Felony Public Defender

Position Description

We are currently seeking a passionate and dedicated Defense Attorney to join the holistic public defense division of the Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Services. This is a rare opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a community-based, tribal law setting at the Tulalip Tribal Court. The Tulalip Tribes of Washington is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located on the Tulalip Reservation in the Puget Sound, approximately 30 miles north of Seattle.

The Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid (TOCLA) is looking for an experienced criminal defense attorney who will provide legal representation to indigent defendants who have been charged with felony level crimes in the Tulalip Tribal Court. In addition, the work includes conflict counsel representation for defendants accused of misdemeanor crimes. The defense attorney will represent a client throughout all phases of litigation from preparation through trial and appeal. Public defenders at the Tulalip Tribal Court are expected to provide legal defense services while meeting clients where they are on their journey of living with complex needs to help each client regain their journey towards healing, wellness, and reconnecting to their community. The defense attorney will also provide for improved collaborative support for clients, partnering with other civil TOCLA attorneys and Tulalip service providers to address clients’ collateral legal needs that often are contributing factors to clients’ involvement in the criminal justice system. This collaborative advocacy will help clients work through collateral consequences and address other civil legal needs that improve positive outcomes and assist clients in becoming healthy, contributing members of the Tulalip community.

TOCLA is a tribal civil legal services office that provides free legal assistance to tribal members with civil legal issues including those that affect safety, family integrity, health, access to public benefits, and education. Collectively, TOCLA assists clients in identifying legal and non-legal needs, then works with them holistically to address barriers to accessing services. TOCLA currently houses six separate legal divisions: Civil Legal Aid and Re-Entry Assistance, Victim Advocacy, Parent Dependency Representation, Youth Dependency Representation, Education Advocacy, and a new Holistic Public Defense branch which houses a Wellness Courts Defense Attorney and this new public defender position. TOCLA is a community-based law office that focuses on enforcing their client’s rights and supporting their overall well-being, while simultaneously maintaining personal wellness and balance to be able to continue to serve the community well.

The Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid offers a generous compensation package that exceeds most public defender/legal aid salaries.

Benefits Include

• Five weeks of annual leave;
• Bonus winter break leave;
• All federal holidays;
• Accrued sick leave;
• Extensive annual training and professional development opportunities;
• Excellent health insurance;
• 401(k); and
• PLSF eligibility.
  
  

This is an exempt, salaried 40 hour per week position. TOCLA provides weekly remote work opportunities and some schedule flexibility for its attorneys.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample and two references to TOCLA’s supervising attorney Chori Folkman at: cfolkman@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov.

This position will be open until filled.