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Office Head

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Office Head

Salary

$10,475.00 - $14,370.00 Monthly

Location

Glenwood Springs, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

JCA-GLNWD-090925

Department

Office of the State Public Defender

Opening Date

09/09/2025

Closing Date

9/29/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address

311 1/2 8th St, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Department Contact Information

Adilene Ortiz at [email protected]

Type of Announcement

This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

How To Apply

Online applications through the Colorado Jobs portal will not be accepted. Please follow instructions on the job announcement for submitting an application.

+ Description

+ Benefits

Department Information

Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) maintains a reputation as one of the top organizations in the nation specializing in the delivery of indigent criminal defense. We operate as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch of Colorado State Government with nearly 1,000 dedicated employees assigned to twenty-one Regional Trial Offices, a centralized Appellate Division, and a centralized Administrative Office. The mission of OSPD is to defend and protect the rights, liberties and dignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. We do so by providing constitutionally and statutorily mandated representation that is effective, zealous, inspired, and compassionate.

We seek to hire professionals who are dedicated to furthering our mission and demonstrate compassion in their service to our clients. We are a fast-paced, team-oriented environment, where self-motivation and a personal commitment to high performance are important attributes for success.

HOW TO APPLY

Please e-mail your resume and cover letter highlighting your interest in this position (including how you meet the qualifications),to Adilene Ortiz [email protected] Monday September 29, 2025.

Internal Applicants Only: Please notify your Office Head if you are submitting your request to be considered for this assignment.

Resumes must include dates of employment but, you may redact or remove any information that will identify your age, date of birth or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Description of Job

The Office Head is responsible for the overall management of a regional trial office, including but not limited to, administrative and personnel management; supervision of staff directly or through first and second-level supervisors; training; caseload management, ethics and all areas necessary to secure the best possible representation for our clients. Office Heads carry a reduced caseload as set forth by the State Public Defender.

• Performs supervisory duties for all Office staff including participating in interviews and selection, making recommendations or determination for hiring, discipline, assignments and promotion, and overseeing training, development and orientation activities.

• Reviews, updates and develops Office procedures and processes ensuring alignment with organizational policies. Leads Office meetings, activities and work groups.

• Acts as a representative of the Office and organization to the courts and other agencies in the resolution of issues and conflicts.

• Provides oversight to the training and orientation of Office staff and interns. Trains less experienced attorneys in managing and working through all aspects of a case.

• Develops training presentations, tools, and materials and acts as an instructor in the agency’s formal training programs and fall conference as well as in-house training and mentoring programs in the assigned Office.

• Manages caseloads and special assignments among staff members.

• Serves as a resource to assist less experienced lawyers in resolving complex and difficult ethical matters related to the attorney-client relationship and in applying the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct.

• Attends Management conferences as a representative of the Office. Provides advice and feedback to the State Office and the OSPD executive management team.

• Conducts specials projects as assigned by the State Office management Team. Prepares reports and presentations; and provides recommendations.

• Serves on a variety of regional and organization committees and work groups as assigned and necessary.

• Manages a small caseload representing a wide range of felony cases in varying stages of litigation to provide legal representation for indigent clients. Assumes case assignments through felony and homicide rotations including, but not limited to, complex felony cases, high profile cases, and homicides.

• Handles all aspects of a case, from bail review, plea bargaining, pre-trial and trial preparation through disposition, and post-conviction/post-adjudication matters as assigned. Appears, or leads a team of attorneys appearing, in all court hearings and related proceedings concerning assigned cases on behalf of client.

• Maintains client contact by phone, appointments, video or institutional visits. Advises and keeps client apprised throughout legal proceedings including, but not limited to, rights the client has, attorney obligations to client, consequences of client decisions, potential case outcomes, progress of investigations, content of negotiations, and meaning of court rulings. Incorporates client case and litigation goals into advocacy. Responds promptly to client calls and correspondence; and, treats all clients with compassion and respect.

