Public Defense and Assigned Counsel Contracts
The Office of the Defender General is searching for attorneys to provide Public Defense and Assigned Counsel services under contract throughout the State for Fiscal Year 2015 commencing July 1. These legal services are available to indigent defendants charged with crimes with the possibility of jail, to parties in juvenile proceedings in Family Court, in appellate cases before the Vermont Supreme Court, and in post-conviction relief cases. Available contracts include: Serious Felony Unit services. Public Defense appellate services. Public Defense caseload relief services. Public Defense state-wide on-call DUI services. Assigned counsel services in all counties throughout the state. Assigned counsel contractors provide quality legal services to persons entitled to be represented by a public defender, in cases in which the public defender in the county has a conflict of interest. These contracts range from a very small caseload in only criminal or juvenile cases, to full-time contracts covering both caseloads. Assigned Counsel appellate services. Assigned Counsel post-conviction relief services. Assigned Counsel Coordinator services. Qualifications for public defense and assigned counsel contracts are current admission to the Vermont Bar, handicap accessibility to the practice, and a demonstrated ability to provide high quality representation with an emphasis on trial practice and courtroom skills while managing a heavy caseload. The contracts are performance based and provide for a monthly payment based on historical caseload.
