Attorney (3rd Year Law Student & Fellow/Clerk)
Attorney (3rd Year Law Student & Fellow/Clerk)
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Job Description
Summary
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 Associations 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 demandswhile 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 supportivegrounded 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.
Job Duties
- Provide high-quality legal representation and advocacy for indigent clients including individuals with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities.
- Handle all stages of representationfrom arraignment through trial and when necessary sentencing and select post-conviction motionsunder DPDs 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.
Experience Qualifications Knowledge Skills
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- JD from an accredited law school.
- Sit for the Washington State Bar Examination inJuly 2026or 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 coveragewhich 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 clientelerespecting differences in race gender sexual orientation gender identity age religion national origin and other lived experienceswhile 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 ($103272.25 - $118237.19) 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.
ARE YOU READY TO APPLY
The following items are required to process your application:
- An online application completed at 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 ( 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 Departments fourdivisions and/or office locations in King County.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our Talent Advisors at .
WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION:
Public Defense Attorneys should expect to work both in the office and telecommute while being required to report to locations such as court jails and hospitals/treatment centers throughout the county. If assigned to the civil commitment unit assignments are to hospitals/treatment centers throughout the county.Reporting requirements are determined by operational needs and may be adjusted accordingly. DPD prioritizes robust client contact and in-person court presence.
Rotations of work location and practice area and/or work flow 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
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 Procedureswill apply to applicants such that if you work or have worked for one of DPDs divisions you may be ineligible to work in another division.Outside Work Policy for Attorneyswill 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 States best employers.
Together with leadership and our employees were changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference Comejointheteam dedicated to serving one of the nations best places to live work and play.
Guided by ourTrue 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 candidates 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 detailedsummaryofbenefits offered by King County.
Employment Type
Full-Time
