The Oregon Attorney Assistance Program (OAAP) is hiring a full-time attorney counselor to join its unique, well-established, and nationally recognized program. The OAAP is a free and confidential service providing assistance to all members of the Oregon legal community with well-being, personal challenges, and crisis support. As an attorney counselor, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Oregon legal profession.

Who We’re Looking For:
The OAAP attorney counselors are a resource for attorneys and others in the legal community, offering short-term individual counseling, support groups and workshops, CLEs and other educational programs, and referrals to community resources, as well as a blog and a newsletter. If you are naturally empathetic, possess a passion for helping people, have a gift for deep listening, and are unflappable in crisis, you are ideally suited for this position. Our ideal attorney counselor enjoys assisting lawyers, judges, and law students by meeting them where they are and being responsive to their concerns. Your patience, compassion, and capacity to relate with individuals from all different backgrounds helps put people at ease. You’re self-directed and capable of working independently, yet you flourish in a collaborative, close-knit team environment. You are warm, caring, and approachable, comfortable supporting legal professionals with varying levels of personal assistance needs - whether in crisis or simply looking to enhance their well-being.

If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply. You will be joining a team of dedicated professionals in a supportive, affirming workplace.

This position is a hybrid position and may require frequent visits to campus.

Function/Duties of Position
+ Serve as subject-matter-expert in matters related to disability law and access and coordinate institutional efforts to ensure equal access to individuals with disabilities (applicants, employees, students, patients, members of the public and others).
+ Work with colleagues in Patient Relations, Central Services and Healthcare operations on patient, employee, and student-related matters involving access to services, programs, and physical spaces.
+ Collaborate with the Center of Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), Office of Employee Accommodations (OEA), the Patient Relations Office, and the Office of Student Access. Provide interim support during the transition of accommodations work to OEA.
+ Analyze data to identify trends in accommodations and identify pathways to support employees, patients, and students with disabilities and departments with concerns about the intersection of accommodations and operations.
+ Support institutional efforts to ensure compliance with applicable web and digital accessibility guidelines and the accessibility of physical spaces in accordance with applicable law and regulation.
+ Serve as chairperson on the Physical Access Committee, in accordance with OHSU Policy 008-01-006, contributing to make OHSU more accessible, compliant, and navigable for people with disabilities.
+ Participate on committees and councils across OHSU to provide leadership, guidance, and perspective on issues related to disability inclusion and ADA compliance.

The Portland City Attorney's Office is seeking an experienced attorney to join the legal team advising the Portland Housing Bureau and other City bureaus on complex business and real estate transactions and housing policy. This recruitment may also be used to hire for a separate construction (capital improvements) and procurement position.

The ideal candidate will have expertise in commercial real estate, affordable housing tax credit vehicles, finance, fair housing and landlord-tenant laws, and public law. In addition, the ideal candidate will have in-house or governmental legal experience providing advice to elected officials and other policymakers, as well as drafting and negotiating complex business and real estate transactions.

Examples of job responsibilities include:
• Provide prompt legal advice to the City Council and the Portland Housing Bureau's Director, leadership team and bureau staff on a broad range of subjects, with an emphasis on deployment of general obligation bond funds and other affordable housing financing tools including but not limited to tax increment financing and affordable housing tax credits and exemptions, application of fair housing and landlord tenant laws, and implementation of the City's affordable housing goals and policies;
• Negotiate, draft and review documents necessary to implement complex business finance transactions that may involve one or more tax credits or other state and federal financing tools;
• Analyze and provide advice on and documentation of housing financing and draft documents such as loan and grant agreements, promissory notes, guaranty agreements, trust deeds, security agreements, subordination and inter-creditor agreements, purchase and sale, disposition and development and ground lease agreements. Experience with condominium and land trust ownership law is highly desirable;
• Demonstrate outstanding communication skills and business and legal judgement;
• Judge the relative importance of a document, contract provision, task or assignment and apply the appropriate level of scrutiny, detail or effort to the matter;
• Appropriately prioritize workload and regularly reorder that prioritization to meet frequent changes in client needs; and
• Provide legal advice as necessary on a broader array of subjects on a less frequent basis including: public contracts law, public records, construction and environmental law, corporations and general business law; and state and federal constitutional law.

