The Administrative Office of the Courts is seeking a qualified attorney for the position of Interim Executive Director who will be responsible for the strategic implementation of the new structure for delivery of indigent services in Tennessee. Specifically, the Interim Executive Director will establish the Office of the Appointed Counsel Commission (ACC). Led by the Interim Executive Director, the ACC will assume responsibility for appointing lawyers for indigent representation in criminal cases where the office of the district public defender has a conflict and in child welfare cases. ACC will employ full-time and/or part-time employees, including attorneys, in each grand division to implement and oversee the program. The program will institute various contractual arrangements with private attorneys to provide necessary representation.
After ACC is established, the Interim Executive Director will provide statewide executive leadership and oversight for the office, including but not limited to the following: manage the ACC budget; consult with the ACC Commission to develop and implement long-term plans to achieve organizational objectives; employ attorneys, experts, and investigators; develop training and education for attorneys; develop, monitor and track key performance measures; develop a process to verify indigency status; build and maintain strong relationships with judges, the public defenders conference, the district attorneys general conference, and other stakeholders; coordinate with the Administrative Office of the Courts for fiscal, information technology, and human resources support to carry out the purposes of the office; and provide oversight for the attorney appointment process through its various contractual arrangements.
Qualifications/Experience: The successful applicant must be an attorney licensed in Tennessee with at least ten (10) years of legal experience. Demonstrated strong communication, the ability to build and manage teams, and strategic planning skills are required. Experience in criminal law and child welfare cases, along with strong practice familiarity with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 13 is preferred.
This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you will be required to provide information about your criminal history to be considered for this position.
The AOC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Submit an Application for Employment in PDF, a resume, and three professional references by email to human.resources@tncourts.gov. The Court System accepts only electronic applicant information saved in PDF format.
Thank you for taking time to submit your information for consideration. Please note that applicants will only receive communication regarding submissions if selected for an interview.