PD III-AC & Expert Coordinator

The Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator is responsible for building and maintaining a successful Assigned Counsel Program and roster of experts in Kansas. The Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator will make and foster relationships between SBIDS, attorneys in private practice, experts and courts throughout the state. They will vet and contact attorneys and experts that may or may not already have a working relationship with SBIDS, and they will respond to requests from judges or attorneys in need of help matching counsel to indigent cases or locating experts to work on cases for indigent clients. They will take proactive steps to expand the number of private attorneys, experts, and investigators that work with SBIDS, and they will also provide information to those attorneys, experts, and investigators, regarding SBIDS policies, procedures, and expectations as required. The Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator will also serve as a liaison between the assigned counsel panel attorneys and the BIDS Training Division.

The Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator must maintain accurate and up-to-date information about attorneys, experts and jurisdictions. For attorneys and experts this includes, but is not limited to: current contact information, jurisdictions served, case level eligibility pursuant to K.A.R. 105-3-2, license status and ability to accept new cases as applicable. For jurisdictions this includes, but is not limited to: the court’s current panel of appointment attorneys, court days for each judge, availability of remote appearances in court or remote jail visitation, diversion standards, availability of specialty courts, any unique aspects of local practice, and contact information for relevant county attorneys, jails and court personnel. For experts, this includes their rate, current contact information, jurisdictions served, detailed information regarding expertise, references, a list of BIDS cases where the expert has previously performed work and the attorneys they have previously worked with on those cases, a list of current active licenses or other professional organization memberships, and availability for travel.

The Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator is part of the SBIDS Administrative Office’s Legal Division and reports directly to Chief Legal Counsel. The position of Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator requires a passionate, persuasive and organized attorney that works equally well with other attorneys and legal staff with or without direct supervision. In addition to their core duties above, the Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator will assist Chief Legal Counsel with the general work of the Legal Division including, but not limited to: negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts, reviewing current policies, procedures and relevant law, researching and responding to legal questions, analysis of proposed or recently enacted legislation, and maintaining a positive and productive relationship with experts and assigned counsel. Other tasks within the Legal Division’s responsibility will be assigned as needed. This position will require occasional travel.

• Must have exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Must have a flexible and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Must be a self-starter that does not require significant direct supervision to complete tasks and comply with deadlines.
• Ability to use all necessary electronic devices including telephones, computers, e-filing systems, District Court Access Portal, as well as case management systems.
• Ability to coordinate with professionals inside and outside of SBIDS to provide client-centered, holistic representation.
• Must have appropriate time management and organizational skills that help minimize the time required to find counsel or experts for cases.
• Must generally understand how trial, appellate and post-conviction practice are conducted.
• Must be able to handle emergency or crisis situations.
• Must be able to handle frequent interruptions and multiple calls and inquiries.
• Must be able to effectively interact with clients, co-workers, and other colleagues in a respectful and appropriate manner.
• Must be academically curious about criminal law, criminal procedure, law regulating government entities and the creation and deployment of local or systemic changes.
• Must be able to treat everyone with dignity and respect without exception.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and manage confidential information.
• Must have a keenly developed and uncompromising set of personal and professional ethics.
• Must be able to withstand a moderate noise level in the work environment.
• Occasional travel to other work locations outside of the BIDS Administrative office, including various courts, law schools and the Kansas Capitol.

Physical Requirements:

Employees must be able to meet the physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, which include: talking, hearing, seeing, walking, and reaching with hands and arms.

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demands are in excess of those of sedentary work. Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time;
• Ability to transport themselves and their work files to court, jail, investigation, and any other place where their physical presence is required.

Application Process:

Submit required documents for this application to be complete.

• Email required documents to both Brandon Barrett
• When emailing application materials, please include “Assigned Counsel & Expert Coordinator” in your email subject line.