OPD launched the Recruitment and Retention Program in the second half of 2024 to address the ongoing shortage of public defenders in Washington, which has been felt particularly acutely in rural and underserved parts of the state. As a result of the passage of HB 5780, OPD has been tasked with focusing on retaining existing public defenders and creating new pathways for young people to gain exposure to the exciting careers that exist within public defense.
Starting in the summer of 2025, OPD will launch the Rural Public Defense Fellowship (RPDF). The RPDF will place qualified law students, recent graduates and law clerks into Rule 9 internships located in rural and underserved jurisdictions throughout the state. Fellows will gain real world experience under the mentorship of an experienced public defense attorney--including actively representing clients and litigating cases--with the purpose of encouraging the fellows to consider employment opportunities in public defense. Fellows and their supervising attorneys will work in collaboration to ensure that the promises of the Constitution are upheld for their clients. Finally, fellows will participate in a weekly training program that will include orientation, formal skills-based trainings, and defender wellness workshops.
Alongside this work, the Recruitment and Retention Team will work to make the field of public defense a more sustainable career path for Washington defenders. Our team will provide trainings and workshops to defenders, work with local defender offices to design policies that prioritize employee well-being and advocate for changes so that defenders can sustain their work in public defense. The team will conduct outreach to communities and students to provide information about the amazing opportunities available through careers in public defense—both for attorneys and other public defense professionals and will work to open pathways to practice for more interested people around the state.