Under guidance of SVP, Chief Labor/Employment Counsel, and in coordination with other Labor/Employment Attorneys, the Vice President - Senior Labor and Employment Counsel serves as labor and employment counsel to employers throughout the Providence system, including representation and day-to-day advice in all aspects of labor and employment matters and related litigation. Emphasis on representing employers in the system in traditional labor matters, such as serving as the spokesperson during collective bargaining negotiations, organizing issues from the pre-petition stage through post-election procedures, litigation before the NLRB, and arbitrations and complex grievances. Represents employers in the system before the EEOC, DOL, and corollary state agencies, NLRB, and other administrative forums. Provides advice and guidance in the development of labor relations strategies, communications and education. Provides day-to-day employment advice and counsel, and partners with teammates to manage litigation.

We have two openings; one role that will be located in Portland, Oregon and another role that will focused on Northern California and also cover some work in our Los Angeles market (can live in either location).

Under guidance of SVP, Chief Labor/Employment Counsel, and in coordination with other Labor/Employment Attorneys, the Vice President - Senior Labor and Employment Counsel serves as labor and employment counsel to employers throughout the Providence system, including representation and day-to-day advice in all aspects of labor and employment matters and related litigation. Emphasis on representing employers in the system in traditional labor matters, such as serving as the spokesperson during collective bargaining negotiations, organizing issues from the pre-petition stage through post-election procedures, litigation before the NLRB, and arbitrations and complex grievances. Represents employers in the system before the EEOC, DOL, and corollary state agencies, NLRB, and other administrative forums. Provides advice and guidance in the development of labor relations strategies, communications and education. Provides day-to-day employment advice and counsel, and partners with teammates to manage litigation.

We have two openings; one role that will be located in Portland, Oregon and another role that will focused on Northern California and also cover some work in our Los Angeles market (can live in either location).

The Bonneville Power Administration is filling a vacant attorney-advisor position in the Office of General Counsel-Legal General section. The position will be filled at a GS-12 level. The individual will advise on matters related to Labor and Employment (Personnel) and provide backup for the Torts practice group. This opportunity is open to anyone that meets the qualifications below. Please respond to this announcement by email to WKBell@bpa.gov.

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Position title, series, pay plan and grade: Attorney-Adviser (General) GS-12

Duty Location: Portland, OR (this position is not full-time remote work)

Number of vacancies: 1

Duties and Responsibilities: This position is located in the Office of General Counsel, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and is subject to the general supervision by the Assistant General Counsel (AGC) for the General Law (LG) section. The General Law practice group provides legal expertise supporting BPA programs through legal advice and representation with respect to Employment and Labor Relations, Torts, Procurement, Finance, FOIA, Privacy, and Ethics.

This position will serve as an Attorney-Adviser in the General Law section of the Office of General Counsel. The position is a professional in-house Attorney providing advice and counsel on matters of Employment and Labor Relations and Tort litigation.

Major Duties

100%: Serves as an Attorney-Adviser (General) involved in rendering legal advice and service. Typical assignments may include but are not limited to the following:

· Within the applicable subject-matter area, renders legal advice to managers and staff on administrative and policy matters, which may include conducting investigations to obtain evidentiary data and recommending an agency course of action. Supports legal positions taken by BPA and works with members of various BPA offices and Departmental components providing opinions and advice within the scope of the assignment.

· Analyzes and interprets various federal and State laws, orders, rules and regulations, and judicial opinions and orders relating to BPA. Assists higher grade attorneys in analyzing and drafting proposed legislation, regulations, and/or statements of agency policy.

· Participates in judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings before regulatory bodies, such as the MSPB; prepares pre-proceeding documents and evidence, and represents BPA’s position at administrative hearings as assigned.

· Prepares legal opinions and analyses in areas as assigned by the Assistant General Counsel.

· Researches, writes, edits and analyzes memoranda, motions, pleadings, discovery and briefs involving litigation in various courts. Assists in Arbitration (quasi-litigation) matters.

· Performs other duties as assigned.

Multnomah County’s Office of County Attorney has an immediate opening for an Assistant County Attorney 1 - Generalist. This entry level position will work as a member of the County's in-house legal team. You will be an integral part of the multidisciplinary project teams that will provide advice on all aspects of County operations. In addition, ideal candidates will have experience and demonstrated interest in litigation or prior litigation experience including case assessment, discovery, dispositive motions, and trial work.

The successful candidate will be flexible and utilize problem solving and innovation to provide creative options to help clients achieve their goals. You will bring the highest quality legal work, a strong work ethic, the ability to work independently and as an effective member of a legal team, and an emphasis on intellectual curiosity.