• Documents client files with all relevant information including, but not limited to, court appearances, deadlines and dates; investigation requests and materials; and, comprehensive notes of all contacts with clients and others relating to the case. Updates and closes files consistent with Public Defender policy.

Case Preparation and Litigation

• Advises the client of charges and possible penalties, the client’s rights, the legal process, and the scope and nature of the attorney-client relationship. Handles difficult situations that arise such as, responding to client questions regarding the line of defense, with little to no assistance from the supervising or managing attorney. Identifies the client’s concerns and priorities; and, any special circumstances such as, mental health issues and/or other pending cases that may impact representation.

• Serves as an expert or resource with a master level of practice, applying sophistication and creativity in formulating and litigating complex defenses, theories and strategies, and pursuing investigative and other mitigation needs as appropriate.

• Pursues advantageous plea agreements and seeks a joint resolution of all of the client’s pending cases, including cases in other jurisdictions.

• Writes thoroughly researched and persuasive motions, briefs and pleadings. Litigates complex issues through a tiered motions practice that challenges the law and makes

• May act as first chair in the most complex felony cases and homicides, leads the defense team throughout all aspects of trial, and trains and mentors less experienced lawyers developing their practice.

• Demonstrates a broad knowledge of trial proceedings and potential outcomes: how to lay a proper foundation for impeachment evidence; preserve legal issues for appeal; identify and object to prosecutorial misconduct; and, make appropriate arguments for a judgment of acquittal.

• Presents strong sentencing arguments, incorporating mitigation evidence and arguments, pre-sentence reports or evaluations, alternative sentencing laws, and use of community resources to gain the least severe sentence for even the most serious convictions.

• Advises client of appellate and post-conviction rights and deadlines. Provides the appropriate representation or timely refers the case to the appellate office consistent with Public Defender policy. Handles post-conviction matters as assigned or appointed.

• Communicates with opposing counsel, judges, and others in the legal community in a persuasive and professional manner; and, exercises sound judgment to achieve desired results. May assist the Office Head in representing OSPD positions on adversarial policies or practices in the jurisdiction.

• Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In collaboration with leadership teams and human resources, ensures compliance with employment laws and practices to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the areas of recruitment, hiring and promotional opportunities; employee recognition; training and development; and, encouraging full utilization of employees’ skills and talents.

• Travels to other offices and work locations as required.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an ABA accredited law school; license to practice law in the State of Colorado. A minimum of eight years’ practice as an attorney litigating a full range of felony cases, including complex cases and homicides. At least one year of the experience must have been with the Colorado State Public Defender, with preference for system supervisory experience.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum eight (8) years of attorney experience with OSPD and/or supervisory experience will be hired at the Office Head I level while gaining additional required experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Prior experience as an attorney with the Colorado State Public Defender.

+ Management or supervisory experience;

+ Experience advancing a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

+ Advanced knowledge of the principles and theories of criminal law, caselaw, defense strategies and client advocacy;

+ Ethical obligations in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, ABA standards, state and federal laws;

+ Substantive criminal defense principles and techniques in conducting trials, litigating complex cases, and presenting written and oral arguments;

+ Solid understanding of the criminal justice practices of the jurisdiction and potential impact on representing and defending clients;

+ High degree of professionalism, discretion and confidentiality;

+ Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;

+ Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with regional and state office managers and employees, leadership and peers;

+ Ability to develop productive relationships with the chief judge and members of the local judicial, prosecution, law enforcement and other agencies;

+ Ability to analyze legal matters and propose viable solutions;

+ Problem-solving skills to assess potential outcomes and propose recommendations;

+ Research skills and ability to interpret and apply laws, legal opinions, rules and regulations to a specific matter.

Supplemental Information

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, marital status or other protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Consistent with this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including the application and selection process. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact [email protected]

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Employer

State of Colorado

Address

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Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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