Public Defender Job Description
Public Defender Job Profile and Description
Many times in a legal case a person accused of an offence has poor financial condition and cannot afford to pay fees of private lawyers. In such cases, court appoints a public defender to represent the charged person. It is the duty of public defender to defend his client in the legal proceedings.
Duties and Responsibilities
- The Public defender is responsible for organising, execution and coordination of his office.
- He has to direct the staff assigned for providing justice to the people who are underprivileged and charged of crime.
- He has to interrogate the client.
- He has to conduct interviews for the public defender’s office.
- He has to upgrade the working procedures on regular basis.
- He has to meet the client along with his family members, explain them about the case and collect details.
- He has to manage and have a dialogue with the eyewitnesses.
- He has to plan policies for defending his client.
- He has to scrutinize initial hearings for the case.
- He has to oversee legal documents of suits and trials.
- He has the responsibility of serving his post dedicatedly when entrusted by the court
Skills and Specifications
- A public defender should have the ability to work efficiently on many cases at one time.
- He should be able to accept challenges and be very confident in speaking.
- He should have the capability of handling staff and be computer literate.
- He should be comfortable with long working hours with commitment towards the assigned work.
- He should have good interpersonal and communication skills.
- He should be a good observer.
Education and qualifications
A public defender must have a graduate and masters degree in law. He must have passed
the bar exam and also have experience of working in the field of law.