Staff Attorney I

As part of our total benefit package, Macomb County proudly offers medical, dental, and vision coverage, with no monthly premium to employees for single, two (2) person or family coverage. Health care, dental and vision benefits are effective the first day of employment.

To learn more about Macomb County benefits click here

CLASSIFICATION TITLE:

Staff Attorney I

SALARY:

$80,536.93 - $104,167.78

DEPARTMENT:

Public Defenders Office

Opening Date:

10/23/2026

Closing Date:

11/07/2026 12:00 a.m.

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP: Just cause subject to probationary period

CURRENT HOURS AND STARTING TIME: Full-time (37.5 hours per week) position. The starting time for this position is 8:00am.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Provides legal services on behalf of indigent defendants in criminal matters. Represents indigent defendants at arraignments and in assigned cases through trial. Assists with Macomb County’s system for court appointed counsel for indigent defendants, ensuring compliance with Constitutional and Michigan Indigent Defense Counsel (MIDC) standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Represents indigent defendants in trial related proceedings, probation violations, and extradition hearings.

Maintains communication with courts, court staff, clients, witnesses, experts, and investigators.   

Maintains office schedules, and coordinating meetings with clients, investigators, and experts.

Represents indigent clients through jury trial. Activities include: arraignments, legal research, filing motions and briefs, conducting preliminary examinations, meeting with investigators/experts, case preparation, preparing/ selecting juries, preparing/conducting voir dire, opening/closing statements, filing interlocutory appeals, appropriate post-trial motions. 

Negotiates pleas/dispositions with prosecuting attorneys, consistent with the constitution, Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, statutes, and client choices.

Assists with administration/review of Roster Attorney requests for investigators and experts.  

Assists with tracking and providing Continuing Legal Education for Roster Attorneys, and assists with maintaining lists of qualified Investigators/Experts, brief banks, and transcripts banks.

Updates case files, maintenance of files, tracking case progress, preserving case exhibits, and assisting appellate counsel with appeals.

Operates an automobile to perform assigned job functions.

Performs related duties as assigned. 
 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education and Experience

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited college or university
• Qualified as a class D attorney with the Macomb County System of Indigent Defense or eligible to be qualified

Preferred Education and Experience

• Previous experience in civil or criminal law

Required Licenses or Certifications

• Current membership in the State Bar of Michigan
• Possession of a valid Michigan driver’s license, operable automobile, and insurance

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES:

Knowledge of:

• Criminal and civil law
• Criminal code
• Rules of procedure and rules of evidence
• Legal terminology and court procedures
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment
• Electronic conferencing
• Microsoft Office

Skill in:

• Organization
• Interviewing techniques
• Interpersonal skills necessary to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships
• Performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature

Ability to:

• Perform legal research
• Accurately argue both orally and in writing
• Meet schedules and deadlines of the work
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions
• Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files
• Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries
• Work in an environment which embraces the county’s Dignity Campaign
• Effectively speak, write and understand the English language
• Effectively speak, write and understand a language other than English is preferred
• Understand and carry out oral and/or written instructions
• Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files
• Maintain the confidentiality of information
• Work independently

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS:

The work environment and exposures described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

N/S=Never/Seldom   O=Occasionally   F/C= Frequently/Continuously

Work Environment

Office or similar indoor environment: F/C

Outdoor environment: N/S

Street environment (near moving traffic): N/S

Construction site: N/S

Confined space: N/S

Exposures

Individuals who are hostile or irate: F/C

Individuals with known violent backgrounds: F/C

Extreme cold (below 32 degrees): N/S

Extreme heat (above 100 degrees): N/S

Communicable diseases: N/S

Moving mechanical parts: N/S

Fumes or airborne particles: N/S

Toxic or caustic chemicals, substances, or waste: N/S

Loud noises (85+ decibels): N/S

Blood Borne Pathogens: N/S

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

N/S=Never/Seldom   O=Occasionally   F/C= Frequently/Continuously

Demand:

Balancing on even or uneven surfaces/ground: N/S

Bending (forward or backward bending at the waist): N/S

Climbing up or down stairs, ladders, scaffolding and platforms: N/S

Crawling (moving about on hands and knees). Inspecting in confined spaces: N/S

Digging:  N/S

Driving on sealed and unsealed roads: O

Grasping, gripping, holding, clasping with fingers or hands: O

Kneeling to work at low levels: N/S

Manual Dexterity (fine finger movements i.e., keyboard operating, writing): F/C

Lift/Carry/Move objects from one level/position to another (covered by the items below):

Up to 34 pounds: 0

Over 34 pounds: N/S

Push/Pull objects away from or towards the body: N/S

Reaching overhead (arms raised above the shoulder) or forward reaching (arms extended): N/S

Sitting in a seated position during the task performance: O

Standing in an upright position without movement: O

Walking considerable distances in the facility on multiple surfaces: O

Running considerable distances in the facility on multiple surfaces: N/S

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS

Complies with P.A. 390, as amended, known as the State’s Emergency Management Act and the County’s Emergency Management resolution as well as all related plans, policies and procedures covered by those statutes.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Please tell us if you require accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job.  Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment amongst other possible accommodations. 

The TPOAM - Public Defenders Association bargaining unit represents this position. Therefore, there may be contract language which could require consideration in the selection process.

GRANT OR EXTERNALLY FUNDED POSITION –This position will continue only if sufficient grant or external funds are provided.