Employment Opportunities
Parents Representation Managing Attorney
The Washington State Office of Public Defense Parents Representation Program (PRP) is seeking a full-time Managing Attorney to work as part of a motivated, diverse team of two supervising attorneys, five managing attorneys, one training coordinator, two social service managers, one parent voice advocacy manager, and five support staff, to promote anti-racist practices, quality oversight, and continual improvement of the PRP. For more information and to apply, see the listing at careers.wa.gov.
Forensic Civil Commitment Program Analyst
The Washington State Office of Public Defense is seeking a full-time Program Analyst for the Forensic Civil Commitment Program. For more information and to apply, see the listing at careers.wa.gov.
Contract Opportunities
Prefiling Representation Program
Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the Washington State Office of Public Defense will contract with Washington State solo practitioners or firms that will provide prefiling legal representation to pregnant parents and parents of newborns at risk of removal by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. For more information and to apply, see the listing at careers.wa.gov.
Social Worker Contract for Forensic Commitment Program
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Forensic Civil Commitment Program currently provides attorney representation to indigent clients with the right to counsel at State expense against whom sexually violent predator petitions have been filed under Chapter 71.09 RCW. OPD is requesting applications for social workers to support contracted attorneys and clients, statewide. For more infomration and to apply, see the listing at careers.wa.gov.
Blake Attorney Representation - Statewide
The Washington State Office of Public Defense will enter into a contract or contracts with solo practice attorneys and/or multi-attorney organizations who will provide legal services to individuals who may be eligible for Blake resentencing in ANY superior court located in Washington State with highest priority for cases from Clallam County, Clark County, Cowlitz County, Grays Harbor County, Jefferson County, Kitsap County, Mason County, Pacific County, and, Skamania County, Thurston County, and Wahkiakum County. For more information and to apply, see the listing at careers.wa.gov.
Attorney Representation for Indigent Parents in Dependency and Termination Cases
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Parents Representation Program (PRP) currently provides state funded attorney representation and case support services to indigent parents, custodians and legal guardians involved in child dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings in all Washington counties. There are currently contracts available for the 2027 fiscal year for the following counties:
Adams/Lincoln Counties: Part-time contract available. Position is open until filled.
Island County: Up to a .25 FTE contract available. Position is open until filled.
King County: Up to 2.0 FTEs, which may be part-time or full-time contracts (up to 45 clients and no more than 60 open and active dependency and termination cases) available in King County. Position is open until filled.
Lewis County: Part-time contract available. Position is open until filled.
Pierce County: Up to a full-time contract (up to 45 clients and no more than 60 open and active dependency and termination cases). Position is open until filled.
Skagit: Part to full-time contract available. Position is open until filled.
Snohomish County: Up to a half-time contract available. Position open until filled.
Spokane County: Up to 3.75 contracts available, which may be part-time or full time (up to 45 clients and no more than 60 open and active dependency and termination cases) available in Spokane County. Position is open until filled.
Stevens, Ferry, Pend Oreille: Part time contract available. Position open until filled.
Thurston: Part-time contract available. Position is open until filled.
For more information and to apply, see the listing on careers.wa.gov.
Simple Possession Advocacy & Representation (SPAR) Program Social Service Worker Contracts
The SPAR Program seeks social service worker contractors to work at the direction of public defense attorneys to provide advocacy, mitigation, referral services, crisis intervention, and complex case management to assigned clients. The social service worker will develop individualized case management plans in collaboration with clients to meet various needs such as housing, mental health and substance use treatment, state and federal benefits, and court navigation. To learn more about this opportunity and apply, 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.
For additional job and contract opportunities in public defense, visit Washington Defender Association.