Principal Attorney - MIDC Standard 6 and 7 Compliance

Salary: $111,655.00 - $149,596.00 Annually

Location : Waterford, MI

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 2024-210

Department: Indigent Defense Services Office

Opening Date: 08/12/2024

Announcement Information

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Job Summary

Demonstrates a high level of expertise within a specialized, complex area within the Public Defender's Office to effectively represent Indigent clients. A principal attorney will be assigned to handle the most serious cases within the Public Defender's Office, and will evaluate evidence, interview necessary parties, research and write any necessary court filings, and present case materials in District, Circuit, and occasionally Appellate courts. Ensures that case material is thorough, accurate and complete. Renders expert legal advice to other attorneys within the Public Defender's Office. Utilizes current Countywide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.
Minimum Qualifications

Be licensed to practice law and maintain membership in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan.
Special Requirements

1. Significant knowledge of Michigan criminal law and procedure.

2. Have dedicated a significant portion of the candidate's legal practice to criminal law (either prosecution or defense) for at least five (5) years.

3. The ability to produce a list of all criminal trials conducted by the candidate, including the nature of the charge(s) and whether the candidate represented an indigent criminal defendant, a retained criminal defendant, or the People of the State of Michigan during the trial.

4. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

5. Demonstrated ability to exercise the appropriate techniques for dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, in person and over the phone.

Oakland County Michigan - YOUR FUTURE IS HERE! Award winning and fiscally responsible County (AAA Bond Rated) government agency invites you to begin and advance your career with us as we continue on the path to provide cutting edge services to the communities we serve. We offer a stable work environment, competitive salaries, a full benefits package, growth opportunities and employee training along with generous tuition reimbursement. We recognize that your hard work and dedication to the communities we serve are the driving force behind our success, and we continually look for additional ways to build a positive work environment. Join us on our journey to continue to make Oakland County a great place to Live, Work and Play.

Overview of Employee Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package that includes medical,prescription, dental, vision, short and long-term disability insurance, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance for all eligible employees, with minimal employee cost.
• Health and dependent care reimbursement accounts where employees can place pre-tax dollars into an account to be used for health care or dependent care related expenses.
• There is also a comprehensive retirement package in which all Eligible employees are enrolled in a defined contribution plan (401a) with a County match; also the ability to participate in a deferred compensation plan (457).
• Ample time-off for all employees, including 11 to 13 paid holidays per year, five personal leave days, one floating holiday, 10 vacation days within the first year (amount of vacation days increase over tenure).
• Annual Leave Buy Back is offered once a year to all eligible employees with 60 (or more) annual leave hours in the bank. This program offers interested employees the option to "cash out" annual leave hours in order to receive a payout. Employees can "cash out" a minimum of 20 hours to a maximum of 40 hours.
• Parental Leave is available for all full-time employees who have completed six (6) months of County service. Employees will receive 6 weeks of paid leave at 100% of their current salary. Parental Leave can be utilized for both the birth and adoption of a child.
• Affordable on-site child care for infants to five years old for children of County employees; also provides a school-age summer camp program.

Employee Health and Wellness Benefits:

• The mission of the OakFit Wellness Program is to assist Oakland County employees, retirees and dependents in taking ownership of their health and wellness in order to improve quality of life, enhance productivity, and stabilize long-term employee/employer health care costs. There are a wide variety of programs offered, including weight management, exercise, Tobacco Cessation, and various educational workshops. OakFit also offers annual on-site health screenings. Employees and dependents have access to the OakFit website offering a wealth of resources including webinars, a recipe page and other informational topics. Employees can also see upcoming events posted on the Wellness calendar and subscribe to Wellness Program email updates.

Professional Development:

• Our tuition reimbursement program assists eligible employees seeking to improve their educational qualifications in subjects and fields directly related to the County's operations, activities and objectives.
• The County's Human Resources Department provides in-house professional development training to employees across departments, including programs ranging from conflict management to grammar skills. Employees may also have opportunities to attend job-related conferences/seminars.
• The County's Information Technology Department provides basic to advanced job-related computer software training to employees.

Other Benefits:

• The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offered confidentially to you or your family members. At no cost to you, the program supports with mental health counseling, work/life resources and more.
• The Employee Service Award Program recognizes employees for years of service and educational achievement.

To view full-time new hire benefits, please click the following link: