Lateral Trial Attorney

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Open Date: Aug 10, 2026
Position Type: Permanent; Exempt Full-Time
Job Vacancy #: PDS-2026-28
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 freedom in the District of Columbia’s criminal,  delinquency, and mental health systems. PDS’s approximately 230 employees, comprising attorneys, social workers, professional counselors, mitigation specialists, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff, collaborate to advance the PDS mission. PDS’ main office is located at 633 3rd Street, NW, Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment.

Employment at the Public Defender Service (PDS) is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.


Division Overview:

Staff attorneys in the Trial Division zealously represent adults in criminal proceedings and children in delinquency matters in the District of Columbia Superior Court (Superior Court). Attorneys are assigned to specific practice levels based on experience and performance. Those practice levels are juvenile, general felony, serious felony, and felony 1. 

Position Description:

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia seeks candidates interested in joining our November 2026 trial class. 




Major Duties:

As specialists who participate in complex litigation, attorneys are expected to handle all phases of litigation in Superior Court, including demanding and reviewing discovery, conducting legal research and analysis, writing legal pleadings, attending court hearings, arguing motions, and conducting trials. As part of their work, attorneys communicate regularly with clients, both in the community and at the D.C. Central Detention Facility and the Correctional Treatment Facility. Attorneys work on individual and co-counseled cases and direct teams that include investigators, social workers, interns, and law clerks. Due to the nature of the work, attorneys are often required to work nights, weekends, and other non-traditional schedules. In addition to their trial cases, attorneys are assigned on a regular schedule to be the “attorney on duty” to assist persons who call or walk into the office seeking legal assistance.

Required Qualifications:

At least three years of trial attorney experience and tried at least five trials as solo or lead counsel; excellent research, writing, and oral persuasion skills; strong discretion, judgment and the ability to analyze, interpret and make decisions based on complex factors; membership in the District of Columbia Bar or eligibility to practice pursuant to either D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 49(c)(8) or 49(c)(9)(B). Bar membership and eligibility to practice in D.C. should be specifically addressed in the cover letter. Successful applicants are required to make a three-year commitment to the Trial Division.




Preferred Qualifications:

Experience clerking or working at public defender or criminal defense-adjacent offices, participation in law school clinics, or experience representing low-income clients charged with serious crimes. 



Application Evaluation:

Submissions will be reviewed, and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis. 

Compensation:

$1179,26 - $125,827 DOE. Salary determinations, which fall strictly within the advertised range using established criteria, are determined by the PDS director.

 

Who May Apply:

U.S. Citizens and those authorized to work in the United States

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit: 
• (1) a cover letter; 
• (2) a resume; 
• (3) a writing sample (no more than 10 pages); 
• (4) an unofficial law school transcript*; 
• (5) 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); and 
• (6) a response to the question “Why do you want to be a public defender?” (Please include a discussion of your background and/or any personal experience significantly contributing to your desire to do this work). All materials must be submitted online as a consolidated PDF HERE.

*Candidates will be required to submit an official law school transcript or proof of law school graduation prior to an offer of employment.  
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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.