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Join the Oregon Public Defense Commission as a Senior Deputy Defender!

At the Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC), we are committed to ensuring constitutionally competent and effective legal representation for individuals eligible for a public defender. As a Senior Deputy Defender, you will play a vital role in providing zealous defense to clients charged with a wide range of offenses, from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including the most serious offenses. This position offers the opportunity to lead a dedicated support team, collaborate with experienced colleagues, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who need it the most.

Position: Senior Deputy Defender 

• This position is full-time and permanent.

• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified applicants to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur. 

Location: Northwest Regional Trial Division (Oregon City, OR)

Salary Range: $11,799 - $17,168

What’s in it for you:   

You will become part of an innovative and strategic group of professionals and enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package!    

• OPDC supports and encourages work-life balance and overall wellness and offers a generous benefits package including employer-paid health insurance, vacation and sick leave, eleven paid holidays, three paid personal days, flexible spending accounts, and an employer contribution retirement plan (PERS).    

• The posted salary range is the total possible monthly range for the classification. If you are already a participating PERS member, or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%. The top candidate will be screened through a Pay Equity process that evaluates various factors. Please see the Pay Equity website for more information.    

• As a state employee, you may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, helping you achieve financial freedom while making a difference.

Minimum Qualifications:   

• Graduation from an accredited law school AND membership in the Oregon State Bar

• Eight (8) years full-time experience in criminal law practice, juvenile dependency practice, or civil commitment law, or equivalent experience.

• Valid Oregon Driver’s License

What you will do:   

The Senior Deputy Defender will provide effective representation to a wide variety of clients charged with crimes in Oregon trial courts, including the most serious offenses. In each representation, Senior Deputy Defenders lead a support-staff team, which may include legal secretaries, investigators, case managers, and paralegals. With team support, the Senior Deputy Defender is responsible for managing a caseload that demands trial preparation and practice, routine appearances in several courts, regular contact with clients including those in custody for advice and counsel, investigation, strategizing, and legal research and writing. They will also work collaboratively with other attorneys in the office, including mentoring junior attorneys and serving as co-counsel on select cases.

Application Guidance

• Current State of Oregon Employees: Apply via your employee Workday account.    

• External applicants: View this application instructional video. A PDF is also available by clicking here.    

Application Requirements

• REQUIRED RESUME: Attach your most up-to-date Resume. Please ensure your Workday profile aligns with your submission.  

• REQUIRED COVER LETTER: As part of the application process, we are requesting that you submit a cover letter that clearly demonstrates how you meet the desired attributes for the Senior Deputy Defender, listed in this job announcement.

**APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE RECRUITMENT**    

Duties     

Interviewing and communication with clients

Frequent, clear, empathetic communication with clients - keeping them updated on all stages of their case, providing appropriately redacted discovery and significant filings, and rigorously safeguarding their confidential information. Additionally, the attorney must remain accessible to clients, including making regular in-person visits at jails and correctional facilities.

Arraignment and release/preventative detention hearings advocacy

This role emphasizes vertical representation, ensuring a single attorney represents each client through every stage—from arraignment to advocating for release—fostering continuity, trust, and effective case advocacy.

Preparing and arguing motions and other legal filings

Assess and identify both conventional and novel legal issues, constructing well-reasoned, analytical arguments grounded in facts, evidence, and precise legal application. Draft properly formatted and cited motions and memoranda. Persuasively advocate for the client’s position while countering the state’s claims with precise references to facts and law.

Discovery, investigation, and strategic planning

Request and review discovery and case-related records, oversee and guide investigators in interviewing witnesses, examine scenes and evidence, and prepare subpoenas. This position will also analyze and organize case materials, document all case activities, and collaborate with colleagues and the defense team on trial and case strategy.

Negotiations

Negotiating with the prosecutor to seek case dismissal or resolution through plea bargaining and preparing for and conducting formal settlement conferences to facilitate case resolution.

The Top Six Desired Attributes for this Role  

1. Strong criminal defense or litigation experience with sound judgment and ethics. 

2. Demonstrated commitment to public defense and indigent clients.  

3. Knowledge of Oregon courts and procedures or ability to quickly learn a new jurisdiction.  

4. Client-centered advocacy with clear, empathetic communication.

5. Collaborative, adaptable, and reliable under pressure. 

6. Interest in helping expand and strengthen Oregon’s public defense system (preferred).

Who we are  

The Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) is a 13-member body appointed by the Governor with input from all three branches of government. As the governing authority for Oregon’s public defense system, the Commission sets policy and provides oversight to ensure effective administration of statewide public defense services. Through this work, OPDC safeguards the constitutional right to counsel and upholds a critical element of Oregon’s justice and public safety systems.

The mission of OPDC is to continually enhance the statewide public defense system to deliver highly skilled, independent, timely, and client-focused representation to eligible persons.

The Trial Division is comprised of public defenders who provide court-appointed legal representation and advocacy at the trial level to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in the circuit courts in the State of Oregon. Trial Division staff represent clients from arraignment through sentencing, with occasional preindictment representations. Case types include murder prosecutions, serious sexual offenses, lesser and major felonies, misdemeanors, contempt filings, occasionally initial commitment proceedings, and hearings related to those matters (e.g., DMV hearings, Protective Order hearings, etc.).

The Northwest Regional Trial Division, a subdivision of the Trial Division based in Portland and Oregon City, accepts appointments in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas Counties, and occasionally in other counties in Oregon.

Recruitment Timeline   

*These dates are approximate and may change. *    

Recruitment Closes: Monday, September 29th @ 11:59P

Recruiter Screening for Minimum Qualifications: On-going    

Hiring Manager Screening for Desired Attributes: On-going    

Interview Process:

• First Round: Interview

• 2nd Round: Writing Assessment

Additional Details

• This announcement is for one full-time, permanent Senior Deputy Defender position. This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

• Please save a copy of this job announcement, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.

• If you have questions about the announcement, or need an alternate format to apply, contact Kelli Anne Rodrigues, Kelli.A.Rodrigues@opdc.state.or.us, (971)453-1736.

• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. If you checked that you are a veteran, be sure to submit your documentation prior to the close date of this posting. For more information, please go to the State website: https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/Veterans.aspx    

OPDC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and is strongly committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce. Assistance will be provided in the recruitment, application, and selection process to applicants with disabilities who request such assistance.  Please call (503) 991-2274 as early as possible regarding any assistance you may require.