Job Details

Investigator

Public Defender Services of Lane County, Inc., is looking for a private investigator to join our five-investigator team as we strive to deliver excellent, client-centered results for the poor and powerless who are accused of crimes in Lane County. Our investigators pride themselves on their professionalism, integrity, and work ethic. The ideal candidates will be able to balance a steady stream of investigation requests from four to six lawyers, while prioritizing cases with tight deadlines. The right person for this job will approach each task as a meaningful assignment, regardless of whether it involves tracking down character witnesses on a trespass case or interviewing eyewitnesses on a murder investigation. 

Our investigators are licensed by DPSST, and the candidate will need to either already be licensed or able to obtain a provisional license as they begin their work here. We will prioritize candidates with previous investigation experience, as our client-centered practice means it is challenging to train a new investigator without it impacting results on existing cases.

Job Responsibilities

Our investigators currently work on cases from 33 attorneys. Our office takes 4,000 to 5,000 cases a year, and at any given time, our investigators are working on 20 to 50 open investigation requests. 

Investigators need to be familiar with technology and able to learn our proprietary database system for accessing discovery, both on our Mac computers and on iPads. Investigators are required to testify in court during contested motions and at trial, so candidates must be impeccable with their word and measured in their responses. This job has a strong written component, as investigators must take thorough notes and write up formal reports for their assigned investigations. 

Pay for this position is $54,693 to $69,204, depending on experience. PDSLC is an equal opportunity employer. We also have excellent benefits, and we`re a dog-friendly office. 

To apply, please e-mail Brook Reinhard, Executive Director, at personnel@lanepds.org. Include a resume and cover letter.  We will be reviewing materials and may begin conducting interviews before the closing date, so the sooner you submit your application, the better.  

About Public Defender Services of Lane County

Public Defender Services of Lane County is a private non-profit organization committed to defending the rights of people who are facing a loss of their personal liberty due to the actions of the state. We represent adults and juveniles charged with everything from trespass to murder. We fight for the rights of people who are accused of violating their probation, and for those who are facing jail because they are behind on their child support payments. We fight for the rights of parents and children when the State becomes involved in termination proceedings, and we fight for the rights of those afflicted with mental illness when the state tries to hold them in the state hospital against their will.

The office has a rich history of defense advocacy and has been a non-profit public defender since 1977. You`ll have the benefit of mentorship from attorneys with decades of experience, as well as new perspectives from newer members of our team. Our office qualifies for public interest loan forgiveness, subject to the whims of the federal government. We offer excellent starting benefits including three weeks of vacation, a generous retirement plan, competitive health insurance and the satisfaction from fighting the good fight and being the champion of the underdog.

We strive to put our clients first, and zealously pursue our client`s best interest regardless if it`s a person facing a single charge of criminal trespass or someone facing allegations of violent felonies.

Our Mission Statement: We treat our clients with dignity, empower them to make informed choices and fight to defend their rights.

Our goals (how we fulfill our Mission):
1. We deliver outstanding legal services.
2. We uphold the presumption of innocence without regard to the accusations against our clients.
3. We deal ethically with our clients, witnesses, the courts, and all other representatives of the criminal justice system.
4. We strive to lead by example in the criminal justice community.
5. We provide a supportive environment where employees and clients are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, economic and cultural background, religion, age or disability.