Job details

Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney

Get a free resume review

About Our Job

We are excited to welcome applications for our Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney position with the Office of the Municipal Public Defender.

Who We Are

The Office of the Municipal Public Defender has been in existence since January 1, 2015, and is overseen by the City's Chief Municipal Public Defender. The creation of this office ensures that the City and County of Denver is on the same level with other progressive municipalities providing quality in-house Public Defense services for indigent citizens in the City and County of Denver. The Municipal Public Defender's Office provides legal services to the indigent accused of Denver County who are facing the possibility of jail for traffic offenses and municipal ordinance violations.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The starting salary for this position is $84,604.00 - $112,100.00. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:

A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
457B Retirement Plan
132 hours of PTO earned within first year
11 Paid Holidays per year, plus 1 personal holiday, and 8 hours of Denver Good Deeds volunteer time
Education Refund Program (ERP) - a chance for the city to support your continued learning and career growth by investing in your future with the city
Care Bank – 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave (after the probation period is passed)
Free RTD Eco Pass
Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location

In this position you will work on site at the Office of the Municipal Public Defender located at: 710 W Colfax, Denver CO 80204. This position will be 100% onsite from 8:00AM – 5:00PM with flexible work hours as needed.

What You’ll Do

We are currently hiring for a Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney to join our growing team. Our ideal candidate must have a passion for public defense work and should exhibit empathy in dealing with clients. This role will work closely with clients from Denver’s indigent community, ranging from clients with mental health issues to substance misuse, and other behavior health issues.

We appreciate your interest and are excited for the opportunity to build a strong team of Public Defenders for the City and County of Denver.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

Representing defendants accused of municipal ordinance and traffic violations
Providing representation in all phases of litigation from arraignment, through plea negotiation, to trial and appeals
Preparing and litigating all manner of motions, including constitutional motions, evidentiary issues, and other pleadings
Performing legal research and writing appeals 
Interviewing and advising clients in the office and in detention facilities to gather information in preparation for trial 
Representing clients in problem-solving courts and advocating for clients at problem-solving team meetings
Working closely with the Client Support Team comprised of social workers and peer support specialists
Performing other duties as assigned

What You’ll Bring

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

A license to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court
A strong passion for public defense and a desire to be a litigator
Previous experience in public defense
Experience within the Denver County Court System
Bilingual or multilingual abilities
Experience working with indigent populations and populations with behavioral health issues

Required Minimum Qualifications

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

Education requirement: Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree or Bachelor of Laws Degree.
Experience Requirement: None
Education/Experience Equivalency: No substitution of experience for education is permitted.
License/Certifications: Possession of a license to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court at the time of application. Positions with the Public Defender's Office are dependent upon the rules and regulations in place at the time of application and subsequent hiring.

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

Resume - required
Cover Letter - required

Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until Friday, April 25, 2025. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than Friday, April 25th at 11:59PM.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CL2882 Deputy Public Defender Staff

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$84,604.00 - $139,597.00

Starting Pay

$84,604 - $112,100/year, based on experience

Agency

Office of Municipal Public Defender

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.

Average salary estimate

$98352 / YEARLY (est.)

min

max

$84604K

$112100K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney, Denver

The City and County of Denver is thrilled to announce an opening for the Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney position at the Office of the Municipal Public Defender! If you have a passion for representing those who need it most, this could be the opportunity for you. Established to provide quality in-house public defense services, the Municipal Public Defender’s Office is dedicated to supporting indigent clients navigating criminal charges that may lead to jail time. As a Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney, you will work directly with clients facing municipal ordinance violations and traffic offenses, demonstrating empathy and understanding as you advocate for their rights. You will be involved in everything from initial arraignments to trials, engaging in extensive legal research, and preparing motions that could significantly impact your clients' cases. This position is located in the heart of Downtown Denver at our office on Colfax Avenue, with a friendly team environment dedicated to collaboration with social workers and peer support specialists to address the diverse needs of our clients. The starting salary ranges between $84,604 and $112,100, with excellent benefits including retirement plans and generous PTO. We value diversity and are looking for compassionate, driven individuals who thrive in supportive environments. If you’re excited about the prospect of making a real difference, we invite you to apply and join us in this meaningful work!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney Role at Denver

What are the key responsibilities of a Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney at the Office of the Municipal Public Defender?

As a Deputy Public Defender Staff Attorney in Denver, your key responsibilities will include representing clients accused of municipal ordinance and traffic violations, engaging in all phases of litigation from arraignment to trial. You will be involved in preparing and litigating motions, conducting legal research, interviewing clients both in the office and in detention, as well as advocating for clients in problem-solving courts. This role demands a deep commitment to public defense and an ability to connect with a diverse array of clients.