Staff Attorney, NDS Texas - Hays County (San Marcos, TX)

Neighborhood Defender Service Inc•San Marcos, TX

1d•$79,144 - $91,051

About The Position

Neighborhood Defender Service of Texas, Hays County Criminal Defense Team, is a nonprofit, community-based, client-centered, collaborative, holistic public defense office located in San Marcos, Texas. The office was opened in January 2023 to provide criminal defense representation to indigent residents of Hays County. Clients are represented by teams composed of lawyers, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs while a case is pending. The Staff Attorney is an integral part of the defense team who demonstrates a commitment to serving marginalized people and communities. As a member of the organization, the Staff Attorney will help shape our present and future—contributing to a collaborative environment and culture of excellence in alignment with our values. At Neighborhood Defender Service of Texas, how we represent our clients is as important as individual case outcomes and our ideal Staff Attorney approaches the cultivation of a positive office culture and the representation of indigent clients with equal rigor and commitment.

Requirements

A demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, racial equity, and social justice issues, and a substantive understanding of the biases impacting our clients.
An ability to quickly build relationships with people of varying identities, income levels, races and ethnicities.
A high level of organizational and administrative skills to handle a high caseload and multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
Experience representing clients in criminal cases and knowledge of criminal procedure from arraignments to trial and sentencing.
Ability to present facts, precedents, and arguments verbally and in writing; and able to use negotiation skills effectively to ensure favorable outcomes.
A track record of strategically guiding casework, projects, and/or relationships; applying good and practiced judgement; routinely pushing through roadblocks to achieve goals.
Experience and skill in connecting with and representing clients who have mental health issues.
Excellent interpersonal, analytical, writing, and effective communication skills.
An ability to work cooperatively in a team setting and independently with minimal oversight.
Must be skilled at establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with clientele, representatives of outside agencies, county employees and officials, and the public.
Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and licensed by the State Bar of Texas. Must be in good standing with the State Bar.

Nice To Haves

Candidates with jury trial experience are encouraged to apply.
Candidates with previous experience in a public defender’s office are strongly encouraged to apply.
Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Spanish language fluency is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Embrace NDS’ philosophy of client‐centered, community‐based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence by providing vigorous representation with energy and enthusiasm to clients.
Appear in all court proceedings for each client through the conclusion of their case.
Interview clients and their families, conduct legal research, and write pre-pleading letters, motions, and pre-sentencing memoranda on behalf of clients.
File motions, briefs, and other related documents on a frequent and timely basis.
Prepare cases for trial, collect, organize and prepare evidence and other legal material.
Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiations and arguments in criminal cases.
Be responsive to and communicate clearly with clients who are often under great stress.
Work closely with team members to advocate for reduced sentences and/or alternatives to incarceration for clients. This advocacy includes: Gathering factual mitigation through interviews and obtaining records; Analyzing records; Researching and recommending alternatives to incarceration; Writing pre-pleading memoranda to judges and prosecutors seeking reduced sentences and alternatives to incarceration.
Advocate orally on behalf of clients to judges, programs, and prosecutors.
Visit clients in custody to conduct initial assessments, screenings, and interviews.
Work as part of the interdisciplinary team, including social workers, investigators and other non-attorney advocates, to determine case strategy.
Maintain accurate and confidential client records, documenting all interactions, and interventions in the case management system in a timely manner.
Obtain clients’ records from all relevant sources; review records; and prepare summary of records.
Adhere to all relevant federal and state laws and agency policies and procedures, including HIPAA and other confidentiality regulations.
Communicate promptly and professionally with the supervising attorney on all case related matters.
Demonstrate cultural competence, awareness, and respect for diverse cultures and individual differences.
Maintain a safe, cordial, and healthy workplace environment.