Public Defense Attorney

THIS POSITION IS OPEN FOR CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT

The department reserves the right to close this position and/or make updates to the position description below as deemed necessary.

The Department of Public Defense (DPD) participates in King County's referral program. In order for the King County represented employee to receive the referral bonus, you must provide their information in supplemental question 3.

The King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) is seeking dedicated Public Defense Attorneys who are passionate about advocating for our clients. Our collaborative approach means that you’ll work alongside skilled investigators, mitigation specialist, paralegals, and other committed support staff, ensuring that we provide exceptional, client-centered representation.
 
DPD is the best-resourced public defense agency in the first state to adopt new caseload standards for public defenders based on the National Public Defense Workload Study | RAND. These standards, adopted by the Washington State Bar Association in March 2024, limit public defenders in felony practice to 110 weighted case credits in 2025, 90 weighted case credits in 2026, and 47 weighted case credits annually by 2027. The new standards also weigh more serious charges with additional credit, leading to even lower limits for public defenders defending against more serious alleged offenses.
  
Throughout their phased-in implementation beginning in July 2025, these new caseload standards will afford DPD’s attorneys the time they need to fully investigate and litigate every client’s case. Just as importantly, we believe these standards – along with the training and support all our staff receive – will allow public defenders joining DPD to have a long, sustainable career providing representation they can be proud of to the most vulnerable members of our community. DPD has already begun implementing phase I standards a year in advance.  This shows DPD’s commitment to being a leader in the field of public defense.

As a DPD attorney, you’ll enjoy: 

• Competitive Pay.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including a pension.
• Support from a unionized workplace.
• A chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those navigating the criminal and civil legal systems.
• Extensive courtroom and trial experience, supported by a team that includes supervisors, investigators, paralegals, legal assistants, and mitigation specialists.
• Opportunities to work across multiple practice areas, including adult criminal, juvenile, dependency, and involuntary commitment courts.
• Resources to mount a robust defense, including funding for expert witnesses.
• Access to mentoring and high-quality training, both in-house and through national programs.
• Caseloads, among the most sustainable in the country, grounded in a phased case-weight model based on national research.
• Generous vacation and sick leave to support attorney well-being and career sustainability.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following: 

• Provide high-quality legal representation and advocacy for indigent clients, including individuals with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities.
• Handle all stages of representation—from arraignment through trial, and when necessary, sentencing and select post-conviction motions—under DPD’s vertical model of public defense, which ensures continuity of representation by the same attorney throughout the case.
• Conduct plea negotiations, mitigation, and other case resolution strategies.
• Engage in motions practice, including legal research, drafting, and arguing pretrial motions, often in collaboration with expert witnesses.
• Represent and advocate for a diverse client base, including individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or trauma.
• Develop and implement effective legal strategies that address both legal and client-centered needs, in collaboration with investigators, mitigation specialists, and paralegals.

 Please note that specific duties may vary based on case type and division.

Required Qualifications: 

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, or a combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the job duties. (Current law students should apply through a separate posting designated for those intending to take the bar, available August 2025).
• Admission to the Washington State Bar Association or licensure in another state that qualifies you for a license under Admission and Practice Rule (APR) 8(f) House Counsel. WSBA rules permit lawyers licensed in any other U.S. state to apply for admission to the Washington bar by motion, and DPD will reimburse successful applicants for the WSBA Application Fee and the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) investigation fee. 
• Minimum age of 21. 
• Availability for on-call 24-hour coverage, currently requiring approximately one week per year or two Saturday calendars annually. 
• Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to travel throughout King County.

Desired Qualifications: 

• At least two years of criminal or civil practice that includes motion and trial practice.
• Proficiency in languages other than English, particularly Spanish. 
• Clinical training in public defense.
• Lived experience related to the criminal legal system that resonates with DPD’s clients.

Knowledge Of: 

• Performance Guidelines for Criminal Defense Representation approved by the Washington State Bar Association
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures including:
• Washington State Criminal Code.
• Washington State Court Rules of Evidence.
• Washington State Court Rules.
• Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Performance Guidelines for Juvenile Defense Representation approved by the Washington State Bar Association.
• Performance Guidelines for Attorneys Representing Respondents in Civil Commitment Proceedings approved by the Washington State Bar Association.

Ability To: 

• Execute strong trial, research, and writing skills.
• Provide client-centered representation, ensuring frequent and effective communication using the most suitable medium for each client. 
• Provide excellent customer service, including communicating with people of diverse backgrounds, who may be experiencing stress, trauma, and/or suffering from mental illness.  
• Champion equity and social justice, demonstrating an understanding of systematic racism and its long-term effects. Engage in open and sincere discussions about race and equity in our work. 
• Communicate effectively with all internal and external partners, articulating analysis clearly in both spoken and written forms. 
• Manage the needs of many clients in a deadline-driven environment. 
• Work with a diverse clientele, respecting differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, and national origin. 
• Maintain all continuing legal education requirements as set forth by the Washington State Bar Association, with special emphasis on criminal defense. (Note: All DPD employees receive access to more than enough free CLE courses to meet this requirement at no cost, though individual attorneys are responsible for ensuring they remain current with continuing education requirements.)

WHY KING COUNTY?
  
At King County, our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?
This opportunity to join the Department of Public Defense (DPD) is open to all qualified applicants. To process your application, please provide the following items:

1. A complete King County application (available at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs) including your bar license information under the “Certificates and Licenses” section. 
2. A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing your experience and how you meet the required qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position. 
3. A resume.
4. A legal writing sample, such as a brief, motion, or client letter in.doc,.docx, or .pdf format. 

WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

The Department of Public Defense (DPD) offers a supportive and inclusive workplace. Onsite reporting requirements are based on operational needs. Public Defense Attorneys may be required to travel to various locations throughout King County, including courts, jails, hospitals and treatment centers. 

If assigned to the civil commitment unit, you will primarily report to hospitals and treatment centers across the county. Because DPD prioritizes robust client contact and in-person court presence, work locations and reporting requirements may change to meet these priorities.

Rotation of work location, practice area, and workflow is a core part of this position and may occur as needed to support operations. You may be assigned to any of our Seattle or Kent offices: 

• Dexter Horton Building – 710 Second Avenue, Seattle 
• Jefferson Street Building – 1401 East Jefferson, Seattle 
• Ninth & Jefferson Building – 908 Jefferson Street, Seattle 
• Meeker Street Building – 420 West Harrison Street, Kent
• Kent Professional Center – 124 4th Avenue South, Kent