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public defender: Resume Samples & Writing Guide
Employment history
Senior Public Defender, Morgan- Lewis & Bockius Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 2023 – Present
- Investigating facts and interviewing witnesses
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
- Crafting legal arguments and presenting them in court
Associate Public Defender, WilmerHale Boston, Massachusetts
February 2022 – January 2023
- Keeping up to date on changes in the law
- Maintaining case files and records
- Negotiating plea bargains with prosecutors
Jr. Public Defender, Skadden-Arps-Slate Meagher & Flom New York City, New York
February 2021 – January 2022
- Advising clients on legal rights, options, and strategies
- Researching and preparing legal documents
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
Education
University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Doctor of Law and Policy, January, 2021
University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, January, 2017
Skills
Teamwork
Coaching
Technical
Research
Legal Writing
Regulatory Compliance
Case Management
Legal Ethics
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Professional Summary
A highly experienced Public Defender with a proven track record of success in the legal field. Skilled in developing and executing effective defense strategies for clients in a wide range of cases.
Employment history
Lead Public Defender, Jones Day Washington, DC
February 2010 – Present
- Maintaining case files and records
- Researching and preparing legal documents
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
Associate Public Defender, Jones Day Washington, DC
February 2009 – January 2010
- Negotiating plea bargains with prosecutors
- Advising clients on legal rights, options, and strategies
- Maintaining case files and records
Entry Level Public Defender, Hogan Lovells Atlanta, Georgia
February 2008 – January 2009
- Representing clients in criminal and civil cases in court
- Attending court hearings and trials
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
Education
University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, December, 2007
Skills
Computer Literacy
Coaching
Decision Making
Attention to Detail
Legal Ethics
Legal Writing
Contract Negotiation
Client Interviewing
Professional Summary
A highly experienced and motivated Public Defender, with a strong commitment to justice and defending the rights of the accused. Proven track record of success in the courtroom and a passion for advocating for those in need.
Employment history
Senior Public Defender, Morgan- Lewis & Bockius Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 2011 – Present
- Maintaining case files and records
- Investigating facts and interviewing witnesses
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
Associate Public Defender, Skadden-Arps-Slate Meagher & Flom New York City, New York
September 2009 – January 2011
- Counseling clients on legal matters
- Attending court hearings and trials
- Negotiating plea bargains with prosecutors
Jr. Public Defender, Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, California
February 2009 – August 2009
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
- Developing and executing defense strategies
- Attending court hearings and trials
Education
Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Arts in Law, December, 2008
Skills
Process Improvement
Strategic Thinking
Project Management
Innovation
Legal Documentation
Legal Memoranda
Constitutional Law
Regulatory Compliance
Professional Summary
An experienced Public Defender with a proven track record of successfully defending clients in criminal cases. Skilled in providing sound legal advice and advocacy, as well as developing creative strategies for legal defense.
Employment history
Senior Public Defender, Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, California
July 2012 – Present
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
- Counseling clients on legal matters
- Developing and executing defense strategies
Public Defender, Morgan- Lewis & Bockius Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
January 2011 – June 2012
- Maintaining client confidentiality
- Researching and preparing legal documents
- Counseling clients on legal matters
Jr. Public Defender, WilmerHale Boston, Massachusetts
August 2009 – December 2010
- Investigating facts and interviewing witnesses
- Negotiating plea bargains with prosecutors
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
Education
University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, June, 2009
Skills
Problem Solving
Organization
Collaboration
Emotional Intelligence
Legal Research Methods
Courtroom Experience
Legal Documentation
Statutory Interpretation
Employment history
Chief Public Defender, Morgan- Lewis & Bockius Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 2021 – Present
- Analyzing evidence and preparing legal briefs
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
- Representing clients in criminal and civil cases in court
Public Defender, Baker McKenzie Chicago, Illinois
June 2020 – May 2021
- Developing and executing defense strategies
- Maintaining case files and records
- Analyzing evidence and preparing legal briefs
Junior Public Defender, Baker McKenzie Chicago, Illinois
January 2019 – May 2020
- Keeping up to date on changes in the law
- Advising clients on legal rights, options, and strategies
- Investigating facts and interviewing witnesses
Education
Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Doctor of Jurisprudence, November, 2018
Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Arts in Law, November, 2014
Skills
Interpersonal
Negotiation
Adaptability
Training
Court Procedures
Legal Documentation
Contract Negotiation
Criminal Law
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public defender Job Descriptions; Explained
If you're applying for an public defender position, it's important to tailor your resume to the specific job requirements in order to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Including accurate and relevant information that directly aligns with the job description can greatly increase your chances of securing an interview with potential employers.
