DPD is recruiting 3rd year law students, judicial clerks, and fellows to begin employment Fall 2026.

The Department of Public Defense (DPD) seeks thoughtful, creative, energetic advocates to join our dynamic and diverse team which includes a staff of over 450 including attorneys, mitigation specialists, investigators, paralegals, and legal administrators who collaborate to advance our clients’ goals.

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?

DPD is a well-resourced public defense agency in a state that was the first to adopt new caseload standards grounded in the National Public Defense Workload Study (RAND). In July 2025, we began implementing the first phase of a case-weight credit model designed to promote sustainable workloads and ensure that every client receives the time and attention their case requires. Felony cases are assigned between 1 and 8 credits based on the seriousness of the alleged offense, with a first-year cap of 110 credits. This marks the beginning of a multi-year phased reduction process aimed at helping public defenders meet their constitutional and ethical obligations to each client.

Our model is based on the Washington State Bar Association’s Standards for Indigent Defense Services (revised September 2024), which apply to both criminal and family defense. The goal is to create conditions where public defenders can consistently provide the level of representation the Constitution demands—while building sustainable and fulfilling careers in service to our clients and communities.

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 and civil legal systems that restrict our clients’ liberty and disproportionately impact marginalized communities. Internally, we strive to foster a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive—grounded in a shared commitment to anti-oppression principles and equity across lines of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, class, and other identities.

To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

As a DPD Attorney, you will 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.

• 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.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Sit for the Washington State Bar Examination in July 2026 or, for clerks and fellows, admission to the bar in Washington or another state that would enable qualification under Rule 8.
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Be able to handle on-call 24-hour coverage–which, per attorney, currently occurs approximately one week a year or two Saturday calendars a year.
• Have the ability to travel throughout King County.

ABILITY TO:

• Develop trial, research, and writing skills. Provide client-driven representation that includes frequent and detailed communication with the client, choosing the most effective medium for the client.
• Champion equity and human rights; possess an understanding of pervasive, systematic racism and its long-term effects; feels comfortable engaging in candid and sincere conversations about race and equity in our work.
• Manage the competing needs of multiple clients in a fast-paced environment.
• Communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those experiencing stress, trauma, or mental illness, while providing respectful and client-centered representation.
• Thrives in a diverse work environment, respecting differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, and national origin.
• Thrives in a diverse work environment and in service to a diverse clientele—respecting differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, and other lived experiences—while recognizing our shared humanity.

In addition, it is highly desirable if you:

• Have proficiency in languages other than English, particularly Spanish.
• Possess clinical training in public defense.
• Lived experience as someone impacted by the criminal legal system or family surveillance system.

Candidates hired through this recruitment will be considered by DPD for initial salary placement at Steps 3 through 4 ($103,272.25 - $118,237.19), dependent upon experience.

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.

King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?

The following items are required to process your application:

1. An online application completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. The employment history should go back long enough to include all relevant experience.
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 short self-authored writing sample (in.doc,.docx, or .pdf format)

Who May Apply:

• Attorney - 3rd-Year Law Student: This recruitment is open to 3rd year law student candidates graduating between December 2025 and June 2026.
• Fellow/Clerk: This recruitment is open to attorney applicants engaged in legal fellowships or clerkships.

Application Process
If you are selected for an interview, you may choose to be interviewed in person or via video conference technology.

This recruitment may be used to fill current and/or future career service positions in any of the Department's four divisions and/or office locations in King County.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Talent Advisors at, dpd-hr@kingcounty.gov.

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 an essential function 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

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. This position is expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform the job, and some night and weekend work is required.

DPD Policies
DPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedures will apply to applicants, such that if you work or have worked for one of DPD's divisions, you may be ineligible to work in another division.

Outside Work Policy for Attorneys will apply to employees, such that you must receive approval from your supervisor and Managing Attorney before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.

Union Membership
This position is represented by Service Employees International Union, Local 925, and interested applicants can review the collective labor agreement for more information. Click here and filter by union code, A8, A8A.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, this salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. King County offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance for employees and dependents; retirement and deferred compensation. For additional information, please review the detailed summary of benefits offered by King County.