectations of leadership by:
- Implementing a best practices approach to client-centered representation
- Working with the Director's Office to:
- Set policy priorities and strategic planning
- Support public defense goals and values
- Support the broader public defense policy goals, culture, and values
- Support Equity and Social Justice goals
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Coordinate with supervising attorneys to
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
The ideal candidate for this role will bring a strong background in directing and providing strategic leadership to a division dedicated to providing quality legal representation and advocacy to people in need of legal help. The Managing Attorney is an exceptional leader, manager, relationship builder, and educator who is familiar with issues, opportunities, and challenges associated with public defense issues.
In addition, well-qualified candidates will possess:
- Demonstrated progressively responsible managerial experience, with proficiency in team building, and the ability to foster and provide a supportive work environment where staff can work independently while being accountable for their areas of responsibility
- Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and an active Washington state law license in good standing or ability to obtain one within six months of employment
- A demonstrated commitment to quality public defense and client-centered leadership
- An extensive and diverse background in the public defense environment
- Ability to run an office, handle diverse personalities, and build morale, collaboration, and trust, establishing an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation within the division
- Skilled in managerial courage, with the ability to lean in to complicated human resource issues and work collaboratively towards positive outcomes
- A strong commitment to supporting staff and providing professional development
- Strong writing and research skills
- Supplemental Information
Applications will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. An offer of employment will be contingent on the ability to successfully passing employment verification and reference checks.
King County is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer and we encourage people of color, women, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.