Staff Attorney, Special Litigation Division (Contractor)

Open Date: Aug 6, 2026
Close Date: Aug 14, 2026
Position Type: Temporary; 12-month contract Full-Time
Job Vacancy #: PDS-2026-30
Location: 633 3rd Street NW Washington, DC 20001

About The Job

PDS Overview:

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of liberty in criminal, delinquency, and mental health justice matters within the local District of Columbia justice system who are financially unable to obtain adequate representation. PDS’s staff consists of approximately 100 attorneys and approximately 100 social workers, investigators, administrative, and technical staff. Most employees work at the main office at 633 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. 
 
Employment at the Public Defender Service is at will and is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment.

Division Overview:

The Special Litigation Division of the Public Defender Service is dedicated to addressing recurring and systemic violations of our clients’ rights to fair trials, sentences, and treatment. The Division engages in a wide variety of litigation in local and federal courts. Currently the Division is focused on several issues, including adult sentences imposed on people who committed crimes when they were adolescents, compassionate release for individuals who demonstrate extraordinary and compelling circumstances for their release, unconstitutional conditions imposed on incarcerated individuals, treatment of individuals in the criminal legal system living with mental health conditions, and unlawful practices related to parole and supervised release. 

Position Description:

SLD attorneys litigate criminal and civil cases in local and federal courts, and act as consultants to attorneys in the other divisions of PDS. The attorney’s caseload will primarily involve resentencing litigation under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act and/or compassionate release litigation. The attorney may also engage in other sentence-reduction litigation, habeas litigation, systemic litigation, work on policy reform, and join specialized practice groups focused on issues affecting PDS clients. The attorney’s duties will include drafting substantive pleadings and presenting oral arguments; working with trial and appellate lawyers in on-going criminal litigation; engaging in extensive legal research; factual investigation and development; working with scientific experts and other consultants; and conducting evidentiary hearings. SLD attorneys must have excellent research and writing skills, be creative and persuasive advocates, both orally and in writing, and enjoy working collaboratively and under active supervision. 

Required Qualifications:

 J.D. or equivalent degree from an accredited law school; excellent research, writing, and oral persuasion skills. (See bar membership requirements below).

Bar membership and eligibility required: Must be a member of the DC Bar or eligible to become a member by September 30, 2026. Eligibility information is available at D.C. App. R. 46. D.C. Bar membership eligibility should be addressed in the cover letter.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working closely with clients and/or individuals similar to PDS clients; 
• Experience leading or coordinating teams and/or investigations; 
• Experience reviewing extensive case-related records, including medical, mental health, and court records; 
• Experience writing on a variety of complex, substantive issues; 
• Experience with managing a heavy litigation caseload, including managing competing deadlines and long-term projects;
• Courtroom, oral advocacy and/or evidentiary hearing experience


Attorneys with journalism, investigative, policy, social work, and other backgrounds, who developed relevant or transferable skills that can support the work of SLD, are encouraged to apply and to address the importance of their background. If, because of financial constraints or other issues, you have been unable to participate in the type of work that would demonstrate your commitment to our mission, please also address that in your cover letter.

Number of vacancies:

1

Pay Series:

0905

Compensation:

Salary Range: $83,830 - $89,069 DOE 

Benefits:

This is a contract position. Benefits will be provided by the contracting company.

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit: (1) a cover letter that explains why you want to work at the 
Special  Litigation Division of the Public Defender Service; (2) a resume; (3) a list of three references (name, e-mail address, telephone number, and a brief statement of how each reference is able to evaluate your skills); (4) a legal writing sample, preferably a brief or other advocacy piece; and (5) a law school transcript.* All materials must be submitted online as a consolidated PDF through the PDS employment web HERE. If you would like assistance applying, or have questions about the position, contact: 

Jennifer Thomas, Director of Legal Recruiting 
[email protected] 
(202) 824-2337 

* An unofficial transcript is acceptable. 

  

Disclaimer

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization; governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in the local criminal, delinquency, and mental health systems in the District of Columbia. PDS’s approximately 275 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS’s main office is located at 633 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in the federal health and life insurance plans, the federal retirement plans (FERS, FERS-RAE, FERS-FRAE, CSRS, CSRS-Offset), and the Thrift Savings Plan. Transferring employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Employment at PDS is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.

PDS is an E-Verify participating agency. Please see the Right to Work Poster and the E-Verify Participation Poster for more information.

 

PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and E-Verify Participant.