About Us:
The Office of Multnomah County Attorney is the county's legal resource center. The lawyers and staff provide legal services to the Chair's Office, Board of County Commissioners, transportation and bridges, library services, community corrections, elections, and real property taxation. The County Attorney's Office represents the county before administrative tribunals and in state and federal courts. Our commitment to exceptional customer service relies upon a team-oriented workplace and a continuous quality improvement environment.

Youth, Rights & Justice, an innovative nonprofit based in Portland OR, is seeking a Data Integrity Manager to join our juvenile defense team.

Founded in 1975, YRJ is widely recognized as a leader in juvenile law. We provide court-appointed representation of children, youth, and parents involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems—in both the trial and appellate courts. We also represent individual children and youth in school-related enrollment, special education, and disciplinary matters. On a larger scale, we work to improve the systems impacting our clients through education, legislative and administrative advocacy, class action litigation, publications, and training other lawyers and community partners

Essential Functions:
1. Maintain quality and accuracy of data within existing database per YRJ procedure.
2. Ensure database accuracy and completeness when opening/closing cases, assigning cases, and filing documents.
3. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement of data processes.
4. Review confidential legal documents to identify relevant information about clients and related people to enter into database.
5. Cultivate an understanding of the database system and serve as the point of contact for in office questions and trouble-shooting.
6. Retain a current understanding of the state public defense contract terms regarding case credits, case weights, and case types.
7. Record and reconcile information necessary to complete the state public defense reports according to the current contract terms.
8. Collaborate with other management members to develop best practices and procedures regarding database management and trial operations.
9. Provide supervision and oversight of data team.
10. Demonstrate commitment to continued professional development and capacity to work through an equity lens for equity and racial justice.
11. Be committed to YRJ’s mission, vision, and values.

Required Skills and Experience:
+ Education and relevant training in law and related fields (paralegal, legal assisting, data entry, database management, business, etc.).
+ Advanced knowledge and skills in data entry and database management
+ Strong ability to work in a team with a variety of people and personalities
+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills
+ Advanced knowledge and skills in MS Office applications, including Excel and Word
+ Ability to work independently and efficiently
+ Ability to prioritize and manage several tasks simultaneously
+ High degree of attention to detail and organization

Preferred Experience & Skills:
+ Personal lived/living experience with child welfare or juvenile justice system, or of systemic inequity/oppression/or its root causes.
+ Associates degree or above in related field preferred

The Criminal Justice Division of the Oregon Department of Justice conducts specialized local, state, and federal criminal investigations and prosecutions and provides highly trained and experienced special agents, prosecutors, and analysts to investigate and prosecute crime throughout Oregon; the Division is the only agency in Oregon that has the unique ability to combine the skills of all three disciplines in a single agency to comprehensively address crime in our communities. The Division also provides outreach and training to citizens, victim service providers, and members of the law enforcement community to help ensure that Oregonians receive​ the highest level of service from the criminal justice system. ​

At this time, we are seeking current or previous prosecutors who are enthusiastic about working with federal, state and local law enforcement to actively investigate and prosecute a wide variety of criminal activity, including complex financial crimes, organized criminal enterprises, public corruption, and potentially persons crimes. The selected candidate will evaluate and pursue criminal cases, including conflict and specialty cases, at the request of district attorneys throughout the state. The finalist will also provide advice and support to district attorneys and their deputies and present at trainings across the state. The selected attorney may be stationed in Salem, Eugene, or Portland depending on need and office space availability. This position will also have the opportunity for some remote work.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to Stephanie Tuttle, Deputy Chief Counsel of the Criminal Justice Division, at stephanie.j.tuttle@doj.state.or.us or (503) 378-6347, (800) 735-1232 TTY.

The Portland City Attorney's Office is seeking an experienced attorney to join the legal team advising the Portland Housing Bureau and other City bureaus on complex business and real estate transactions and housing policy. This recruitment may also be used to hire for a separate construction (capital improvements) and procurement position.

The ideal candidate will have expertise in commercial real estate, affordable housing tax credit vehicles, finance, fair housing and landlord-tenant laws, and public law. In addition, the ideal candidate will have in-house or governmental legal experience providing advice to elected officials and other policymakers, as well as drafting and negotiating complex business and real estate transactions.

