Salary: $80,507.59 - $113,428.03 Annually
Location : Battle Creek, MI
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-00068
Department: Public Defender
Opening Date: 08/26/2025
Bargaining Unit: NON-UNION
Job Summary Under the general direction of the Public Defender, provides indigent defense attorney services for Calhoun County.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities - Provides indigent defense services through an active caseload. Meets with client(s), reviews charging documents, police reports, and other discovery or evidence provided by the Prosecution and makes recommendations for defense.
- Researches and prepares criminal cases for trial, motion, sentencing, and other proceedings, including research of applicable law, interviewing witnesses, investigating claims, and developing trail strategies.
- Appears in court for arraignments, motions, trials, sentencing, and other related proceedings.
- Determines if additional fact investigation is necessary, including the identification, consultation, and hiring of applicable experts as approved by the Public Defender or designee.
- Prepares briefs, legal documents, reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
- Attempts to negotiate and resolve pending cases without a trial where appropriate.
- Actively participates in programs designed to address the underlying causes and risk factors that leas to involvement in the criminal justice system. These programs may be provided through treatments courts, legal, or civic organizations.
- Maintains professional knowledge of criminal law and participates in training programs.
- Provides support, consultation, and training for less experience attorneys as needed or directed.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications - A Juris Doctorate from accredited law school. Membership in good standing with the State of Bar Michigan. Third year law students and recent graduates are also encouraged to apply. Continued employment will ultimately be contingent on successful admission to the Michigan State Bar.
- Computer skill necessary to effectively utilize word processing, database, spreadsheet, and presentation software applications. Ability to use the Internet and e-mail.
- Possession of a valid Michigan vehicle operator's license.
- Strong interpersonal skills necessary to work with a diverse group of county personnel and citizens.
- The ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing, including to read and interpret documents, prepare reports and correspondence, and to present information and respond to questions.
- Reasoning skills needed to define and solve problems, collect fata, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Mental ability to simultaneously handle multiple projects requiring concentration and attention to detail with frequent disruptions.
- Professionalism is an absolute necessity, along with the ability to appropriately handle both confidential information and sensitive situations.
Supplemental Information Supervisory Responsibilities Physical Demands - Physical ability to occasionally lift, push, pull, or carry items weighting up to ten pounds.
- Physical ability to talk, hear, and communicate verbally with others. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
- Occasionally required to perform tasks involving repetitive movement, bending, stooping, kneeling and/or climbing.
- Occasionally required to sit for extended periods of time.
Working Conditions Hybrid Work Classification: Hybrid Eligible
Flexible Classification: Flexible Schedule Eligible
- Normal office environment with occasional discomfort due to heat, dust, and noise
- Extended workdays (beyond eight hours/day and weekends) are occasionally required.
- On-call availability to handle work problems, attend meetings, handle emergencies/crisis situations, etc. may be required.
- Occasional travel between County locations is required. Out of County travel is occasionally required for training purposes.
Calhoun County's benefits package offers flexibility, choice, and value. It is an attractive component of our employees total compensation package. At Calhoun County, we know that good benefit plans are important to employees and their families. We're committed to providing employees with access to a wide range of information and tools so they can stay informed and make the most of their Calhoun County flexible benefit package.
What benefits does Calhoun County offer its full-time employees? Medical: Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan with 3 Different Flexible Benefit Plan Options
Dental: 100% Employer Paid through Delta Dental
Vision: 100% Employer Paid through BCBSM Vision Services Plan (VSP)
Employee Health & Wellness Center (Premise Health): Most Services 100% Employer Paid
Life Insurance: 100% Employer Paid for Basic Life & AD&D
Short Term Disability: 100% Employer Paid for 67% Wage Loss Benefits up to 26 Weeks
Retirement: Employer 401(k) Match Program Up to 7% of Employee Contribution
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 100% Employer Paid Through Bronson HelpNet
Benefit Guide: Find detailed information about the
Paid Time Off: - Start through fourth years - 168 Hours (4.2 weeks based on 40-hour work week)
- Fifth through ninth years - 208 Hours (5.2 weeks)
- Tenth through fourteenth years - 248 Hours (6.2 weeks)
- Fifteen and Subsequent years - 288 Hours (7.2 weeks)
Amounts & distribution may vary slightly by union contract, policy, and/or defined work week
Paid Holidays: 14 Paid Holidays Throughout the Year
Additional Voluntary Benefits: Flexible Scheduling & Telecommuting Options Depending on Position & Department
Term Life Insurance (above Employer Paid Plan)
Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
Long Term Disability Wage Loss Benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
Employee Wellness Program
Perks Program (discounts at local merchants for being a County employee)
Learn more about
Living in Calhoun County Part-time Employees may elect insurance, provided the Employee pays the full cost of the premium through payroll deduction.
