Bilingual Forensic Social Worker​/Forensic Professional Counselor AD-; GS

Bilingual Forensic Social Worker/Forensic Professional Counselor AD-11 (GS-11)

Open Date:
Feb 17, 2026

Close Date:
Mar 13, 2026

Position Type:
Permanent Full-time

Job Vacancy #: PDS-2026-09

Location:

633 3rd Street Washington, District of Columbia 20001

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member board of trustees. PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in the local criminal, delinquency, and mental health systems in the District of Columbia. PDS’s approximately 230 employees, comprised of attorneys, social workers, professional counselors, mitigation specialists, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff, collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission.

PDS’s main office is located at 633 3rd Street, NW, Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. Employment at the Public Defender Service (PDS) is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.

The Office of Rehabilitation and Development (ORD) provides the clinical component of the defense in the representation of adult and/or juvenile clients. ORD assists staff attorneys and, at times, attorneys practicing under the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) develop least restrictive, individualized sentencing and rehabilitation plans for clients, in-depth mitigation reports, case-based counseling, case coordination, and collaboration with legal and/or juvenile justice agencies and other parties working with our clients.

• Evaluate clients and devise, recommend, and implement individualized service/treatment options in the least restrictive settings as well as memoranda in aid of sentencing and in-depth mitigation reports.
• Work in concert with legal counsel on behalf of PDS clients and, at times, appointed counsel clients through the Criminal Justice Act (CJA).
• Visit clients, family, and other collateral contacts to establish personal background and history summaries.
• Visit clients at their residence, jails, hospitals, group homes/halfway houses, and other similar locations.
• Develop dispositional plans geared to the specific and individual needs of each client, evaluate and recommend treatment options and prison programs (where appropriate).
• Identify and make referrals for mental health and medical services, substance abuse treatment, education, and other services.
• Work with local social service agencies to identify programs and resources for clients and their families and keep abreast of and develop cooperative relationships with service organizations and legal agencies to assist clients with matters related to their rehabilitation and develop dispositional strategies.
• Bilingual forensic social worker/forensic professional counselor will work on cases involving monolingual Spanish and English speaking clients.

Educational

Qualifications:

Master’s degree or higher in social work, counseling, or related degree; a clinical license; three years of post‑graduate professional advanced experience as social worker/professional counselor/case manager or other comparable experience; or an advanced‑year graduate‑school internship placement at a social‑work department of a public defender office that handles major felonies. Incumbent must also be able to access DC Correctional Facilities.

Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

(KSAs)

Required:

Other Requirements:

Incumbent…