Social Worker - Legal Defender

# Job Description Summary
Department - Public Defense Services
# Job Description

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Job Type: Classified

Job Classification: 5624 - Social Worker

Salary Grade: 10

Pay Range

Hiring Range: $53,872 - $64,625 Annually

Pay Range: $53,872 - $75,379 Annually

Range Explanation:

- Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

- Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position.

The first review of applications will be on 11/06/2026.

The Pima County Legal Defender's Office is expanding our Social Work and Mitigation Unit and seeking a skilled and dedicated social worker to join our team of professionals representing adult and juvenile clients. Our team provides client-centered, holistic defense for adults and juveniles facing criminal charges, as well as adults involved in the dependency process. Our Social Work and Mitigation team is an integral part of the defense team, providing expert guidance in mitigation, treatment and community resources, rehabilitation, and sentencing alternatives. The team works in partnership with clients to provide support and advocacy that address the underlying issues that led to their involvement with the justice system. We are seeking energetic and dedicated social workers to join our criminal defense team and advocate for our clients both in and out of court.

For more information on the Pima County Public Defense Services Department and the offices in this department, please visit their website at: www.pima.gov/pds .

Essential Functions:

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s need and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.

- Provides direct social services, counseling and crisis intervention to individuals and families involved in the legal system which may include dependency, delinquency, and/or criminal cases or in an office/community-based setting which may include outpatient clinics, hospital/ED, rehabilitation or detention facilities;
- Conducts client screenings and assessments and evaluates data to identify causes of problems and determine proper therapeutic approach to then make referrals to appropriate specialists/services congruently with established care plans;
- Works collaboratively with other professional staff and related working professionals to help represent the client;
- Provides on-going assessment of clients’ emotional, behavioral and social needs;
- Provides crisis management counseling to clients or therapeutic crisis intervention and emergency services as appropriate and required for the client’s needs;
- Develops client re-entry plans or treatment plans and follow-up care programs and helps set individual and/or family centered goals to meet client needs;
- Provides focused support and counseling to clients and families dealing with the criminal justice system or the impact of bereavement and loss, trauma, chronic illness, physical disability, substance use, and/or behavioral health issues;
- Participates in developing training modules to address needs in the community related to substance use, trauma, suicide prevention, overdose, and general mental health;
- Informs concerned parties on impact that psychosocial and cultural differences have on illness;
- Evaluates the home environment and determines if client's needs are being met;
- Maintains liaison with and refers clients to appropriate community resource agency;
- Maintains client records and prepares written recommendations and reports to responsible parties; Obtains treatment records and coordinates care with family, community providers, and others relevant to healthcare and community re-entry plans;
- Maintains security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties;
- Serves as an advocate on behalf of clients to coordinate services and information with community agencies, state agencies, social service systems, and courts;
- May provide transportation to health, housing and justice appointments;
- May testify in a variety of judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a behavioral or social service, or a closely related field as defined by the appointing authority AND two years of experience in client, family and child behavioral services, child welfare and needs or crisis intervention counseling.

(Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.)

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Selection Procedure:  
Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidate from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information:

Licenses and Certificates :  Valid driver license is required at time of application.  Valid  AZ  driver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record.

Special Notice Items : Some positions may require completion of a satisfactory personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems. The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County. Pima County determines whether a position is eligible for visa sponsorship at the time of recruitment. Eligibility is based on the requirements of the position and applicable laws and regulations. Not all positions with Pima County are eligible for visa sponsorship. This position will require post-job offer proof of immunization(s) or immunization(s) and/or a TB screening.

Physical/Sensory Requirements : Physical and sensory abilities will be determined by position. Action Activity - bending, reaching; Motion Activity - Grasping; Speaking Activity - in person, on the phone; Vision - operate motor vehicle, distinguish colors, have depth perception, have peripheral vision.

Working Conditions : Working conditions will be determined by the position.

EEO Information :  Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.