Examples of job responsibilities include:
• Provide prompt legal advice to the City Council and the Portland Housing Bureau's Director, leadership team and bureau staff on a broad range of subjects, with an emphasis on deployment of general obligation bond funds and other affordable housing financing tools including but not limited to tax increment financing and affordable housing tax credits and exemptions, application of fair housing and landlord tenant laws, and implementation of the City's affordable housing goals and policies;

• Negotiate, draft and review documents necessary to implement complex business finance transactions that may involve one or more tax credits or other state and federal financing tools;

• Analyze and provide advice on and documentation of housing financing and draft documents such as loan and grant agreements, promissory notes, guaranty agreements, trust deeds, security agreements, subordination and inter-creditor agreements, purchase and sale, disposition and development and ground lease agreements. Experience with condominium and land trust ownership law is highly desirable;

• Demonstrate outstanding communication skills and business and legal judgement;

• Judge the relative importance of a document, contract provision, task or assignment and apply the appropriate level of scrutiny, detail or effort to the matter;

• Appropriately prioritize workload and regularly reorder that prioritization to meet frequent changes in client needs; and

• Provide legal advice as necessary on a broader array of subjects on a less frequent basis including: public contracts law, public records, construction and environmental law, corporations and general business law; and state and federal constitutional law.

The Campaign for Equal Justice (CEJ), the support organization for Oregon’s statewide legal aid programs, is seeking an Executive Director. Oregon’s legal aid programs provide free civil legal services to low-income Oregonians in areas such as safety from domestic violence, income maintenance, safe housing and consumer protection. CEJ works to educate lawyers, other members of the legal community, and the public about the civil legal needs of the poor, operates a robust annual fund drive, and helps to increase government and foundation support for legal aid. You can learn more about our work at www.cej-oregon.org.

JOB DESCRIPTION: The Executive Director is responsible for implementing the mission of the organization, and managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. The Executive Director assists the board of directors in maintaining contacts with community partners such as the Oregon State Bar and affinity bar associations. CEJ has four primary programs: Annual Fund Drive; Education and Outreach: Other Funding Initiatives (state and federal funding and foundation support); and the Endowment. In addition to working to fulfill the goals of each program area, day-to-day responsibilities also include overseeing banking, financial matters, personnel matters, and operating the organization within budget.

Specific duties:

Annual Fund
· Overseeing all aspects of annual fundraising campaign
· Developing fundraising materials
· Recruiting and retaining volunteers (in the range of 250-300 people)
· Overseeing multiple fundraising events each year
· Revenue goals between $1.4 and 1.8 million in recent years’ / donor goal is to increase to 3,000 donors

Education & Outreach
· Creating education materials on the importance of access to justice and civil legal service delivery in Oregon
· Organizing and presenting Continuing Legal Education seminars
· Overseeing communications strategy and execution / media relations / public relations
· Overseeing written communications (annual reports, articles, reports, etc.)
· Coordinating with partners on civil legal needs studies, strategic planning, etc.

Other Funding Initiatives
· Coordinating with legal aid leaders, bar leaders, and bar staff on state and federal funding issues to preserve critical sources of legal aid funding
· Coordinating and overseeing CEJ’s grassroots lobbying efforts
· Overseeing CEJ Endowment
· Supporting legal aid’s efforts to increase foundation support

Administrative Responsibilities
· Managing and supervising all CEJ staff
· Managing and overseeing organization’s finances, including budgeting, bookkeeping oversight, banking, completion of annual audit, filing of annual tax returns, and distribution of funds
· Overseeing and backing up Director of Operations as necessary (i.e. running payroll, managing retirement, bill paying, maintaining insurance, etc.)
· Supporting 21-person board of directors and staffing all board committees

The Executive Director position is an exempt, salaried position. It is a hybrid position, with some days of in-office work required per week and some remote work days possible. Attendance at in-person donor events is required, along with some in-state travel and occasional after-hours or weekend work during the height of the fundraising campaign. CEJ offers full employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance; retirement plan; and PTO including sabbatical policy. The compensation range is $95,000-$115,000 DOE.

QUALIFICATIONS:
· Juris Doctor or Master’s Degree in non-profit management or related field.
· Demonstrated commitment to the mission of expanding access to justice; knowledge of Oregon’s civil legal delivery system a plus.
· Demonstrated ability to strategically plan on an organizational level, coordinate and implement projects, set and communicate priorities, and meet deadlines.
· Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
· Demonstrated supervisory and team management skills.
· Experience managing, organizing, and motivating volunteers.
· Aptitude and comfort with public speaking.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
· Problem-solving ability and strong attention to detail.
· Experience with messaging, public relations, and/or media relations preferred.
· Prior fundraising experience preferred.
· Prior experience with legislative advocacy preferred.
· Prior work with the Oregon legal community is not required, but is preferred.

