Paralegal

About the Colorado State Public Defender

Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) maintains a reputation as one of the top organizations in the nation specializing in the delivery of indigent criminal defense. We operate as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch of Colorado State Government with nearly 1,000 dedicated employees assigned to twenty-one Regional Trial Offices, a centralized Appellate Division, and a centralized Administrative Office.

The mission of OSPD is to defend and protect the rights, liberties and dignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. We do so by providing constitutionally and statutorily mandated representation that is effective, zealous, inspired and compassionate. We seek to hire professionals who are dedicated to furthering our mission and demonstrate compassion in their service to our clients.

We are a fast paced, team-oriented environment, where self-motivation and a personal commitment to high performance are important attributes for success.

We are recruiting to fill two Paralegal positions Colorado State Public Defender’s regional trial offices. This classification describes the first level within the series wherein employees learn and apply criminal procedures, rules and laws guiding legal practice in criminal defense; and, apply the principles and practices of a paralegal nature to support and assist with a variety of litigation needs. Positions perform duties and assume responsibility for supporting divisions, units, cases and clients under the specific direction, instruction and guidance of a defense attorney.

Public Defender paralegals serve as part of the defense team, and as such, are bound by the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct including rules regarding the attorney‑client privilege and client confidentiality.

For a full description and instructions on how to apply please visit

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA approved paralegal studies program or accredited institution.
• Two years of a combination of training and experience performing legal support functions such as organizing and preparing large legal case files for review by an attorney or presentation in court; legal research; preparing drafts of legal documents; and compiling and analyzing records and data from legal sources, may substitute for the required education. Equivalent education, training, or experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to perform at this level may substitute for the stated minimum qualifications.

Bilingual Spanish Speaker

For a full description and instructions on how to apply please visit