Supervising Attorney

About the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD)

We are an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state. 

Mission: Upholding the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession. 

Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals. 

Values: Justice  *  Service  *  Equity  *  Excellence   

We administer a variety of programs, including systemic improvement programs and programs providing direct representation. To learn about OPD’s programs click here. We are dedicated to excellence in public law and indigent defense, and we seek talented candidates who share this commitment to client-centered service. We value employees who bring diverse backgrounds in education, employment, public policy, community activities, and life experiences to enhance our office.

Program Description

The OPD Appellate Program 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 contracts with firms of different sizes to represent indigent appellants in cases where federal and state constitutions and state statutes guarantee the right to counsel on appeal. These include adult and youth criminal cases, as well as other cases involving fundamental rights, such as dependency proceedings, termination of parental rights, and involuntary civil commitments. 

Relatively recently, the Appellate Program has expanded in scope. Senate bill 5046 (Laws of 2023, ch. 261) now directs OPD to appoint counsel for a limited number of incarcerated indigent youth or adults to file a first, timely personal restraint petition, subject to available funds. OPD’s 5046 Post Conviction Team screens applications for representation and appoints cases to our team of contract attorneys. 

The Role of the Appellate Program Supervising Attorney

As Supervising Attorney, you will provide direction and leadership to the OPD Appellate Program. These duties will include active management of current services with an eye towards future improvements and program expansion to improve the quality of representation. Success in this position requires being both a “big thinker” who can strategically identify and plan for long-term goals, as well as a being a collaborative team member to tackle the tasks at hand. Duties and responsibilities include:

• Provide management and oversight for approximately 25 firms of various sizes that contract with OPD to provide representation in appellate and other post-conviction cases.
• Recruit additional attorneys and firms as needed.
• Directly supervise 2.0 FTE paralegals and other future Appellate Program staff. 
• Review case appointments for assignment with appropriate contractors. 
• Collaborate with partners to create, implement, and update training for contracted appellate attorneys to maintain effective skills and stay up-to-date on innovative practices.
• Monitor contract performance by reviewing briefs and attending occasional oral arguments, as well as conducting annual review meetings with each contractor. 
• Engage in active communication with judicial and administrative members of the Courts of Appeals to ensure smooth administration of case assignments and to educate on developments to or challenges with effective public defense representation. 
• Coordinate with OPD’s fiscal team, develop and manage the program budget and programmatic fiscal processes, and review and approve invoices for payment. 
• Coordinate with OPD’s legal programs to support improved connections between trial and appellate level counsel. 
• Review and analyze program data to track caseloads, workloads, budgets, and performance measurements. 
• Review and approve requests for expert services. 
• Answer phone calls from the community about appellate services.
• Respond to and handle appellate client complaints. 

General Responsibilities

• Exercise mature judgment in potentially sensitive, high-stress situations.
• Participate in and foster a collaborative working environment at OPD, statewide stakeholder groups, and in demographically diverse local court systems.
• Diligently follow attorney and state employee ethics requirements.
• Conduct all activities with the highest degree of professionalism in furtherance of OPD’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Regular travel will be required in Washington State, including occasional overnight travel. Out-of-state travel occurs infrequently.

Minimum Qualifications

• A member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association, or a member of another State Bar Association and able to become licensed in Washington within one year.  
• A minimum of ten years of experience in the public defense profession in roles with progressively increased responsibility.
• A minimum of one-year experience directly supervising public defense attorneys or managing public defense attorney contracts. 
• A minimum of one-year experience representing indigent defendants on appeals or other post-conviction cases. 
• Ability to develop and sustain respectful professional relationships with a diverse community of state, county, and city government officials, judges, defense attorneys, professional associations, community representatives, and others.
• Experience using and interpreting the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct, the Washington Supreme Court Standards for Indigent Defense, and the Washington State Bar Association Standards for Indigent Defense Services.  
• Demonstrate an understanding of and experience advocating against the impact of race, bias, discrimination, and differential treatment of communities disproportionately composed of Black, Indigenous, and people of color, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ or other sexual minorities, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, limited English speaking persons, and others who have been historically disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to function independently as well as part of a team in a collaborative environment.
• Proficient with computer use and have the ability to become proficient in the use of specialized case management tools. 
• Attention to detail and excellent writing and proofreading skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience managing client service contracts.
• Experience supervising attorney and non-attorney staff. 
• Experience with new program development. 
• Experience designing and organizing training programs.
• Experience testifying at the Legislature and working with state and local government representatives. 
• Familiarity and experience with Washington court systems and legal databases, such as but not limited to JABS, Odyssey, and Accords. 
• The ability to work on-site at the OPD office in Olympia. 

Compensation   $126,168 to $149,904 annually

Washington State employees are offered a comprehensive benefit package that includes: paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, retirement and health, dental and life insurance coverage for self and family. There are also options for deferred compensation and pre-tax flexible spending accounts. 

Application Process

• Letter of interest
• Current résumé 
• A list of at least three professional references
• A writing sample that is your original work

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We vigorously pursue diversity in the work force. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 year of age, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated, prior child welfare involvement, and military veterans are encouraged to apply. Pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy a respectful, safe, and supportive working environment.

Teleworking

Our offices are located in Olympia, Washington. We have teleworking options available by policy, and arrangements are considered on an individual basis depending on the needs of the position and the availability of adequate equipment. Because the Appellate Program Supervisor will need to develop a strong understanding of and relationship with other OPD units, it is desired that they work on-site in Olympia. However, if the successful candidate cannot work on-site full time, there is the expectation of being on-site in Olympia at least two days per week.