NWJP seeks an experienced Financial Administrator to support our work fighting for racial and
economic justice for low-wage and immigrant workers and helping workers build power for systemic
change. A new position for NWJP, the Financial Administrator will work with NWJP’s Director, Program
Administrator, board of directors and staff to help manage the budget and day-to-day financials of a
growing and collaborative non-profit organization and in developing and executing NWJP’s annual
fundraising plan. On-the-job training will be offered to the successful candidate who displays
appropriate basic skills, and duties will be distributed and shared with NWJP’s current Program
Administrator.

*Paralegal certification is not a requirement for this position. On-the-job training will be offered to the
successful candidate who displays appropriate basic skills.

NWJP seeks a bilingual paralegal to work with our low-wage and immigrant clients to build power as a
way of dismantling structural racism and inequities. The paralegal will help provide culturally relevant
legal services, educate workers and the community on workers’ rights, and support workers through all
stages of workers’ rights litigation.

NWJP seeks a bilingual Worker Organizing Coordinator to support low-wage and immigrant workers
to build power in their workplaces as a way of fighting inequity and dismantling structural racism.
This is an exciting and unique position to support workers organizing in low-wage and temporary/contingent jobs, connect them to legal and organizing resources, and provide education
to assist them improve working conditions and build worker power. The Coordinator also will help
NWJP design systems to more deeply connect worker-clients to its policy advocacy and nonprofit
governance, and to bolster clients’ involvements in their legal cases.

Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP is seeking a lawyer to join our team! BAAS has an open attitude towards flexible work arrangements and welcome full-time, part-time, associate, or “of counsel” attorney applicants. Our ideal candidate is an exceptional writer who is self-motivated, collaborative, creative, eager to learn and self-confident. We seek to hire attorneys with strong analytical and interpersonal skills who hold themselves to the highest standards of client service. We assess our attorneys’ job performance not on the basis of billable hour targets, but based on work quality, responsiveness and productivity.

Youth, Rights & Justice, an innovative nonprofit based in Portland OR, is seeking a Staff Attorney to join our juvenile defense team.

Our defense team is a holistic, interdisciplinary model and attorneys represent youth in delinquency proceedings and parents and children in dependency proceedings. Due to the number of Special Immigration Juvenile Status clients YRJ sees, someone with Spanish language proficiency is highly preferred, although not required.

Founded in 1975, YRJ is widely recognized as a leader in juvenile law. We provide court-appointed representation of children, youth, and parents involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems—in both the trial and appellate courts. We also represent individual children and youth in school-related enrollment, special education, and disciplinary matters. On a larger scale, we work to improve the systems impacting our clients through education, legislative and administrative advocacy, class action
litigation, publications, and training other lawyers and community partners.

The clients we serve are racially and culturally diverse and from low-income families. Some are living with disabilities, and many are recovering from trauma. The children we serve are experiencing abuse and neglect. The parents we serve include those who are former foster youth and are struggling to keep their families together.

Dunn Carney LLP is seeking a versatile litigation associate with 4-5 years of experience handling complex civil litigation including cases involving commercial (business, corporate, and real estate), products liability, construction defect, trust and estate, employment, and personal and catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims. This position involves all phases of state and federal litigation including client intake and case evaluation, drafting pleadings and discovery, managing files including client communications, and handling hearings, depositions, mediations/judicial settlement conferences, arbitrations, and trials. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a group of accomplished litigation attorneys.

Dunn Carney cares about our people and is dedicated to the long-term professional development of our attorneys. You will join a collegial and respectful environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds and experiences. We strongly believe our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion strengthens our ability to serve our clients, enhances our culture, and supports the communities in which we live and work.

Although we emphasize in-office work culture, we offer the flexibility of a hybrid work environment where you can connect with colleagues quickly and easily whether working in the office or from home with the firm’s technology and support. Your onboarding experience will include regular contact with your team and ongoing mentorship, and opportunities to contribute to firm management.

We are looking for forward-thinking, self-starter professionals committed to helping us meet our clients’ challenging issues by delivering excellent legal services and engaged in their own career development. The ideal candidate should possess the following:

+ Strong oral and written communication skills with attention to detail
+ Well-developed legal research, analytical, and problem-solving skills
+ Proven organizational and time-management skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks and work in a deadline-driven, fast-paced environment
+ A willingness to take ownership and primary responsibility for matters
+ Belief in the value of diversity and teamwork
+ Admission to practice in Oregon and, preferably, also in Washington

Background
LASO is a non-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low-income population throughout the state and two specialized statewide programs provide services to farmworkers and representation on Native American issues. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program that is committed to advocacy strategies having the broadest possible impact on client community problems. LASO is actively working to build an inclusive organizational culture that centers on racial equity. LASO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients.