When crafting your resume, be sure to use action verbs and a clear, concise format to highlight your relevant skills and experience. Remember, the job description is your first opportunity to make an impression on recruiters, so pay close attention to the details and make sure you're presenting yourself in the best possible light.
1
public defender
- Legal research in order of making law article
- Drafting all legal documents related to trial (lawsuit, replik, duplik, conclusion)
- Making legal opinion
- Representing/accompany client in order of trial, both criminal litigation and commercial litigation
- Accompany client in order of investigation
- Provide legal consultation
- Attending meeting with third parties
2
public defender
- Correspondence with third parties (police, institution of government, etc)
- Attending/preparing workshop or seminar
public defender Job Skills
For an public defender position, your job skills are a key factor in demonstrating your value to the company and showing recruiters that you're the ight fit for the role. It's important to be specific when highlighting your skills and ensure that they are directly aligned with the job requirements, as this can greatly improve your chances of being hired. By showcasing your relevant skills and experience, you can make a compelling case for why you're the best candidate for the job.
How to include technical skills in your resume:
Technical skills are a set of specialized abilities and knowledge required to perform a particular job effectively. Some examples of technical skills are data analysis, project management, software proficiency, and programming languages, to name a few.
Add the technical skills that will get hired in your career field with our simple-to-use resume builder. Select your desired resume template, once you reach the skills section of the builder, manually write in the skill or simply click on "Add more skills". This will automatically generate the best skills for your career field, choose your skill level, and hit "Save & Next."
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Courtroom Experience
- Litigation
- Evidence Analysis
- Legal Documentation
- Contract Negotiation
- Client Interviewing
- Case Management
- Regulatory Compliance
- Statutory Interpretation
- Civil Law
- Criminal Law
- Constitutional Law
- Court Procedures
- Pleadings
- Legal Research Methods
- Legal Memoranda
- Client Relations
- Legal Ethics
- Professionalism.
How to include soft skills in your resume:
Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work and that can be used in any job. Including soft skills such as time management, creative thinking, teamwork, and conflict resolution demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and show that you navigate challenges and changes in the workplace efficiently.
Add competitive soft skills to make your resume stand-out to recruiters! Simply select your preferred resume template in the skills section, enter the skills manually or use the "Add more skills" option. Our resume builder will generate the most relevant soft skills for your career path. Choose your proficiency level for each skill, and then click "Save & Next" to proceed to the next section.
- Communication
- Interpersonal
- Leadership
- Time Management
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
- Creativity
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
- Organization
- Planning
- Public Speaking
- Negotiation
- Conflict Resolution
- Research
- Analytical
- Attention to Detail
- Self-Motivation
- Stress Management
- Collaboration
- Coaching
- Mentoring
- Listening
- Networking
- Strategic Thinking
- Negotiation
- Emotional Intelligence
- Adaptability
- Flexibility
- Reliability
- Professionalism
- Computer Literacy
- Technical
- Data Analysis
- Project Management
- Customer Service
- Presentation
- Written Communication
- Social Media
- Troubleshooting
- Quality Assurance
- Collaboration
- Supervisory
- Risk Management
- Database Management
- Training
- Innovation
- Documentation
- Accounting
- Financial Management
- Visualization
- Reporting
- Business Acumen
- Process Improvement
- Documentation
- Relationship Management.
How to Improve Your public defender Resume
Navigating resume pitfalls can mean the difference between landing an interview or not. Missing job descriptions or unexplained work history gaps can cause recruiters to hesitate. Let's not even talk about the impact of bad grammar, and forgetting your contact info could leave your potential employer hanging. Aim to be comprehensive, concise, and accurate.
