Assistant Public Defender

State of North Carolina

Assistant Public Defender representing indigent clients in North Carolina criminal courts. Handling DWI litigation, investigations, treatment court matters, and courtroom advocacy across District 43.

Posted 8/11/2026full-timeNorth Carolina • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $56,000 - $104,338 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in criminal law, litigation strategies, and legal research, with a strong ability to communicate complex legal concepts effectively. Proven skills in courtroom litigation, witness examinations, and maintaining professional relationships with clients and colleagues.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Juris Doctor DegreeActive North Carolina Law LicenseLegal Research SkillsCourtroom Litigation SkillsKnowledge of North Carolina General Statutes

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Litigation Strategy DevelopmentWitness Examination PreparationEvidentiary Objection MakingLegal Writing SkillsKnowledge of Judicial ProceduresKnowledge of Federal and State LawKnowledge of Common LawKnowledge of Constitutional LawAbility to Analyze Legal DocumentsDWI Case Representation

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsOrganizational SkillsInterviewing SkillsAbility to Maintain Professional RelationshipsCommunity Engagement

Certifications & Qualifications

Active License to Practice Law in North CarolinaValid North Carolina Driver's License

Industry Keywords

Criminal LawDWI CasesImpaired DrivingJudicial ProceduresNorth Carolina General StatutesCriminal District CourtCriminal Superior CourtLegal ResearchCourtroom LitigationCommunity Service

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as an Assistant Public Defender in District 43
Represent clients in DWI cases, including complicated impaired driving cases
Cover treatment court and other initiatives serving the community
Handle difficult cases and clients while maintaining professional relationships with co-workers, clients, and the public
Visit clients in jail and prison facilities
Travel outside the office to conduct investigative procedures
Engage in community service and participate in relevant outreach and volunteer programs
Litigate cases in court
Conduct legal research
Plan, develop, and execute litigation strategies
Prepare, organize, and conduct witness examinations
Deliver opening statements and closing arguments
Make evidentiary objections
Communicate complex legal concepts and related facts clearly and concisely

Requirements

What you’ll need

Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school
Active license to practice law in North Carolina
Applicants awaiting NC Bar Licensure will be considered
Knowledge of federal, state, common, and constitutional law
Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence
Knowledge of case, statutory, regulatory, and common law
Knowledge of North Carolina General Statutes for defending criminal and juvenile cases
Legal research skills
Strong communication skills for courtroom litigation
Exceptional legal research and writing skills
Interviewing and organizational skills
Ability to analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and related written documents and apply applicable law
Ability to plan, develop, and execute effective litigation strategies
Ability to prepare, organize, and conduct witness examinations
Ability to deliver opening statements, closing arguments, and evidentiary objections
Valid North Carolina driver's license
Criminal district and/or criminal superior court trial experience helpful but not required
Cover letter and résumé must be attached

Benefits

Comp & perks

Community service and participation in outreach programs
Volunteer programs relevant to services provided, including evening and weekend opportunities
Equal employment opportunity protections
Reasonable accommodation for employees and applicants with disabilities, pregnancy-, childbirth-, and religious-related limitations or practices