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.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

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.

WHO WE ARE:

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 recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage.

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Defense Attorney I

Graduation from an ABA accredited school of law and must be a member of the Washington State Bar Association.
Knowledge of all criminal rules of Washington State, techniques of interviewing and preparation and defense of all variety of criminal cases, with emphasis on lower-level felonies and all misdemeanors.
Knowledge of RCW 13.34, good communication with parents, legal custodians and guardians.
Ability to perform legal research; analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence, and precedents to legal problems.
Present law, facts, evidence and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form.
Work harmoniously and maintain good public relations.

Defense Attorney II

All qualifications for Defense Attorney I, AND
Two years of practice as an attorney with criminal trial experience or its equivalent.

Defense Attorney III

All qualification for Defense Attorney I, AND
Ten years of practice as an attorney with a minimum of three years trial experience in the trial of criminal cases.

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact: Katelyn Vena at Public_Defense@co.thurston.wa.us

This position is:

Not represented by a Union
Eligible for benefits
Not eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Items required for consideration:

Application
Resume
Letter of Interest
Applicant Disclosure Form (Pursuant to RCW Section 43.43.830) (Supplemental Questions)
Proof of current membership with the Washington State Bar Association

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.

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DEFENSE ATTORNEY I, II, or III