Dale Vaughn
324 Birchwood Drive, Alfordsville, IN 47553Employment history
Chief Public Defender, Nixon Peabody Rochester, New York
October 2022 – May 2022
- Attending court hearings and trials
- Analyzing evidence and preparing legal briefs
- Counseling clients on legal matters
Associate Public Defender, Skadden-Arps-Slate Meagher & Flom New York City, New York
October 2021 – September 2022
- Researching and preparing legal documents
- Counseling clients on legal matters
- Negotiating plea bargains with prosecutors
Entry Level Public Defender, Skadden-Arps-Slate Meagher & Flom New York City, New York
April 2021 – September 2021
- Investigating facts and interviewing witnesses
- Negotiating plea bargains with prosecutors
- Representing clients in appeals and post-conviction matters
Education
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, February, 2021
Skills
Innovation
Collaboration
Decision Making
Attention to Detail
Case Management
Civil Law
Litigation
Constitutional Law
Provide your Contact Information and Address Year Gaps
Always explain any gaps in your work history to your advantage.
Key Insights- Employers want to know what you've accomplished, so make sure to explain any gaps using a professional summary.
- Adding extra details and context to explain why you have a gap in your work history shows employers you are a good fit for the position.
How to Optimize Your public defender Resume
Keep an eye out for these resume traps. Neglecting to detail your job roles or explain gaps in your career can lead to unnecessary doubts. Grammar blunders can reflect negatively on you, and without contact information, how can employers reach you? Be meticulous and complete.
Professional Summary
An experienced and passionate public defender with extensive knowledge of the legal system. Proven ability to successfully represent clients in court and advocate for their rights.
Employment history
Chief Public Defender, Jones Day Washington, DC
May 2013 – Present
- Counseling clients on legal maters.
- Develpoing relatioships wtih court personnel
- Investigating fact's and interveiwing witness's.
Associate Public Defender, Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, California
November 2011 – April 2013
- Negotiating plee bargains wth prosecuters.
- Keeing up too date on changes in the law.
- Reserching and prepering legal documents.
Jr. Public Defender, WilmerHale Boston, Massachusetts
May 2011 – October 2011
Education
University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia
Doctor of Philosophy in Law, March, 2011
University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Administration, March, 2007
Skills
Customer Service
Public Speaking
Flexibility
Research
Case Management
Courtroom Experience
Client Interviewing
Pleadings
Include Job Descriptions and Avoid Bad Grammar
Avoid sending a wrong first impression by proofreading your resume.
Key Insights- Spelling and typos are the most common mistakes recruiters see in resumes and by simply avoiding them you can move ahead on the hiring process.
- Before submitting your resume, double check to avoid typos.
public defender Cover Letter Example
A cover letter can be a valuable addition to your job application when applying for an public defender position. Cover letters provide a concise summary of your qualifications, skills, and experience, also it also gives you an opportunity to explain why you're the best fit for the job. Crafting a cover letter that showcases your relevant experience and enthusiasm for the Accounts Payable role can significantly improve your chances of securing an interview.
Senior Public Defender
Morgan- Lewis & Bockius
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Morgan- Lewis & Bockius
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Morgan- Lewis & Bockius Hiring Team
I am excited to apply for the Senior Public Defender position at Morgan- Lewis & Bockius. As a highly skilled Public Defender with 2 years of experience in the Legal field, I am confident that I can contribute significantly to your organization.
Throughout my life, I have pursued my passion for Professional Ethics and sought out opportunities to learn and grow. My experience in the Legal field has given me valuable skills such as Teamwork and Coaching that have allowed me to improve professionally and personally. I am excited to bring these skills and my passion as a Public Defender to the position and work with a team of like-minded individuals to achieve our common goals.
I am elated about the opportunity to join a team that shares my passion for this field, and values collaboration and innovation. I am confident that together we can overcome whatever tests and challenges are put on our way.
Sincerely,
Quintin Peters
685-776-9018
[email protected]
Quintin Peters
Showcase your most significant accomplishments and qualifications with this cover letter.
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Build your Resume in 15 minutes
Give yourself the best chance of standing out from the competition!
Create an awesome resume that meets the expectations of potential employers with our selection of professional, field-tested resume templates.
Create an awesome resume that meets the expectations of potential employers with our selection of professional, field-tested resume templates.