The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. PDS provides legal representation to adults and children who are facing a loss of liberty but who cannot afford an attorney. The PDS staff consists of approximately 275 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical employees who collaborate to advance the mission of the organization.  By statue, PDS employees are entitled to participate in federal health insurance, life insurance and retirement plans, to include the Thrift Savings Plan. Employees with prior tenure at federal agencies will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes.

Employment at the Public Defender Service is considered “At Will” and is not considered as federal nor District of Columbia government employment.

This position is located in the Mental Health Division of the Public Defender Service (PDS) for the District of Columbia.  The Mental Health Division (MHD) provides legal representation for District of Columbia residents who have been involuntarily institutionalized for mental illness; who have been found incompetent to stand trial; or who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity.  In addition, the MHD staff regularly advise local and national advocacy groups, testify before the D.C. Council on legislative reforms, and frequently provide critical assistance to trial division attorneys.  The incumbent of the position serves as a Mental Health Investigator responsible for performing all aspects of the investigative work necessary to support MHD attorneys who provide legal representation to District of Columbia residents in more difficult and complex civil and/or criminal commitment cases.

The role of the Mental Health Investigative Specialist is to gather information to assist the attorney in effectuating the client’s expressed interest.  The Mental Health Investigative Specialist is responsible for all phases of investigation, as detailed in the attorney’s investigative request.  Also, the incumbent must possess excellent communication skills, the ability to work independently, and the compassion and desire to serve indigent clients who suffer from mental illness.  

• This position works in concert with legal defense counsel to gather information to assist the attorney in effectuating the client’s expressed interest. The Mental Health Investigative Specialist is responsible for all phases of investigation, as detailed in the attorney’s investigative request. Also, the incumbent must possess excellent communication skills, the ability to work independently, and the compassion and desire to serve indigent clients who live with mental illness.

Other Duties:

• Contacting, interviewing, and encouraging the cooperation of a wide spectrum of individuals, including: psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, social workers, lay hospital staff, mental health case managers, law enforcement personnel, court personnel, family members, complaining witnesses, and eyewitness. Documenting the effort and findings of interviews and treatment meetings in the client’s case file. Identifying and following up on information gained through interviews, treatment plan meetings, medical records and other sources. Identifying and helping to secure community mental health supports and other resources to benefit client. ETC.

• Gathering, reviewing and synthesizing clients’ legal, medical, and mental health records, including retrieval of information from criminal justice and mental health databases. Compiling detailed client histories to include criminal justice involvement, psychiatric hospitalizations, civil commitments and psychiatric medications.

• Locating witnesses and conducting background checks using electronic databases. Serving subpoenas for witnesses and documents when necessary.

• Diagramming, photographing or producing “Google” map images of various locations, including but not limited to places of arrest and/or detention

• Preparing documents and exhibits for litigation.

• Testifying before the Commission on Mental Health and the Superior Court when necessary.

To meet basic qualifications, the candidate must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in either of the following fields:

• Criminal Justice Administration; Law; Social Work; Counseling; Criminology; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology; English; Journalism/Mass Communication; Any other closely related field
  

Qualifications:

In order to qualify for this position, an applicant must have sufficient education and experience to perform the duties of the Mental Health Investigative Specialist position. Also, applicants will be assessed based on the listed desired knowledge, skills, and abilities below.

Experience Requirement:

Candidates must have at least one-year specialized experience as a social worker, mitigation specialist, and/or a criminal defense investigator (Investigative Specialist) who investigated civil or criminal commitment cases.

Additionally, the following knowledge, skills and abilities and/or experience are deemed highly desirable:

• A Master’s Degree in Counseling, Psychology and/or Social Work;

• The ability to fluently speak and write Spanish;

• Training and/or internship experience in criminal defense investigations;

• Training and/or internship experience in mental health to include knowledge about mental health treatment approaches, diagnosis, treatment modalities, psychiatric medications;

• Knowledgeable about legal issues surrounding commitment and rules for criminal procedure and investigative techniques.

• Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker or Professional Counselor;

• Computing skills which include word processing, criminal justice database usage, social media usage, data input, and criminal defense related data analysis;
  

Promotion Eligibility Requirements:

This position is advertised at the PDS grade AD-11 (equivalent to a GS-11) will require a one year full performance level at to be considered for promotion to PDS grade AD-12 (equivalent to the GS-12).

PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and employees are entitled to participate in federal benefits plans, federal retirement systems, and the workers compensation program. Transferring federal employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement (if applicable) purposes.

Benefits include: 
Federal Employees Retirement Systems (retirement annuity)
Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K program)
Federal Employees Health Benefits (health insurance)
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (life insurance)
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
Flexible Spending Accounts (for health care and dependent care)
Parking Space Lottery
Employee Assistance Program
Federal Occupational Health (access to health clinic and services)

You must provide a complete application package which includes: (1) a cover letter as noted above; (2) a resume, including email address; (3) official college transcripts (if available; otherwise, they must be provided within 30 days if selected); and (4) a list of three references that include name, address, telephone number, and a statement of how each reference is able to evaluate your skills. Materials should be consolidated as a single PDF and submitted to the following email address: [email protected].  The vacancy announcement # (#PDS-2026-08) and title of the vacancy MUST APPEAR on the subject line of the email.

Your cover letter must include your qualifications as follows:
• Your experience and skill working with individuals living with mental illness, including work on civil and criminal commitment cases.
• Your knowledge of mental health treatment approaches, diagnosis, treatment modalities, psychiatric medications and legal issues surrounding commitment and rules for criminal procedure.
• Your knowledge of the basic principles and techniques of investigating. Please detail your knowledge of criminal defense investigations.
• Your skill in conducting interviews and recognizing, exploring, and exploiting leads.
• Your skill in communicating clearly both orally and in writing.

If you have any questions about the position, application, hiring process or require a reasonable accommodation during any part of the application process, please contact Megan Simmons, HR Specialist, at (202) 824-2499 or via email at [email protected]. 

For applicants with disabilities, this organization provides reasonable accommodations which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please email your request to the Office of Human Resources at [email protected].

PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an E-Verify Participating Agency