State of Maryland

An Assistant Public Defender I is the entry level of trial Attorney work in the Office of the Public Defender.  Employees in this classification provide eligible persons with legal counsel and services for criminal, juvenile, involuntary commitment and Children in Need of Assistance proceedings before the courts of the State.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from an Assistant Public Defender Supervisor or other higher-level Attorney.  Work is performed at various locations including jails, lock-up facilities, hospitals and courtrooms.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this methodology involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Assistant Public Defender I, Assistant Public Defender II and Assistant Public Defender III are differentiated based on the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Assistant Public Defender I learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Assistant Public Defender II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Assistant Public Defender III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. 

Represents Office of the Public Defender clients in all aspects of criminal, juvenile, involuntary commitment and Children in Need of Assistance proceedings before the courts of the State;

Reviews case files in order to determine the nature of the charges and the factual and legal issues involved, and to plan defense strategies;

Counsels and advises clients regarding theories of possible defense, trial factors and procedures, rights, alternatives to incarceration, appeal rights and procedures, rehabilitation services and other matters of law;

Engages in plea negotiations with Assistant State’s Attorneys and other opposing counsel and attends conferences with the court in an attempt to resolve issues before trial;

Performs other related duties.

Education: A Juris Doctorate degree or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience: None

Notes:

1. Candidates shall be an Attorney and admitted to practice law in the State by the Court of Appeals of Maryland, at the time of appointment.

2. The above requirements are set by the Office of the Public Defender in accordance with Criminal Procedure Article, Section 16-203 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in general attorney classification or general attorney specialty codes in the legal and kindred group field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required   Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions  Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit F, Social and Human Services Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.