Trial Attorney

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Open Date: Jul 3, 2025
Close Date: Sep 5, 2025
Job Vacancy #: PDS-2025-35
Location: 633 3rd Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

About The Job

Division Overview:

Staff attorneys in the Trial Division zealously represent adults in criminal proceedings in the District of Columbia Superior Court (Superior Court) and children in delinquency matters. Attorneys are assigned to specific levels of cases, based on experience and performance. Those case levels are juvenile, general felony, serious felony, and felony I. Most trial attorneys with less than three years of experience will spend their first year representing juvenile clients.

Position Description:

As specialists who participate in complex litigation, PDS trial attorneys are expected to handle all phases of litigation in the D.C. Superior Court, including demanding and reviewing discovery, conducting legal research and analysis, writing briefs, motions, and other legal documents, attending court conferences, arguing motions and conducting trials. As part of their work, attorneys communicate regularly with clients, both in the community and at the D.C. Jail and the Central Treatment Facility. Trial attorneys work on individual and co-counseled cases and direct teams that include investigators, interns, and law clerks. Due to the nature of the work, trial attorneys are often required to work nights, weekends, and other non-traditional schedules.
This is not a remote location position.

Required Qualifications:

J.D. or equivalent degree from an ABA-accredited law school by June 2026; excellent research, writing, and oral persuasion skills; strong discretion, judgment and the ability to analyze, interpret and make decisions based on complex factors and 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). For law graduates, bar membership or 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 interning at public defender or criminal defense-adjacent offices, participation in law school clinics, or other experience demonstrating skills that are transferable to representing low-income clients charged with crimes.

Compensation:

Starting salary range $83, 830 - $119,482

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit:1 (1) a cover letter; (2) a resume; (3) a list of three references (name, e-mail address, telephone number, and a brief statement of how each reference can evaluate your skills), (4) an unofficial law school transcript, (5) a response to the question “Why do you want to be a public defender?” (Include a discussion of your background and/or any personal experience significantly contributing to your desire to do this work, no more than three typewritten pages, single- or double-spaced). Although the application closes on September 5, 2025, submissions will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis.


For questions about the hiring process, application requirements, or assistance with applying, contact
Jennifer Thomas, Director of Legal Recruiting, (202) 480-0385, [email protected]

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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.