Part Time Conflict Defender, Allegany County

Career Opportunity – Part Time Conflict Defender

Application Deadline: Monday, December 1, 2025

Allegany County is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Conflict Defender. The County of Allegany, through its Board of Legislators, recognizes its Constitutional responsibility in providing mandated legal representation to indigent persons. The County currently provides mandated legal representation through the County’s Office of the Public Defender, as well as through an Assigned Counsel Program providing mandated representation services when a conflict of interest disqualifies the Public Defender in criminal and Family Court matters. The County Board of Legislators’ purpose for creating the Office of the Conflict Defender is to directly provide mandated representation in certain conflict situations, and to otherwise manage, administer, and supervise mandated representation services.

The Conflict Defender will be appointed by the Allegany County Board of Legislators and serves a term of office coterminous with the Board. The Conflict Defender shall receive an annual salary to be fixed by the County Board of Legislators.

Employment with Allegany County offers excellent benefits including affordable health insurance and membership in the New York State retirement plan.

Allegany County
Allegany County is located in the Southern Tier of New York State along the Pennsylvania border. We are the 10th least populated county in the state with a 2010 U.S. Census population of 48,946 and the 23rd largest in terms of land size with 1,034 square miles.
Along with a natural beauty highlighted by the Genesee River Valley and the enjoyment of four distinctive seasons, Allegany County is home to 29 towns and 10 villages, four college and university campuses, 22 public school districts and private schools, and major employers like Alstom and Otis-Eastern.
Allegany County shares borders with Livingston County to the northeast, Steuben County to the east, Cattaraugus County to the west and Wyoming County to the northwest; and Potter County, PA to the southeast and McKean County, PA to the southwest.

Typical Work Activities
The Conflict Defender’s duties associated with the Assigned Counsel Plan under this section may include, but not be limited to, the following:
i. Develop professional standards for Assigned Counsel Panel attorneys, and compile and maintain a list of qualified panel attorneys willing to accept conflict assignments.
ii. Recruit attorneys, develop an application process, and review and select qualified attorneys for conflict management on a rotating basis by the courts.
iii. Maintain a record of all attorneys assigned by the courts.
iv. Formulate guidelines for the maximum number of cases to be assigned to panel attorneys to ensure that the workload does not negatively affect the quality of representation.
v. Develop and implement a complaint procedure regarding attorney performance.
vi. Develop and administer a fair and equitable payment process, review attorney vouchers, and make recommendations to the assigning courts.
vii. Establish and maintain relevant continuing legal education programs for panel attorneys.
viii. Advise the County Board of Legislators about such other matters as to the Conflict Defender, that in its professional judgment, would contribute to enhancing and improving the quality of conflict defense provided by the County of Allegany.

Minimum Qualifications
At the time of the appointment, the Conflict Defender shall have the following education, training, and/or experience:
a. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State accredited law school; and
b. Admission to practice law in New York State at the time of appointment and be continuously admitted during their term of office; and
c. Minimum of five (5) years as a practicing attorney, with experience in criminal defense and/or Family Court.

Applying
Please submit your resume, cover letter, references to:
Allegany County Human Resources
7 Court Street
County Office Building, Room 216
Belmont, NY 14813
Application Deadline: Monday, December 1, 2025