Chief Public Defender, Victoria RPD

Help revolutionize representation in Texas!

Texas RioGrande Public Defender is opening a first-ever conflict public defender in Victoria, Texas that will service Victoria, Jackson, Refugio, Lavaca, and Goliad counties. This is a transformative opportunity to establish gold-standard representation in an area that has long been overlooked.

A conflict public defender represents individuals who cannot be appointed to the primary public defender because of an ethical conflict of interest. Conflict defenders are integral to ensuring nobody receives less fair treatment based on who their co-defendant is. TRGPD is proud to establish Texas's first-ever conflict defender in Victoria and help establish a model for the entire Lone Star state.

TRGPD is looking for a zealous, client-centered, and visionary changemaker to spearhead justice in communities that have been left behind for too long. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance justice, for those who dare.

Chief Public Defender, Victoria Regional Public Defender

• Launch and lead a brand-new public defender’s office


• Establish a culture of client-centered, team-oriented advocacy that fights for clients


• Create, with support from Executive Leadership, gold-standard processes for advocates to follow in representing clients


• Effectively communicate with local stakeholders to build strong community relationships


• Assist in tracking data measuring the impact of the Victoria RPD’s representation, including jail population and disposition data


• Monitor caseloads for Victoria RPD attorneys in the ramp-up period and after achieving full staffing to ensure manageable caseloads
  


• Work in partnership with Executive Leadership to implement key strategies and initiatives to achieve Victoria RPD’s goals and objectives
  


• Mentor and train newly licensed attorneys within Victoria RPD, by assisting in case file reviews, developing trainings, attending court hearings with young attorneys, and serving as lead counsel or cocounsel on trials with new lawyers, as needed


• Maintain a supportive and positive work environment for their team


• Contribute to the progress and development of TRGPD as a whole

Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law in Texas or willing to take the next available Texas bar exam;


• At least five years of criminal litigation experience as a licensed attorney;


• At least 5 trials before a jury as lead counsel;


• Demonstrated management and leadership skills;


• Proficiency in Office365, legal research software, and other case management systems;


• Professional fluency in Spanish (highly preferred)

Preferred applicants will demonstrate vision for advancing justice; a commitment to indigent defense and criminal justice reform; have worked in a public defender office; have exceptional advocacy, management, and leadership skills; are solution oriented and creative in their ideas on how to solve systemic issues within the criminal justice system; are passionate about the development and training of the new generation of the indigent defense attorneys; and want to live and work in communities where TRGPD clients have the greatest needs.