First Assistant

While every leader in our office remains connected to client work, the First Assistant is the Defender’s principal partner in managing our office, and this position requires full engagement in the mechanics of running our organization. That includes approving expenditures, reviewing travel and procurement decisions, overseeing compliance systems, maintaining internal controls, supervising administrative and personnel staff, and sharing responsibility for stewardship of public funds. The First Assistant also plays a critical role in shaping the office’s structure and culture by mentoring staff, addressing workplace concerns early and constructively, supporting performance management systems, and ensuring that expectations are clear and consistently applied.
Applicants should have strong professional judgment and a demonstrated commitment to client-centered advocacy. This role demands exacting attention to detail and adherence to rules-based systems. Supervisory or management experience is strongly preferred, as is experience with budgeting, administrative oversight, or roles involving oversight of public funds. Meaningful litigation experience and deep knowledge of defense work is also critical.
We believe defense work is strongest when it reflects a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and we’re committed to building a workplace grounded in mutual respect, collaboration, and humility. The successful candidate must be steady under pressure, fair in judgment, comfortable balancing warmth with accountability, and reliable in modeling the standards we expect from others. Above all, we’re seeking a leader who models professional excellence and who brings integrity and respect to every interaction.