OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position:                           Assistant Public Defender (Full-time)

Location:                          Darlington County Office

Application Deadline:     August 28, 2024 5:00PM

The 4^th Circuit Public Defender’s Office is accepting applications for a full-time Assistant Public Defender. The 4^th Circuit Public Defender’s Office was created by the Indigent Defense Act of 2007, to provide representation of indigent defendants charged with crimes in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, and Marlboro counties of South Carolina. 

Job Description and Qualifications: The Assistant Public Defender (APD) will provide every aspect of legal representation to persons charged with a state crime and who, because of indigence, cannot obtain counsel to represent them. Duties of the APD include trials and court hearings, client and witness interviews, investigation, analysis of strength of cases, develops mitigation and defenses, case negotiation, community outreach and related job duties as assigned by a supervisor.

Candidate must:

* Be a member of the SC Bar, in good standing OR law school graduate 

* Possess proficient computer skills

* Possess excellent written and oral communication skills

* Be able to conduct legal research and possess ability to analyze cases and legal opinions

* Have a strong work ethic and be committed to the service of public defense

* Be a US Citizen or eligible to work in the United States

Salary: Based on experience.

Benefits: Includes a vehicle and gas card.  

Payment of Bar Dues and CLE dues.  

Payment of Yearly CLE credits, primarily through attendance at the Public Defender Conference.

SC State Health Plans and Retirement Plans administered by PEBA (Public Employee Benefit Authority).

Employment with our office qualifies for student loan forgiveness under the PSLF program.

Application Information: Qualified persons may apply by forwarding a letter of interest/cover letter and resume, by email (in PDF format) or standard mail to:

Ashley McIntyre
4^th Circuit Public Defender’s Office
101 W. Main St. 
Suite B
Chesterfield, South Carolina 29709
Email: circuit4pdmcintyre@att.net

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 5:00 PM EST,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2024.

The 4th Circuit Public Defender’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position:                        Juvenile Defender (Full-time)

Location:                      Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon and Marlboro Counties

Application Deadline: August 28, 2024 5:00PM

The 4^th Circuit Public Defender’s Office is accepting applications for a full-time Juvenile Defender. The 4^th Circuit Public Defender’s Office was created by the Indigent Defense Act of 2007, to provide representation of indigent defendants charged with crimes in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, and Marlboro counties of South Carolina. 

Job Description and Qualifications: The Juvenile Defender will provide every aspect of legal representation to juveniles charged with a crime in family court. This will require travel to all four counties. Duties of the Juvenile Defender include trials and court hearings, client and witness interviews, investigation, analysis of strength of cases, develops mitigation and defenses, case negotiation, community outreach and related job duties as assigned by a supervisor.

Candidate must:

* Be a member of the SC Bar, in good standing OR law school graduate 

* Possess proficient computer skills

* Possess excellent written and oral communication skills

* Be able to conduct legal research and possess ability to analyze cases and legal opinions

* Have a strong work ethic and be committed to the service of public defense

* Be a US Citizen or eligible to work in the United States

Salary: Based on experience.

Benefits: Includes a vehicle and gas card.  

Payment of Bar Dues and CLE dues.  

Payment of Yearly CLE credits, primarily through attendance at the Public Defender Conference.

SC State Health Plans and Retirement Plans administered by PEBA (Public Employee Benefit Authority).

Employment with our office qualifies for student loan forgiveness under the PSLF program.

Application Information: Qualified persons may apply by forwarding a letter of interest/cover letter and resume, by email (in PDF format) or standard mail to:

Ashley McIntyre
4^th Circuit Public Defender’s Office
101 W. Main St.
Suite B
Chesterfield, South Carolina 29709
Email: circuit4pdmcintyre@att.net

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 5:00 PM EST,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2024.

The 4th Circuit Public Defender’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLUMBIA, SC
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 24-01 INVESTIGATOR

The Federal Public Defender, District of South Carolina, is accepting applications for the position of Investigator, based in the Greenville office. The Federal Public Defender organization operates under authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18. U.S.C. §3006A, to provide defense services for indigent persons in federal criminal cases and related matters in federal courts. This office hires without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, height, weight, veteran status, military obligations, or marital or parental status. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in any personnel decisions or employee interactions.

Requirements and Selection Criteria:
The successful candidate must demonstrate or have a reputation for personal and professional integrity. The successful candidate must be dedicated to the indigent defense of individuals charged with criminal offenses. The successful candidate must be self-motivated, curious, persistent when faced with adversity, and possess excellent interpersonal skills. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is preferred. Candidates should have the ability to provide litigation support when required. Applicants must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance. Applicants must be United States citizens, or persons authorized to work in the United States. Experience as an investigator and/or a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice-related fields from an accredited institution is preferred.

Duties:
Provides investigative support for cases pending in federal courts by investigating the facts of a case or a client’s life; locating and interviewing clients, victims, witnesses, and law enforcement personnel, preparing accurate memoranda and reports; investigating crime scenes; and reviewing and analyzing all forms of discovery and other documentation. The investigator locates public and private records such as criminal records, medical records, and records of court proceedings. Assists attorneys at hearings or trials by evaluating testimony, coordinating witnesses, documents, and assisting with digital presentations. Serve subpoenas and ensure that witnesses appear for court proceedings. The investigator will spend a substantial amount of time meeting with clients in detention centers. The investigator will testify in court proceedings. The position will require travel throughout the district, overnight travel, out-of-district training, irregular work hours, and working weekends and holidays, when necessary.

Salary and Benefits:
This is an “Excepted Appointment” full-time position with federal benefits and salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. The Grade/Salary Range for this position is Grade 11 – Grade 14 of the Judicial Salary Plan. Benefits include the Federal Employees Retirement System, the Thrift Savings Plan, paid annual and sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and health, life, disability, long-term care, dental, and vision insurance. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit).

