Alabama State Bar

Pursuant to Ala. Code (1975) § 15-12-4 the Jefferson County Indigent Defense Advisory Board is establishing a Public Defender’s Office for Alabama’s 10th Judicial Circuit. As such, the Advisory Board is seeking extraordinary candidates for the position of the Director of the Public Defender’s Office in Birmingham. The Director will be tasked with the responsibility of establishing a fully-staffed law office and fulfilling the Constitutional obligation of furnishing legal representation for indigent defendants in Alabama’s most populous county. As the founding Director, you will be required to establish the office, hire staff, and be the spokesperson for the Public Defender’s Office. The launch of a Public Defender’s Office is a major undertaking, and should be comparable to the operations of successful Public Defender Offices around the country. When hired, the Director will be given substantial latitude to achieve the successful launch of this new and important institution.

WHAT THE DIRECTOR MUST DO:

Lead the Public Defender’s Office as its senior lawyer and executive.
Develop an intimate understanding of Jefferson County’s criminal justice system and its unique needs.
Hire sufficient staff to provide indigent defense services for Jefferson County including: attorneys, paralegals, investigators, legal assistants, and administrative and clerical staff. The Advisory Board views this undertaking as comparable to establishing a large law firm.
Provide the dual advantage of quality legal representation and greater efficiencies, economies and control over indigent defense expenses.
Manage relations with the D.A.’s Office, the Judges of the 10th Judicial Circuit, the local and state BAR associations and the County’s other indigent defense programs, such as Legal Aid Society and Alternative Sentencing Programs.
Launch new initiatives and strategies to promote the image of the Public Defender’s Office of Jefferson County to citizens of Jefferson County, the State of Alabama, and the rest of the nation.
Provide leadership in the reform of indigent defense in Alabama.
Operate the Public Defender’s Office in conjunction with and pursuant to the oversight of the Jefferson County Indigent Defense Advisory Board and the Director of Indigent Defense Services for the State of Alabama.

IN ADDITION:

An applicant must be prepared to serve the Public Defender’s statute-defined term of three years, subject to renewal and to the provisions of Ala.Code (1975) § 15-12-41.
An applicant must be a member in good standing with the Alabama BAR or become so prior to taking office and a member in good standing of every other bar of which the applicant is a member.
An applicant must have a minimum of five years criminal practice experience, preferably with significant criminal trial experience, which demonstrates an ability to provide & inspire zealous representation of consistently high quality to criminal defendants.
An applicant must be able to manage an office.
The applicant must be or become a resident of the Birmingham Division of Jefferson County prior to taking office.
An applicant should demonstrate competency, integrity, & leadership.
Salary: $110,000.00 - $148,935.60
As a State of Alabama Employee, benefits include:
Low-Cost Health/Dental Insurance (Single Coverage).
Optional Family Coverage (Health/Dental).
Accrue Thirteen Annual Leave Days per Year.
Accrue Thirteen Sick Days per Year.
Thirteen Paid Holidays per Year.
Retirement Plan.
Flexible Employee Benefit Plans.

Please read the Jefferson County Birmingham Division Indigent Defense Advisory Board’s “Jefferson County Birmingham Division Public Defender Application” & the qualifications for the position in the explanatory preface titled “Tenth Judicial Circuit Birmingham Division Indigent Defense Advisory Board.” The application will be hosted on the website for Alabama’s 10th Judicial Circuit, (10jc.alacourt.gov), as well as various other websites. A copy can also be obtained from the Court Administrator of Alabama’s 10th Judicial Circuit, Mrs. Sandra H. Turner.