Attorney Recruitment
Specialty Courts Programs

The Las Vegas Justice Court Specialty Courts Programs, hereafter LVJC Specialty Courts, is seeking two experienced attorneys to serve as a prosecutor (position one) and a defense attorney (position two). Successful candidates will be responsible for either prosecuting or representing adult defendants with a misdemeanor and ordered into a LVJC Specialty Court Program as a condition of a suspended sentence.

With the goal of improving public safety and the overall well-being of defendants, LVJC Specialty Courts offer defendants the opportunity to become drug free and/or address their mental health needs. In cooperation with a team that includes the presiding judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, coordinators, treatment providers and law enforcement, LVJC Specialty Courts redirect defendants with special needs from the ordinary course of prosecution to intensive supervision by the presiding judge and treatment team and rehabilitation through treatment programs. After successfully completing the treatment program and when monitoring or case management services are no longer needed, the defendants “graduate” and are released from intensive court supervision.

Successful candidates shall provide legal assistance and representation for all cases assigned to the LVJC Specialty Courts. Cases will be limited to adult misdemeanor cases negotiated to the LVJC Specialty Courts, and may, from time to time, as required by the Court, include such matters as termination hearings, or such other legal matters involving the potential loss of liberty of the defendant. Attorney’s services are limited only to those for the LVJC Specialty Courts, and nowhere else. Attorney shall be present to handle team staffing meetings and attend all court appearances for the assigned Specialty Court.

• Promptly refers potential participants for eligibility determination, when appropriate.
• Assists with determining legal eligibility, which takes into account community safety and victim’s rights and concerns.
• Assists with executing participant agreements or contracts, waivers, and terms and conditions including restitution and other responsibilities accepted by the participant during plea proceedings.
• May assist with resolving other pending legal actions that impact the potential participant’s legal status or program eligibility.
• Attends all staffing meetings, status review hearings and actively participates in team discussions regarding program entry, program progress, incentives, sanctions, graduation, and termination decisions.
• Maintains a non-adversarial approach on the team while pursuing justice, ensuring public safety, and protecting the victim’s rights.
• Attends and provides input at regularly scheduled policy meetings that include the review of program operations, structure, team building and functioning.
• Assists with community outreach and education.
• Promotes the program within the local legal and law enforcement communities.
• Attends multidisciplinary team training that addresses responsivity issues.

• Promptly refers potential participants for eligibility determination, when appropriate.
• Informs and effectively advises individuals of their legal rights, legal options, and treatment options prior to program entry.
• Without violating attorney-client privilege, encourages participants to be forthcoming and honest regarding their progress and recovery process.
• Advocates for fair and equal treatment of the participant.
• Monitors courtroom activities for any potential constitutional and liberty issues and any potential disparate treatment of participants.
• Maintains a non-adversarial approach while protecting participant’s constitutional rights and advocates for the participant’s stated legal interests.
• Attends all staffing meetings and status review hearings and actively participates in team discussions regarding program entry, program progress, incentives, sanctions, graduation, and termination decisions.
• During status review hearings, advocates for participant in a non-adversarial manner, helps provide participant input for incentives and sanctions and promotes a unified team presence.
• Monitors operations for adherence to program procedures, supervision terms, and that drug testing protocols are followed.
• Attends and provides input at regularly scheduled policy meetings that include the review of program operations, structure, team building and functioning.
• Assists with community outreach and education.
• Promotes the program within the local legal community.
• Attends multidisciplinary team training that addresses responsivity issues.

 

 

Applicants must possess a Juris Doctorate degree and be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of the State of Nevada.

Applicants must be active members in good standing of the Nevada Bar Association. Applicants will be required to comply with the Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct, state and local court rules, and the written administrative and procedural policies and procedures established by the Court. Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications.

Applicants must be willing to devote such time to every case assigned so as to provide competent, effective, and timely legal assistance and representation. Applicants must possess excellent communication and courtroom skills and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, treatment providers and social service agencies. Applicants must have a demonstrated capacity to function effectively, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding environment.

Preferred candidate is knowledgeable about the LVJC Special Courts model, effective treatment interventions, mental illness and substance use disorders.

 

Bi-Weekly – One Day Per Week - Alternating Weeks	$1,000 Monthly Fee
One Day Per Week	$2,000 Monthly Fee
Two Days Per Week	$4,000 Monthly Fee
Three Days Per Week	$6,000 Monthly Fee

 

Interested applicants must send a complete application package, which must include a letter of interest and a resume or curriculum vitae, via email, to April Thomas, Esquire, Las Vegas Justice Court Specialty Court Division Administrator, at: april.thomas@clarkcountynv.gov.

 

Resumes must include a detailed description of employment history, to include dates of employment (month/year).