Contracts Program Attorney

To be considered for OPD positions, applicants must complete and submit their application online, as well as upload any required application materials. This position may be based out of any OPD Office in the State of Montana.

To Provide the Most Compassionate and Expert Defense of Clients and the Constitution

Creating Expert Teams of Advocates for Justice, Bringing Respect and Dignity to our Clients to Achieve Holistic and Equitable Outcomes

Our work changes lives! OPD’s work makes a difference for the people in our communities. Public Defenders work for their clients, protect constitutional rights, and ensure the system remains fair. We are proud of the work we do. To find out more about OPD visit our website.

The ability to work and play in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Montana offers theaters, museums, fairs, rodeos, a high-quality educational system, and many recreational opportunities. Montana's mountains, rivers, and lakes provide year-round opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Fishing, hiking, camping, boating, biking, hunting, skiing, and snowmobiling can be accessed throughout our great state.

• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Work/life balance
• Flexible schedules
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Telework (when applicable)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive public service loan forgiveness – visit the Federal Student Aid website to learn more!

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• References:
  Please provide contact information for (2) current or former supervisors and (1) professional peer.

The Contracts Program Attorney provides assistance in overseeing contracted services within the Office of State Public Defender (OPD). Duties include assisting the Contracts Program Manager in providing contracted attorney management, contract development and oversight, ensuring contractor compliance with OPD practice standards, providing quality assurance of contractor services, developing and maintaining relationships with OPD contractors and reviewing the case work of contracted attorneys.

The Contracts Program Attorney must have a passion, commitment, and willingness to work collaboratively with underprivileged populations to not only ensure that needed services are provided, but also continually advocating and striving to improve the level of services OPD provides to its clients.

• Review all contractor invoices and related internal communications to assess the service quality and legal reasonableness of hours and costs billed by attorney and non-attorney contractors in order to approve, reject, or modify OPD’s payment of those invoices and keep the Contract Program invoice queue at ten or fewer days.
• Review all pre-approval requests submitted by contract attorneys and related internal communications to assess the legal reasonableness of requests for contract services, such as forensic experts, mental health evaluators, and private investigators, in order to expeditiously approve, reject, or modify OPD’s authorization of such services.
• Review client complaints involving contract attorneys to assess the legal reasonableness of the attorneys’ client representation in order to adjudicate validity of the client complaints, determine whether assignment of new counsel is required, and review the queue of client contractor complaints within 20 days from original filing date.
• Actively communicate with clients regarding client complaints to obtain any additional information necessary for resolution of the complaint and to explain the complaint adjudication decision within 20 days of filing.
• Communicate with contractors daily to resolve questions and concerns regarding invoices, pre-approvals, and client complaints, including obtaining additional information regarding invoice line items, pre-approval…