Employment Opportunities
Program Analyst
The Washington State Office of Public Defense is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Program Analyst to provide complex analytical and technical support to the Simple Possession Advocacy and Representation Team. For more information and to apply, see the listing at careers.wa.gov.
Contract Opportunities
Unified Court System Task Force Member with Lived Experience
The Washington State Office of Public Defense is recruiting a task force member with lived experience as someone who is formerly incarcerated for the new Unified Court System Task Force. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who was previously incarcerated to help evaluate how courts are functioning and make recommendations for improvement. This position will provide a crucial voice amidst many system stakeholders to provide real world perspective on how courts serve impacted communities and how they can improve services. For more information and to apply, see the listing on careers.wa.gov.
Contract Appellate Paralegals
The Appellate and Post-Conviction Unit is responsible for contracting with legal professionals to provide appellate representation to indigent individuals in matters where the right to counsel at public expense is guaranteed by constitution, statute, or court rule. OPD will contract with at least three experienced paralegals to provide specialized support to small firms and solo practitioners providing indigent appellate defense. For more information and to apply, see the listing on careers.wa.gov.
Social Service Professionals for Indigent Parents in Dependency Cases
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Parents Representation Program (PRP) currently provides state funded attorney representation and social work/social services specialist support services to indigent parents, custodians and legal guardians involved in child dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings in all 39 Washington counties. OPD is requesting applications for social worker or social services worker in the following counties:
Clallam County: Part-time 90% contract. For more information and to apply, see the listing on careers.wa.gov.
Mason County: Part-time 50% contract. For more information and to apply, see the listing on careers.wa.gov.
King County: Full-time contract. For more information and to apply, see the listing on careers.wa.gov.
Spokane County: Full-time contract. For more information and to apply, see the listing on careers.wa.gov.
Spokane County: Part-time 50% contract. For more information and to apply, see the listing on careers.wa.gov.
Contract Appellate Paralegals- Remote Opportunity
The Appellate and Post-Conviction Unit (OPD) is seeking experienced contract paralegals to support appellate defense attorneys representing indigent clients throughout Washington State. Duties include transcript coordination, court filings, brief formatting, and other appellate support tasks.
Contracts run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with pay ranging from $40–$60 per hour based on experience. Applications will be reviewed as received through June 16, 2026.
To apply, submit a resume, cover letter, and two professional references to Sean Devlin at sean.devlin@opd.wa.gov.
Read the full Contract Appellate Paralegal RFQ and application requirements [PDF]
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:
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.
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.
Forensic Civil Commitment Program - Application Pool Announcement
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Forensic Civil Commitment Program currently provides state funded attorney representation to indigent clients with the right to counsel at State expense after being found not guilty by reason of insanity under Chapter 10.77 RCW. OPD is requesting applications for social workers to support contracted attorneys and clients, statewide. We are currently soliciting applications to be included in an applicant pool for future contracts. For more information and to apply, see the listing at 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.