Definition of Class

• This position is for a full-time mental health assistant public defender dedicated to representing public defender clients living with serious mental illness. These clients are either facing criminal charges in Erie County or the loss of liberty through involuntary commitment hearings.

Nature of Work

• The mental health public defender has a reduced caseload compared to the other full time assistant public defenders. However, the mental health clients demand more time from their attorney because of their illness and barriers to communication. Tasks include interviewing clients, collaborating with the prison psych department, Torrance, North Warren and other stakeholders, filing competency evaluations, attending hearings, educating the courts and Commonwealth about statutory and decisional law impacting seriously mentally ill clients, and using creative advocacy to achieve case resolution.

Duties & Responsibilities

• The mental health public defender maintains a reduced caseload of clients living with serious mental illness. The applicant will represent clients from preliminary hearing through case resolution and will be required to negotiate with prosecutors, prepare motions, obtain mental health records, petition for competency evaluations, educate judges about serious mental illness and advocate for clients facing mental health involuntary commitment at hospitals. There will be other duties as required or assigned. This reflects the general duties of the position but is not a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be required.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Applicant should either be aware of and sensitive to individuals living with serious mental illness or be willing to learn and develop skills in working with this population. The applicant should also be able to use creative solutions to resolve cases favorably for clients at the earliest opportunity available.

Minimum Requirements

• Juris Doctor Degree from an Accredited Law School
• Must be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar
• Must have a Valid Driver's License
• Must have use of a personal vehicle

Conditions Of Employment

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Erie County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Erie County Government values the power of diversity in our workforce. Our goal is to continue developing inclusive workforce policies that require individual equality, support the diversity of employee experiences, and include unique perspectives.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.