Defense Attorney , II, or III

Thurston County Public Defense is currently recruiting for five (5) Defense Attorneys in support of the adoption of the Washington State Bar Association's Revised Standards for Indigent Defense Services. These positions are for placement in the District Court, Juvenile/Civil, and Superior Court Units
. Depending upon qualifications, the successful applicants will be placed either at a Defense Attorney I, Defense Attorney II, or Defense Attorney III level. The Defense Attorney classifications are distinguished by years of experience and the responsibility to handle both adult and juvenile felony and misdemeanor caseloads.

The salary range for these classifications are as follows. Salary placement will be dependent on qualifications.

• Defense Attorney I salary: $6,825 - $7,098 monthly
• Defense Attorney II salary: $7,453 - $10,142 monthly
• Defense Attorney III salary: $10,578 - $13,188 monthly

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage a full felony, misdemeanor, and gross misdemeanor caseload (depending on unit assignment).
• Review police reports, interview witnesses, work with the court and Prosecutor to resolve cases. Appropriately utilizes non-attorney professional services.
• Review reports from DSHS, interview appropriate parties, work with the Attorney General's office, case workers, social workers, experts, court personnel to resolve cases.
• Perform a variety of legal office work, prepare appropriate legal pleadings, perform necessary research, and maintain required statistical information.
• Prepare cases for trial, pre-trial and post-trial hearings, and/or plea bargains with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
• Assist other attorneys in matters of trial strategy, tactics, and legal research and analysis.
• Handle miscellaneous calendar duties such as arraignment calendars, initial appearance calendars, and interpreter calendars.

At Thurston County Public Defense (TCPD), we view public defense as both a calling and a career that must be sustainable for our staff. TCPD has advocated for the adoption of the Washington State Bar Association's Revised Standards for Indigent Defense Services, reducing maximum caseloads well below those used by many public defense offices nationwide. TCPD attorneys will benefit from a reduction in caseloads starting in 2026 and each ensuing year to achieve full compliance with new caseload standards.

With our State Supreme Court’s support, these changes ensure more manageable workloads, improved work-life balance, and the ability for attorneys and support staff to devote more meaningful time and attention to each client.

• Work Environment:
  Office setting in Olympia, Washington. Primarily sitting at a desk and occasional walking to other offices or courthouse.
• Schedule:
  
  Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, work schedules may vary depending on unit. Flexible schedules and partial telework may be available after a probationary period.
• Travel Requirements:
  Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings.
• Customer Interactions:
  Daily interactions via phone, in-person, and remotely with staff, clients, and public.

Thurston County Public Defense carries out the United States and Washington State Constitutional guarantee that all people accused of crimes who are unable to afford a lawyer will receive effective legal representation. Thurston County Public Defense also represents low-income youth accused of a crime, parents in dependency proceedings, and adults facing civil commitment. Our office has a dedicated team of lawyers and professional staff committed to providing our community the very best public defense.

• Our Mission: "To Defend and Protect Our Clients' Constitutional Rights, One Person at a Time."
• Our Vision: "Thurston County Public Defense will provide high quality representation for our clients, and pursue justice on their behalf, through ethical, professional, Client-Centered practices."
• Our Values:
  Professionalism, Dedication, Advocacy, Compassion, Service

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are…