The Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender (ACOPD) is devotedto providing skilled, effective and compassionate legal representation forindigent adults and children facing criminal charges in the trial, appellateand post-conviction county and state court systems. The ACOPD also serves asthe mental health advocate for individuals facing involuntary commitment underthe Mental Health Procedures Act, and as the advocate for individuals who havea constitutional right to representation where their personal liberty is atrisk.
The ACOPD is a department under the Executive branch of the countywith a dedicated staff of approximately 130 including attorneys, investigators,paralegals, social workers, technology and administrative supportprofessionals.
 
ACOPD Mission
The mission of the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender isto defend and protect the constitutional and statutory rights, liberties, anddignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. ACOPDdoes so through legal representation services that are effective, skilled andcompassionate.
 
The Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender was establishedconsistent with the state legislature’s mandate under the Pennsylvania PublicDefender Act.
Appointment of the Director of the Allegheny County Office of thePublic Defender
 
The ACOPD is led by the Director, who is the Chief Public Defender forthe office.  The Director is appointed bythe County Manager and serves without any specific term of office.
 
Essential Qualities of The Director  
 
The Director must demonstrate a clear dedication to fair, individualizedjustice for diverse populations and a commitment to social justice and the community.The candidate’s professional, volunteer, and personal history should reflect ethicaland professional excellence, and a willingness to assist, aid, teach, andadvise other practitioners, community leaders, organizations, and communitymembers. The candidate must have the necessary skills to recognize the need andadvocate for necessary justice system reforms that benefit not only publicdefender clients and their families, but also the broader community and justicesystems. The candidate must possess the advanced written and oral communicationskills necessary to fully support the critical role that the public defender’soffice and its employees play in the courts, justice systems, and the broadercommunity.
 
Leadership Skills
 
The Director must possess strong leadership qualities, and priorpublic defender supervision and leadership experience is helpful. The candidate’sexperience and background should include analytical capabilities and agencyadministrative and managerial skills. The Director is responsible for thefiscal, personnel, budget, technology and other administrative functions of theoffice.  
The Director must be capable of assembling and directing a strongleadership team that oversees and supervises the consistent delivery of qualityindigent defense legal services. In addition to overseeing all facets of ACOPDpolicies and operations, the Director must make sound hiring decisions thatenhance delivery of legal services as well as the smooth operation of theoffice. The Director must positively and proactively lead the office in all itsdealings with relevant employee unions and their collective bargainingagreements with the county.
 
The Director is expected to effectively represent the office atmeetings, conferences, programs and hearings that impact the delivery ofquality indigent defense services, policies effecting clients, office personneland operations, and changes in local, state and federal justice systems laws,rules and regulations.
 
Bar License Requirement
 
The Director must be an active licensed member of the Pennsylvania barand in full compliance with all disciplinary, ethics, professionalism, andcontinuing legal education rules and regulations.
Candidates who are active members of another state’s bar must be infull compliance with that state’s disciplinary, ethics, professionalism andcontinuing legal education rules and regulations. If selected as the Director,an out of state candidate shall seek admission to the Pennsylvania bar within eighteen(18) months of employment with the Allegheny County Office of the PublicDefender.
Additionally, the Director must have been admitted to the practice oflaw for a minimum of eight (8) years. 
 
Responsibilities of the Director
 
The Director is responsible for the administration of the office whichrequires that s/he be able to perform or supervise the following managerial andadministrative functions:
 

Program direction, analysis, and planning,

 
including the application of statistical information to decision making;

Workforce development, training, personnelpolicy, and practice development

Makes recommendations in regard to the hiring,discipline, promotion, and termination of employees under his/her supervision;

Budget analysis, development, allocation andmanagement;

Financial planning management, analysis,tracking, transaction processing, procurement, and accounting;

Contracts and grant management;

Supervision and evaluation of the practice of lawby attorneys and their agents and assistance in responding to inquiries byAttorney Disciplinary Counsel; response to and resolution of complaints fromclients, other criminal justice actors or unrelated parties;

Assessment, management and assignment ofcaseloads and case responsibilities to attorneys and their support staff.

Director’s Advocacy Responsibilities

Representation of the needs of the system and theindigent accused in intragovernmental and intergovernmental committees andcommissions;

Provision of input on legislative, policy, andrule changes that impact the indigent accused; suggestions on new law oramendments to current law where it intersects with the defense of indigentaccused;

Conferral with judicial, executive, legislativebranches and other criminal justice actors on any matters that impact the provisionof indigent legal services; 

Proactive and responsive formation ofpartnerships and other collaborative relationships with the heads and staffs ofpublic, private, and not for profit agencies which provide various forms ofassistance to the clients, staff and leadership of the ACOPD;

Competent communication, identification, andawareness of relevant public policy issues and policy-making processes;

Where appropriate, as directed and in compliancewith Rules of Professional Conduct and obligations of confidentiality,interface with the public and the media. 

The Director shall report to the County Manager concerning theprogress and accomplishments of the ACOPD, as well as budgetary, strategy andpolicy issues and remedies recommended.

Salary Range is $115,000 to $120,000 based upon experience.  Generous additional benefits offered. 

Please visit
https://alleghenycounty.us/careers/index.aspx
 to submit the attached Application, along with a Letter ofInterest (as described in the Application) and your Resume via email by 5:00PMEST on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 to:

Laura J. Zaspel

Director, Allegheny County Department of Human Resources

PublicDefenderApplications@AlleghenyCounty.us