Job Information
Pima County Government Attorney I - Public Defense Services - Mental Health Defender in Tucson, Arizona
This job was posted by https://www.azjobconnection.gov : For more information, please see: https://www.azjobconnection.gov/jobs/7408862
Job Description Summary
Department - Public Defense Services
Job Description
OPEN UNTIL FILLED
Job Type: Unclassified
Job Classification: 3001 - Attorney I
Salary Grade: A2
Pay Range
Pay Range: \$82,472 - \$156,686 Annually
Range Explanation:
Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position.
The first review of applications will be on 04/03/2026.
The Pima County Mental Health Defenders (MHD) Office is committed to providing effective legal representation for people facing involuntary commitment, guardianship proceedings, and Guilty Except Insane (GEI) sentences. MHD attorneys meet with clients facing involuntary hospitalization within 24 hours of admission. They advise clients of their rights and explain the procedures involved in Title 36 court-ordered evaluations and represent them at hearings for court-ordered treatment. MHD attorneys also represent indigent individuals who are subject to petitions for temporary or permanent guardianship filed by the Pima County Public Fiduciarys Office. In addition, they provide post-sentencing advocacy for individuals hospitalized for GEI treatment at the Arizona State Hospital. MHD attorneys are dedicated to working patiently and compassionately with clients to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect through the process and are receiving treatment in the least restrictive manner.
Attorney I level attorneys perform entry level and/or intermediate level legal work. Attorneys at this level receive close supervision and support from higher-level attorney personnel in the performance of their duties. More experienced attorneys in this classification work increasingly independently under the general supervision of higher-level attorney personnel.
For more information on the Pima County Public Defense Services Department and the offices in this department, please visit their website at: www.pima.gov/MentalHealthDefender{target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}.
This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules.
Essential Functions:
\ As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the departments need and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.
Prosecutes or defends a variety of criminal or civil cases in Justice Court, Juvenile Court, Superior Court, Federal Court, and Appellate Courts which may include misdemeanor, felony, dependency, delinquency, mental health, guardianship, conservatorship, probate administration, contract, tort, environmental, real estate, tax issues, child support, or appellate cases;
Represents County departments, boards and commissions in civil litigation and administrative matters;
Engages in negotiations for compromise and settlement of cases and complies with Victims Rights;
Engages in pretrial, trial, post-trial and appellate practice as required by cases;
Prepares litigation, deposes witnesses, provides witness notification, and conducts bench and jury trials;
Researche s legal questions;
Researches and drafts legal motions, pleadings, briefs and other legal documents;
Reviews, evaluates, and participates in investigations;
Complies with all rules regulating professional responsibility;
Upholds the values and goals of the assigned Department and County.
\ Minimum Qualifications:
\ Juris Doctorate.
Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the \"Education\" and \"Work Experience\" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write \"see resume\" on your application.
Selection Procedure:\ Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection proc