Assistant Federal Public Defender FTL WPB
Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Florida, Florida, New York, United States
Assistant Federal Public Defender FTL WPB
FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
ASSISTANT FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER
FORT LAUDERDALE/WEST PALM BEACH OFFICES
The Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida is accepting applications for the positions of Assistant Federal Public Defender in our Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach offices. The Federal Public Defender, a branch of the United States Courts, an Equal Opportunity Employer, operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. §3006A, to provide defense services to indigent persons in federal criminal cases and related matters in the federal courts.
Requirements:
An Assistant Federal Public Defender must: (1) be a graduate of an accredited law school and have admission and good standing in a state bar; (2) have at least two years of experience practicing law; and (3) be a member of, or eligible for immediate admission to, the bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Duties:
Assistant Federal Public Defender duties include research and writing motions and briefs, attending trial and other court hearings, direct appeals to the circuit court, post-conviction and witness representation, and representation in other matters such as supervised release and parole hearings.
Selection Criteria:
The successful applicant must have a demonstrated capacity or aptitude for excellence in trial and appellate practice, a commitment to the representation of indigent accused persons, and sufficient experience to immediately undertake the defense of serious criminal cases in the United States courts. This position also requires excellent courtroom skills, strong writing abilities, excellent research and time management skills, proficiency in computer‑assisted legal research, and word‑processing capability.
The selected candidate will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment and could be subject to an additional government security clearance on some cases.
Salary and Benefits:
This is a full‑time “at‑will” position, and salary is commensurate with Assistant United States Attorneys for the Southern District of Florida. This position offers federal employment benefits, including health and life insurance, dependent and long‑term insurance programs, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits program, mandatory participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit).
How to Apply: No telephone calls please.
Qualified persons may apply by submitting (in PDF format as ONE attachment) a letter of interest outlining experience, background in criminal law, and interest in the field of criminal defense; resume; three references with contact information; and a representative writing sample to: Raisa_Gonzalez@fd.org.
Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Hiring for this position is subject to the availability of funds in the final appropriation. Open until
March 6, 2026.
All responses will remain confidential.
The Federal Public Defender is an Equal‑Opportunity Employer. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
ASSISTANT FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER
FORT LAUDERDALE/WEST PALM BEACH OFFICES
The Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida is accepting applications for the positions of Assistant Federal Public Defender in our Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach offices. The Federal Public Defender, a branch of the United States Courts, an Equal Opportunity Employer, operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. §3006A, to provide defense services to indigent persons in federal criminal cases and related matters in the federal courts.
Requirements:
An Assistant Federal Public Defender must: (1) be a graduate of an accredited law school and have admission and good standing in a state bar; (2) have at least two years of experience practicing law; and (3) be a member of, or eligible for immediate admission to, the bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Duties:
Assistant Federal Public Defender duties include research and writing motions and briefs, attending trial and other court hearings, direct appeals to the circuit court, post-conviction and witness representation, and representation in other matters such as supervised release and parole hearings.
Selection Criteria:
The successful applicant must have a demonstrated capacity or aptitude for excellence in trial and appellate practice, a commitment to the representation of indigent accused persons, and sufficient experience to immediately undertake the defense of serious criminal cases in the United States courts. This position also requires excellent courtroom skills, strong writing abilities, excellent research and time management skills, proficiency in computer‑assisted legal research, and word‑processing capability.
The selected candidate will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment and could be subject to an additional government security clearance on some cases.
Salary and Benefits:
This is a full‑time “at‑will” position, and salary is commensurate with Assistant United States Attorneys for the Southern District of Florida. This position offers federal employment benefits, including health and life insurance, dependent and long‑term insurance programs, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits program, mandatory participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit).
How to Apply: No telephone calls please.
Qualified persons may apply by submitting (in PDF format as ONE attachment) a letter of interest outlining experience, background in criminal law, and interest in the field of criminal defense; resume; three references with contact information; and a representative writing sample to: Raisa_Gonzalez@fd.org.
Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Hiring for this position is subject to the availability of funds in the final appropriation. Open until
March 6, 2026.
All responses will remain confidential.
The Federal Public Defender is an Equal‑Opportunity Employer. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.
#J-18808-Ljbffr