All wages listed in this posting are 2025 wage rates.
The Department of Public Defense (DPD) seeks thoughtful, creative, energetic advocates to join our dynamic and diverse team which includes a staff of over 400 includes attorneys, mitigation specialists, investigators, paralegals, and legal administrators who collaborate to advance our clients’ goals. DPD is recruiting 3rd year law students, judicial clerks, and fellows to begin employment in or before October 2025.
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?
The Department of Public Defense is in the process of implementing the Washington State Bar Association’s newly passed caseload standards. These standards, which DPD advocated for, call for public defenders to carry maximum caseloads far below any current standard in large metropolitan public defense agencies in the country. Once implemented, the standards will give attorneys at DPD the time they need to give each of their clients the zealous representation they deserve while ensuring public defense can be a sustainable career.
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 legal system and civil legal systems that restrict our clients’ liberty and to address systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.
As a DPD Attorney, you will have:
- Opportunities for trial experience with the support of supervisors, investigators, paralegals, legal assistants, and mitigation specialists.
- Opportunities to work in multiple practice areas and to learn a variety of case types.
- Access to funding for expert witnesses.
- Access to mentoring, and in-house and national trainings Opportunities for hybrid work.
- Caseloads that are among the most manageable in the country.
Job Duties:
- Provide high-quality legal representation to and advocacy for indigent clients, including individuals who lack English proficiency.
- Handle all aspects of representation, from arraignment through trial and, if necessary, sentencing, and some post- conviction motions; conduct plea and other negotiations and mitigation.
- Engage in motions practice involving research, writing, and arguing pretrial motions, including working with expert witnesses.
- Work with a diverse client base who may be experiencing mental illness, drug addiction, and/or trauma.
- Develop and implement legal strategies and properly assess and address client needs, which includes partnering with investigators, mitigation specialists, and/or paralegals.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- JD from an accredited law school.
- Sit for the Washington State Bar Examination in July 2025 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.
- Maintain a valid Washington State driver’s license or 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 social justice; understand pervasive, systematic racism and its long-term effects; feels comfortable engaging in candid and sincere conversations about race and equity in our work.
- Possess excellent communication skills.
- Manage a high caseload in a fast-paced environment.
- Feel comfortable working with diverse clients (race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, and national origin).
In addition, it is highly desirable if you:
- Have proficiency in languages other than English, particularly Spanish.
- Possess clinical training in public defense.
- Have lived experience of the criminal legal system.
Candidates hired through this recruitment will be considered by DPD for initial salary placement at Steps 2 through 4 ($84,755.41 – $112,073.17), dependent upon experience.
Supplemental Information:
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
- 100% premium paid healthcare plans
- Paid Orca Card allowing multiple transportation options to/from the office
- On-Site exercise facilities and bike storage
- Paid vacation time (in addition to paid holidays)
- Twelve paid holidays and Two Additional personal holidays
- Paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave
- Deferred compensation plan
- Employer Contributions to state pension plan
- Awesome Employee Giving Program
ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?
The following items are required to process your application:
- An online application completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. The employment history should go back long enough to include all relevant experience.
- A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing your experience and how you meet the required qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.
- A resume.
- 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 2024 and June 2025.
- Fellow/Clerk: This recruitment is open to attorney applicants engaged in legal fellowships or clerkships.
Application Process
First consideration will be given to candidates who apply prior to September 1, 2024. Once all positions are filled the posting will be closed. Please submit your application as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. If you are selected for an interview, you may choose to be interviewed in person or via videoconference 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 or 206-263-2041.
WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION:
DPD employees enjoy a flexible, hybrid in-office/telecommute workplace structure, and attorneys should expect to work both in the office and remotely, while being required to report to other locations, such as court, jails, and hospitals/treatment centers throughout the county. Onsite reporting requirements are determined by the departments operational needs and may be adjusted accordingly.
DPD prioritizes frequent and robust client contact and in-person court presence.
Rotations of work location and practice area and/or workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need. Placements may be made to any of our Seattle and/or Kent locations. DPD maintains physical offices in the following locations:
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
If assigned to the civil commitment unit, assignments are to hospitals/treatment centers throughout the county.
This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 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 applicants, 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.
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.