Temporary Attorney Position
Public Defender Services of Lane County, Inc., is hiring a trial attorney for a limited duration position. The position would start as soon as March 1, 2025 and end in September 2025. There is potential for this position to turn into a permanent position in September of 2025, should a vacancy be available—but this is not a guarantee. We will consider applicants with a range of experience, but our preference is to hire someone already barred in Oregon (or able to transfer using Oregon’s reciprocity bar rules) who can take felony cases.
Job Responsibilities
Our lawyers are fighters, thinkers and doers. They know when to call out bad faith arguments and when to let things go unsaid. But most importantly, they are committed to their clients, and fight to redeem those that society says are unredeemable. Attorneys are generally responsible for a caseload of 15 to 20 new cases a month. We have a mix of misdemeanor, minor felony and major felony-qualified attorneys, and the experience level ranges from court-certified law students to attorneys with decades of experience. Attorneys in our office are the first person a client sees in the jail, and they are responsible for the case from the day the Court appoints us to whenever the case is finally resolved, including referring cases for appeal and fixing sentencing issues. Attorneys are tireless advocates in and out of the courtroom, with strong client skills, professional in their dealings with everyone in the criminal justice system, and able to interact successfully in a large office with a professional support staff including legal assistants, secretaries, and licensed private investigators.
Applicants must be members of the Oregon State Bar in good standing, or otherwise qualified as indicated above. PDSLC is committed to advancing equity and diversity in our workplace, in our hiring, and in the way we represent our clients. We are an equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented groups to apply. As an employer, we believe in providing an excellent benefits package, including health, vision, dental, and life insurance; long term disability insurance; paid vacation, sick, and personal time; and retirement (after 6 months of continuous employment). We’re also a dog-friendly office. Pay ranges: Misdemeanor qualified: $76,320 to $84,143. Minor to major felony qualified: $86,920 to $110,934. Murder qualified: $119,414 to $145,149 annually. To apply, please contact Caitlin Plummer, Executive Director, at attorneypersonnel@lanepds.org. Include a resume and cover letter. You can include references if you want, but we won’t contact references without your permission. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The closing date for this posting is May 1, 2025.
Training and Onboarding
As a new hire, you’ll join a team of 5 to 7 other attorneys working collaboratively to improve client outcomes and help you be a better lawyer. The onboarding process is hands-on and will vary based on your experience level.
About Public Defender Services of Lane County
Public Defender Services of Lane County is a private non-profit organization committed to defending the rights of people who are facing a loss of their personal liberty due to the actions of the state. We represent adults and juveniles charged with everything from trespass to murder. We fight for the rights of people who are accused of violating their probation, and for those who are facing jail because they are behind on their child support payments. We fight for the rights of parents and children when the State becomes involved in termination proceedings, and we fight for the rights of those afflicted with mental illness when the state tries to hold them in the state hospital against their will.
The office has a rich history of defense advocacy, and has been a non-profit public defender since 1977. You’ll have the benefit of mentorship from attorneys with decades of experience, as well as new perspectives from newer members of our team. Our office qualifies for public interest loan forgiveness, subject to the whims of the federal government. We offer excellent starting benefits including three weeks of vacation, a generous retirement plan, competitive health insurance and the satisfaction from fighting the good fight and being the champion of the underdog.
We strive to put our clients first, and zealously pursue our client’s best interest regardless if it’s a person facing a single charge of criminal trespass or someone facing allegations of violent felonies.
Our Mission Statement: We treat our clients with dignity, empower them to make informed choices and fight to defend their rights.
Our goals (how we fulfill our Mission):
1. We deliver outstanding legal services.
2. We uphold the presumption of innocence without regard to the accusations against our clients.
3. We deal ethically with our clients, witnesses, the courts, and all other representatives of the criminal justice system.
4. We strive to lead by example in the criminal justice community.
5. We provide a supportive environment where employees and clients are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, economic and cultural background, religion, age or disability.