ABOUT THIS POSITION
The City of Phoenix Public Defender’s Office is currently seeking to hire an Assistant City Attorney III for each of the following courts: Behavioral Health Court and Community Court. T his office is dedicated to protecting and defending the constitutional rights of our indigent clients . These roles se rve as a representative of the Public Defender’s Office in meetings and interaction with judges, legal professionals, and court staff. The primary responsibility of this role is to provide legal assistance to clients in the Phoenix Municipal Court. Being a member in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona and having a strong background in criminal law and procedure, including experience in the litigation of criminal cases in Phoenix Municipal Court, is a must for these assignments .
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. Additionally, this role may also be tasked to assist with other courts, as needed.
Behavioral Health Court (BHC)
The goal of BHC 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. This role will work with defendants in the City of Phoenix Behavioral Health Court and throughout the City of Phoenix criminal justice system. Staffing of cases will take place with case managers and our in-house social worker.
Community Court
This is a new court program that will be catered to the unsheltered population within the City of Phoenix. This role will be the lead attorney for Community Court and will work closely with our social workers, as well as with the navigators contracted to help with Community Court, to assist clients in breaking their cycle of homelessness while ensuring they have access to programming and services to address their needs. This role will also work with the team at Office of Homeless Solutions to ensure the best chance of success for the client.
Both court programs have case workers and navigators to ensure that all clients get access to everything they might need; including housing assistance, educational programming, treatment and/or medication, job assistance, and oversight to ensure they remain in compliance with their individualized program of treatment.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
Will possess:
- A passion to work with and represent members of vulnerable populations; including the unhoused and those with mental health and substance abuse issues.
- A background in/with:
- Working with vulnerable populations, i.e. homeless, veterans, or people with behavioral issues.
- Mental health/behavioral health treatment and finding treatment for clients; including mental/behavioral health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and housing.
- Ability to:
- Impart to clients the importance of breaking the cycle to avoid returning to the criminal court system.
- Carry a large caseload and stay organized to ensure case files are up to date so clients have best opportunity for success.
- Work well with others and be part of a team.
- Stay organized in fast paced environment.
SALARY
Pay Range: $110,219.20 – $154,294.40 annually.
Hiring Range: $110,219.20 – $126,297.60 annually.
Pay Range Explanation:
- Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
- Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, and or training.
- The City contributes 9% of salary into 457/401(a) plans with no matching required. $4,200/annual car allowance and $1,440/annual cell phone allowance.
BENEFITS
A comprehensive Middle Manager benefits package is offered which includes:
- Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information
- 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
- Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans
- Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan
- Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
- Dental, vision, and life insurance options
- Employer paid long-term disability
- Free Bus/light rail pass
- Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
- Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days
- Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period
- Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi
For more details, visit: Middle Manager Benefits .
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Three years of experience as a practicing attorney, i ncluding 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.
- Graduation from an accredited school of law.
- 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, click here .
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:
- Criminal defense experience in municipal courts.
- Experience working within a Specialty Court environment, i.e. Homeless Court, Behavioral Health Court, and/or Veterans Court.
- Experience in/with:
- Counseling clients to find and attend treatment programs.
- Counseling clients on medical and/or mental health treatment options/alternatives.
- Working with community-based health care systems for mental/behavioral health needs.
- Working in a paperless environment as we are transitioning to a paperless office.
- Knowledge and experience with MS Office and Adobe Acrobat.
RECRUITMENT DATES
Recruitment closes October 4, 2023. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.
This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.
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- If you need assistance applying for this job, please contact our HR Connection Center at (602) 495-5700 .
REFERENCE
Asst City Atty III (NC), JC:10130, ID# 51533, 09/20/23, USM, RAL, Benefits:009
Building the Phoenix of tomorrow.
City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.