The Albany Regional Office provides advice and representation to low-income residents in Linn and Benton counties. Located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just 20 minutes east of Corvallis and about 30 minutes south of Salem. Albany has a population of around 56,000 while Corvallis boasts a population of just under 60,000.

Responsibilities
The staff attorney will be responsible for maintaining a varied caseload, with a focus on domestic violence, family law, and low-income housing issues. In addition to litigation, duties will include outreach to community groups and travel in the two-county area.

Qualifications
Current Oregon State Bar membership required. Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income and other vulnerable populations. Demonstrated enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and willingness to work as a team. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred but not required.

General Counsel’s portfolio consists of Legal Services, Risk Management, Public Records Requests, and Workers' Compensation.

Legal Services provides legal advice to the Board of Commissioners, County officials, boards, and committees. The office handles litigation on the county's behalf, including personnel grievances, unemployment claims, personal injury, property damage, land use, public contracting, and maintenance of Lane Code and Lane Manual.

The Risk Management Program, working in conjunction with departments and individual employees, seeks to mitigate loss exposure to Lane County by identifying and minimizing financial consequences of potential liabilities. The program also processes claims and seeks recovery for damages and injuries, advises departments and vendors of County insurance requirements, and purchases excess insurance coverage, among other responsibilities.

The Role:

General Counsel oversees all legal matters which involve the County and may represent or oversee representation of the County in matters of litigation. Incumbents serve as members of the executive management team providing leadership, and as such, participate in the accountability and efficiency of operations and success of the overall organizational goals and objectives. General Counsel works under the supervision of the Board of Commissioners to provide independent legal advice and representation. General Counsel serves as a department director, manages the Office of County Counsel (currently 10 direct reports), and exercises full supervisory authority over assistant legal counsel and support staff in the Office of County Counsel.

Find out more about Lane County with this short video. (https://vimeo.com/664395974?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=7620725)

The Public Defense Services Commission (PDSC) is a nine-member commission appointed by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court that serves as the governing body for Oregon’s public defense system. The Commission provides policy direction and oversight for the administration of the system. As required by ORS 151.216(1)(b), the Commission oversees the Office of Public Defense Services (OPDS) that serves as the administrative agency responsible for carrying out the Commission’s directives and other statutorily defined duties. The legal services provided by OPDS represent an essential component of Oregon’s public safety system.

The mission of OPDS is to establish and maintain a public defense system that ensures the provision of public defense services consistent with the Oregon Constitution, the United States Constitution and Oregon and national standards of justice.

OPDS employs 108 staff. The office includes the Executive Division, the Compliance, Audit, and Performance Division, the Appellate Division (AD), and the Administrative Services Division. The agency negotiates contracts with trial level public defense providers and administers and distributes funds for representation and related services for cases during the biennium for criminal, juvenile, and civil commitment cases. The agency provides compliance and oversight to the trial community providers through quality assurance practices, training, and education. Financial Services processes all expenses related to representation in public defense cases. The Appellate Division provides direct legal representation in the state appellate courts in criminal cases, juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights cases, and parole cases. Other services in the agency include, Data Collection and Analysis, General Counsel, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Internal Audit, and Policy Development.

The Appellate Division, comprised of the Criminal Appellate Section and the Juvenile Appellate Section, is the institutional presence in the state appellate system for the court-appointed criminal and juvenile dependency defense bars. Consistent with the principles governing the Public Defense Services Commission, the Appellate Division actively participates in the development of law and policy to protect individual rights within the Oregon criminal justice and juvenile court dependency systems, primarily by providing quality appellate representation for financially eligible individuals in a variety of case types. The Appellate Division provides legal representation in the state appellate courts in, inter alia, criminal cases, parole cases, and juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights cases.

The entry-level Deputy Defender attorney position in the Criminal Appellate Section provides appellate representation in the state appellate courts to clients primarily in direct appeals from contempt and criminal cases and judicial review of decisions of the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision. The primary purpose of this position is to provide appellate representation to clients in contempt cases, misdemeanor and non-complex felony criminal cases and parole cases, while managing a high-volume caseload and working collaboratively in a team environment.