Employment and Contracting Opportunities

Employment Opportunities

Supervising Attorney - Appellate & Post-Conviction Unit

The Washington State Office of Public Defense seeks an experienced attorney to provide direction and leadership to the OPD Appellate Program. This will include active management of current services with an eye towards future improvements and program expansion to improve the quality of representation. Success in this position requires being both a “big thinker” who can strategically identify and plan for long-term goals, as well as a being a collaborative team member to tackle the tasks at hand. For more information and to apply please see the listing on careers.wa.gov. 

Staff Attorney - Disproportionality Unit

The Washington State Office of Public Defense seeks an experienced attorney to develop legal trainings, strategies, and policies for challenging racial and economic disproportionality. The attorney should understand how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals and families that become involved in the legal system. For more information and to apply please see the listing on careers.wa.gov. 

Contract Opportunities

Forensic Civil Commitment Program Seeking Attorney Contractor for Involuntary Treatment Act Proceedings

OPD seeks a conflict attorney to provide representation for Involuntary Treatment Act proceedings. A contacted conflict attorney is expected to represent clients in cases brought by the State of Washington who are involuntarily committed up to 90 to 180 days. This position is considered part time. It is anticipated that a conflict attorney will be assigned anywhere from 1-2 cases per month. For more information and instructions on how to apply please see the listing on careers.wa.gov. 

Parents Representation Program Seeking Contract Attorneys

The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) provides state funded attorney representation and case support to indigent parents, custodians and legal guardians involved in child dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings. The following counties are seeking contracts:

Simple Possession Advocacy and Representation (SPAR) Program Seeking Social Services Contractors

OPD seeks to fill contract social service worker positions in King and Pierce Counties to work at the direction of public defense attorneys to provide advocacy, mitigation, referral services, crisis intervention and complex case management to assigned clients. To learn more please see the listing on careers.wa.gov.

Parents Representation Program - Application Pool Announcement

The Washington State Office of Public Defense Parent Representation Program is starting an application pool for full and part-time attorney contract for future openings in all Washington State counties. View application procedures. 

Re-entry Initiative for Support and Empowerment (RISE) Grant Program RFQ

The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) will contract with one or more Washington State nonprofit Re-entry Services Agencies (Agency) that has extensive experience in providing peer-led reentry services such as peer coaching, basic needs, housing resources, behavioral health treatment, family support, civic engagement, and voting education in Eastern Washington State for soon-to-be released incarcerated individuals and individuals released from incarceration within three years. Estimated compensation will be up to $300,000.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Bidder required to provide services in all of the eastern Washington State counties?

No. The intent was not to duplicate services already being provided in the counties around the Puget Sound. Services must be provided in eastern Washington State, which could mean one county, some counties, most counties, and up to all counties that are east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.

For additional job and contract opportunities in public defense, visit Washington Defender Association.