Washington State Office of Public Defense

Issued:  December 19, 2022

Ends: Open Until Filled

The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Appellate Program currently provides state funded attorney representation to indigent clients with a right to counsel at State expense before the Washington State Court of Appeals and the Washington State Supreme Court.

OPD seeks to fill a contract for representation primarily in Division III of the Washington State Court of Appeals, beginning as soon as February 1, 2023. The contract will be for 1/3 of a full-time caseload, or 12 appeals per year, pro-rated based on the contract’s start date.

The approximate caseload for a full-time appellate contract is 36 weighted cases. Annual compensation for a full-time caseload begins at $146,364. Part-time contracts are pro-rated based on the percentage of a full-time caseload. Contractors are responsible for all overhead such as support staff, rent, and other costs of doing business. If interested, follow the application procedures below.

Minimum Qualifications A qualified applicant must:

• Be a licensed member of good standing with the Washington State Bar

• Meet Washington State Supreme Court Standard for Indigent Defense 14.3 qualifications to represent indigent clients on appeal

• Demonstrate a commitment to indigent defense

• Possess experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals experiencing state intervention in their lives, and a willingness to challenge the State on issues of bias and prejudice.

• Provide representation with energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental advocacy throughout the case

• Be familiar with appellate procedure in the State of Washington

• Demonstrate skill at spotting appellate issues in a case file

• Be responsive to and communicate clearly with clients who are often under great stress

Preferred Qualifications OPD will prefer applicants who:

• Are able to incorporate a 1/3-time caseload into an existing legal practice

• Are physically located within the jurisdiction of Division III of the Washington State Court of Appeals

For more information, click here.