Assistant Counsel Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

WHO WE ARE

The Charter County of Wayne is Michigan's largest county. We are home to 34 cities and nine townships. From Rockwood to Livonia, from Sumpter Township to the Grosse Pointes, each community in Wayne County offers residents and businesses a unique blend of opportunity to live, work, play and raise families. Headquartered in Detroit, our largest city and the automotive capital of the world, Wayne County offers a diversified economy and high standards for our residents' quality of life. Our history is rich and we take pride in being one of the most diverse communities that values culture, arts, and world-class amenities. Wayne County provides leadership that ensures the County operates efficiently, effectively, and responsibly. We provide transparently while building a stronger County inclusive of collaborations, innovation, and a clear focus on serving our residents.

Wayne County Indigent Defense Services Department (IDSD)

Wayne County's Indigent Defense Services Department is developing a staff of dedicated professionals who are committed to excellence in criminal defense representation at the trial court level, and equal access to justice. The IDSD launched in August of 2020 with the hiring of its Director, and a staff of fifteen employees is anticipated in FY 2023. The IDSD is state-funded through annual grants from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC).

The IDSD manages the transition and will assume responsibility for the entire indigent defense system in Wayne County's Third Circuit Court, Michigan's largest trial court handling more than 15,000 assignments of counsel in felony cases that originate in the county's numerous district courts. In 2022, approximately 65% of the assignments were handled by more than 200 private assigned counsel who were qualified by the IDSD Attorney Assignment Committee to handle cases in four Tiers, or categories, of cases. The remaining 35% of assignments went to the Neighborhood Defender Service Detroit (NDSD), Wayne County's public defender vendor.

Working under the supervision of the Assignment Coordinator, the Executive Assistant 1, functioning as the Assistant Assignment Coordinator, will assist in the facilitation of the assignment of counsel in felony cases and facilitate access to resources needed by counsel to effectively represent clients after case assignment, including discovery, location of clients, jail visits, investigator and expert services, training, service voucher review, and legal research.

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

Wayne County's Indigent Defense Services Department (IDSD) is developing a staff of dedicated professionals who are committed to excellence in criminal defense representation at the trial court level, and equal access to justice. IDSD launched in August of 2020 with the hiring of its Director. IDSD is state funded through a grant from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC). The Assistant Assigned Counsel Administrator plays a key role in assisting in the management of the assigned counsel segment of the system. The Assistant Assigned Counsel Administrator will work closely with the Third Circuit Court through the role-transition period, and beyond, building on the work done by IDSD leadership in cooperation with the Court. Reporting to the Director, with direction given by the Assigned Counsel Administrator, the Assistant Assigned Counsel Administrator will oversee various IDSD staff and programs, including the Assignment Coordinators and the Defender Support Unit.

REQUIRED TASKS

• Aids the Director and Assigned Counsel Administrator in the development and coordination of compliance plans and cost analysis for MIDC standards and best practices.
• Functions as a supervisor over staff members in IDSD who perform case assignment and attorney qualification and performance review functions (number expected to grow in future years).
• Assists in the development of a cost-effective, automated and fair case assignment process as outlined in the Wayne County Ordinance.
• Assists in supervising an attorney qualification and performance review process.
• Assists in caseload monitoring and compliance.
• Assists in supervising an attorney payment system in conjunction with fiscal grant staff.
• Leads the review for accuracy of attorney requests for payment and supervising staff that performs such validation, including voucher and invoice approvals.
• Assists in and researching the development of holistic defense resources for private assigned counsel, based on national best practices.
• Attends County Commission and Committee meetings.
• Assists in the preparation of reports, policies, and procedures both internal and external.
• Assists in the consultation of budgeting issues and concerns.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Licensed Attorney in good standing with the State of Michigan.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience practicing criminal law is required, with at least three years of felony trial level experience.
• Preferred Experience: Experience as a lawyer within the criminal justice system; experience in supervising professional and support staff; management of budgets, personnel and data; and proficiency in public policy development and advocacy, and communication with criminal justice system stakeholders.