Conditions of Employment:
The duty station for this position is in the Greenville office. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must be fingerprinted and must successfully complete a background investigation with periodic updates. Employment is provisional pending the successful outcome of the background check. A prior criminal conviction is not necessarily disqualifying. Employees of the Federal Public Defender are members of the judicial branch of government; they are considered “at will” and can be terminated with or without cause.

Qualified persons may apply by emailing a letter of interest, references, and a resume to: Jonathan Freeman
Jonathan_freeman@fd.org
Administrative Officer
District of South Carolina

Emailed documents must be in PDF format. Other electronic forms will not be considered.
Open until filled. Serious inquiries only. No telephone or fax inquiries.

FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA GREENVILLE, SC
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 23-03 INVESTIGATOR
The Federal Public Defender, District of South Carolina, is accepting applications for the position of Investigator based in the Greenville office. The Federal Public Defender organization operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18. U.S.C. §3006A, to provide defense services for indigent persons in federal criminal cases and related matters in federal courts.

Requirements: The candidate must be a college graduate with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution. This position requires a wide variety of skills. Experience working in the field of investigation and litigation support is preferred but not required. Law enforcement experience is not required. Candidates must have
excellent interpersonal communication skills. Spanish language proficiency is preferred. Candidates should have excellent computer skills and be fluent in Excel and capable of becoming fluent with Cellebrite, Accurint, TLO or Clear, and Adobe Acrobat 2020. Sentencing mitigation skills and knowledge are preferred. The position may
require travel throughout the district, overnight travel, out of district training, irregular work hours, or working weekends and holidays when necessary. Applicants must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance. Appointment is subject to a satisfactory background investigation, including an IRS tax check and an FBI name and fingerprint check.

Duties: Provide investigative support for cases pending in the federal courts. Investigate the facts of a case or a client’s life. Locate and interview victims, witnesses, and law enforcement personnel, prepare detailed and accurate memoranda of interviews and photographing and/or sketching relevant locations, such as crime scenes. Review, organize, and analyze electronic discovery or various forms of discovery and other documentation. Locate public and private records such as criminal records, medical records, and records of court proceedings. Assist attorneys at hearings or trials by evaluating testimony, coordinating witnesses, documents, and assisting with digital presentations. Serve subpoenas and notify defense witnesses of court appearances. Conduct investigations on the client’s background for medical, psychological, criminal, and other areas that may justify a variance from applicable Sentencing Guidelines. Review discovery with clients.

Selection criteria: The successful candidate must demonstrate or have a reputation for personal and professional integrity and must be committed to helping indigent accused persons. Candidates must possess the ability to communicate effectively with clients, witnesses, colleagues, and work well with staff and court personnel.

Salary: This is a position with growth potential and is subject to the availability of funds. Salary by direct deposit.

Qualified persons may apply by forwarding a letter of interest, references, and a resume to:
Jonathan Freeman
Administrative Officer
District of South Carolina
1901 Assembly Street, Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201

Submission by electronic PDF format may be sent by email to: jonathan_freeman@fd.org.

All emailed documents must be in PDF format. Other electronic forms will not be considered. Open until filled. Serious inquiries only. No telephone or fax inquiries.

The 8th Circuit Public Defender’s Office includes Laurens, Greenwood, Newberry, and Abbeville Counties. I currently have a position open. The position includes full health insurance, dental, vision, and retirement benefits. Have student loans? Join us and you can have that noose around your neck forgiven under the public service loan forgiveness program! We also pay your bar license fee statement annually as well as for all of your mandatory annual CLE credits. I offer incredible flexibility which we can discuss at your interview. I also offer group outings throughout the year to build office morale (ex. Boat days on the lake, bowling, top golf, get togethers at restaurants, someone’s house, etc.). We also have a wonderful and very supportive staff. We have two investigators that are the best investigators I have ever worked with. You will never have to try a case alone (unless you want to), and the residents of our circuit (which it’s not mandatory you live within the circuit) enjoy a much lower cost of living compared to other areas of SC. We also enjoy lake life (there is a lake in all 4 of our counties). We have an incredible team of amazing humans who all get along and there’s no drama (what a plus!!). Salary depends on experience but just to give you an idea, I’m offering between $75k-$102k. That’s not even including the benefit package, either. I also encourage time off (especially for mental health) as appropriate. We also provide Westlaw. Truly, this is a great office to be apart of! Want to try cases? Not a problem- you have that opportunity in our circuit. I also invest in my lawyers and investigators. I will send you to national seminars (primarily through NACDL) and I try to send one lawyer a year to the prestigious National Criminal Defense College that is a premier 2 week trial college. I invest in my lawyers because I truly want to have the strongest public defender’s office in the state, despite being a rural circuit. The lawyers in our office are stellar and you will learn from them and we hope to learn from you, too! We have Tristan Shaffer, Joel Broome, Callie West, Colie Stancil, Elizabeth Thomas, Rutledge Martin, Charles Verner, and Jane Merrill. We also have numerous private attorneys who hold contracts with our office. I love this group and feel so grateful to work alongside them! Our relationship with the Solicitor’s office is about as decent as it can be in an adversarial environment. Oh- and while I am totally here to support anyone on our team, I never micromanage.

If interested, please email me at my mouthful of an email address:
Cmcneill@8thcircuitpublicdefender.org <mailto:Cmcneill@8thcircuitpublicdefender.org> and put in the subject line RESUME. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Chelsea Brooke McNeill
Circuit Defender, 8th Judicial Circuit
Newberry, Laurens, Greenwood, & Abbeville

Park Plaza, 600 Monument St.
Suite 208, Box P133
Greenwood, South Carolina 29646
(864) 229-9505