The caseload negotiated with the city’s public defender must allow each client the time and effort necessary to ensure effective representation. Caseload limits should be determined by the number and type of cases being accepted and on the local prosecutor’s charging and plea bargaining practices. The city shall ensure that the public defender shall not be required to accept more cases than can be reasonably managed. In these situations, the caseload ceiling should be based on the percentage of time the lawyer devotes to public defense. The firms providing legal services on behalf of city of Lynnwood must devote at least 25 percent of that firm’s time in providing services required to the city of Lynnwood under this contract. (Ord. 2668 § 3, 2007)