The Department of Public Defense (DPD) seeks thoughtful, creative, energetic advocates to join our dynamic and diverse team which includes a staff of over 400 includes attorneys, mitigation specialists, investigators, paralegals, and legal administrators who collaborate to advance our clients’ goals. DPD is recruiting 3rd year law students, judicial clerks, and fellows to begin employment in or before October 2025.
 
DPD prides itself on hiring client-centered advocates. We prefer applicants who have participated in a law school clinical program, interned for a public defender program, or who have lived experience in the criminal legal or family surveillance systems.

WHY JOIN DPD? 
The Department of Public Defense is in the process of implementing the Washington State Bar Association’s newly passed caseload standards. These standards, which DPD advocated for, call for public defenders to carry maximum caseloads far below any current standard in large metropolitan public defense agencies in the country. Once implemented, the standards will give attorneys at DPD the time they need to give each of their clients the zealous representation they deserve while ensuring public defense can be a sustainable career.

DPD provides high quality legal representation  to indigent clients facing felony or misdemeanor charges in adult or juvenile court, loss of family integrity in dependency and termination cases, and petitions for involuntary commitment because of alleged mental illness or substance abuse.

We also advocate to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal legal system and civil legal systems that restrict our clients’ liberty and to address systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

As a DPD Attorney, you will have:

• Opportunities for trial experience with the support of supervisors, investigators, paralegals, legal assistants, and mitigation specialists.
• Opportunities to work in multiple practice areas and to learn a variety of case types.
• Access to funding for expert witnesses.
• Access to mentoring, and in-house and national trainings Opportunities for hybrid work.
• Caseloads that are among the most manageable in the country.

For full job description and to apply: Click Here