Federal Public Defender Seeks Assistant for West Palm Beach Office to Defend Indigent Clients

The Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida is accepting applications for an Assistant Federal Public Defender position. This role primarily serves the West Palm Beach office, offering a significant opportunity for legal professionals in the area.

This position involves providing legal representation to indigent defendants in federal criminal cases. While based in West Palm Beach, the role may also require representing clients in the Ft. Pierce division of the United States District Court. This ensures that federal legal defense services are accessible across the Southern District of Florida.

An Assistant Federal Public Defender's duties are comprehensive. They include researching and writing motions and briefs, attending trials and other court hearings, handling direct appeals to the circuit court, and representing clients in post-conviction and witness matters. The role also covers representation in other areas such as supervised release and parole hearings. Candidates must be able to travel to and from the Fort Pierce location as needed.

To qualify, applicants must be graduates of an accredited law school and hold admission and good standing in a state bar. They need at least two years of experience practicing law and must either be a member of, or eligible for immediate admission to, the bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. United States citizenship is also a requirement.

The selection process prioritizes candidates with a demonstrated capacity for excellence in trial and appellate practice, a commitment to representing indigent accused persons, and sufficient experience to immediately handle serious criminal cases in federal courts. Strong courtroom skills, writing abilities, research, and time management are essential, along with proficiency in computer-assisted legal research and word processing. The selected candidate will undergo a background check and may be subject to additional government security clearance for certain cases.

This is a full-time, "at-will" position with a salary commensurate with Assistant United States Attorneys for the Southern District of Florida. It includes federal employment benefits such as health and life insurance, dependent and long-term insurance programs, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, mandatory participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan. Salary payments occur via Electronic Funds Transfer.

Interested qualified persons should submit a letter of interest outlining their experience, background in criminal law, and interest in criminal defense. They must also provide a resume, three references with contact information, and a representative writing sample. All documents should be in PDF format as one attachment and sent to [email protected]. Only applicants selected for an interview will receive contact. Hiring depends on the availability of funds in the final appropriation, and the application period remains open until the position is filled. All responses will remain confidential. The Federal Public Defender is an Equal-Opportunity Employer, encouraging all applicants regardless of background to apply.