ASSISTANT ASSIGNMENT COORDINATOR

Job Description

Job Description

The Charter County of Wayne is Michigan's largest county. We are home to 34 cities and nine townships. From Rockwood to Livonia, from Sumpter Township to the Grosse Pointes, each community in Wayne County offers residents and businesses a unique blend of opportunity to live, work, play and raise families. Headquartered in Detroit, our largest city and the automotive capital of the world, Wayne County offers a diversified economy and high standards for our residents' quality of life. Our history is rich and we take pride in being one of the most diverse communities that values culture, arts, and world-class amenities. Wayne County provides leadership that ensures the County operates efficiently, effectively, and responsibly. We provide transparently while building a stronger County inclusive of collaborations, innovation, and a clear focus on serving our residents.

Purpose/Description

Wayne County's Indigent Defense Services Department is developing a staff of dedicated professionals who are committed to excellence in criminal defense representation at the trial court level, and equal access to justice. The IDSD launched in August of 2020 with the hiring of its Director and a staff of fifteen employees is anticipated in FY 2023. The IDSD is state-funded through annual grants from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC).The IDSD manages the transition and will assume responsibility for the entire indigent defense system in Wayne County's Third Circuit Court, Michigan's largest trial court handling more than 15,000 assignments of counsel in felony cases that originate in the county's numerous district courts. In 2022, approximately 65% of the assignments were handled by more than 200 private assigned counsel who were qualified by the IDSD Attorney Assignment Committee to handle cases in four Tiers, or categories, of cases. The remaining 35% of assignments went to the Neighborhood Defender Service Detroit (NDSD), Wayne County's public defender vendor. Working under the supervision of the Assignment Coordinator, the Assistant Assignment Coordinator will assist in the facilitation of the assignment of counsel in felony cases and facilitate access to resources needed by counsel to effectively represent clients after case assignment, including discovery, location of clients, jail visits, investigator and expert services, training, service voucher review, and legal research.

• Required Tasks
  • Serving as the first line assignment coordinator in the assignment of defense counsel to felony cases, including providing administrative support in the assignment process.
  • Assisting the Assignment Coordinator in the transition and development of IDSD policies and procedures for the assignment of counsel in felony cases.
  • Assisting the Assignment Coordinator in the initial review of attorney services and payments
  • Assisting IDSD staff and system stakeholders to develop an effective case management system.
  • Working with the IDSD staff to facilitate compliance with MIDC standards and Wayne County's annual compliance plans.
  • Working with the Assignment Coordinator in tracking Third Circuit felony cases for planning and MIDC reporting purposes.
  • Working with the Assignment Coordinator in tracking Third Circuit attorney assignments for planning and MIDC reporting purposes.
  • Communicating with assigned counsel about requirements of MIDC standards, and IDSD procedures.
  • Compiling and maintaining detailed past and current information regarding roster attorneys for IDSD use.
  • Ensuring accuracy of the roster of attorneys qualified to accept assignments.
  • Analyzing roster needs.
  • Facilitating assigned counsel's access to resources, including discovery, client location and client contact information, jail visits, investigator and expert services, training, and legal research.
  • Performing other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Educational/Experience Requirements
  • An Associate's Degree in criminal justice, public administration, business, accounting or a degree in a related field.
  • Certification as a Paralegal, or Legal Assistant, is desirable.
  • A high school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) and 3 years of specialized experience may be substituted in lieu of the Associates degree or certification
  • 2 or more years of experience in a court or other legal setting. Prior experience in the criminal justice system, knowledge of MIDC Standards, Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN), Tyler Technology products (Odyssey), and JIS is preferred. Experience in an electronic environment is required