Public Defender (1-5, Senior), Depending on Qualifications

Public Defender (1-5, Senior), Depending on Qualifications

Salary

$101,129.60 - $166,732.80 Annually

Location

Grant County Courthouse, WA

Job Type Full Time Regular

Job Number HR -01293

Department PUBLIC DEFENSE

Division PD ATTORNEY UNIT

Opening Date 10/20/2026

FLSA Exempt

Bargaining Unit NA

Description

Benefits

• Position Summary

• The salary for this position is predicated on each candidate's individual qualifications & experience level

• The hourly rate for candidates hired as a regular full-time Rule-9 employee is $43.76 / hour.

• The Department of Public Defense provides defense to indigent persons in Grant County Superior Court, District Court and the Juvenile Division of Superior Court.

• A Public Defense Attorney will independently handle a caseload and provide effective assistance to those entitled to counsel at public expense in Grant County. The attorney will comply with performance guidelines and the WSBA Standards of Public Defense.

• Essential job skills include but are not limited to: full management of a caseload, preparing for hearings (pretrial, motions, trial and post-trial hearings, show cause, reviews, etc), the ability to plea bargain in the client's interest, significant reading and analyzing discovery, interviewing witnesses, working with the court and colleagues and non-attorney staff and investigators, etc.

• Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• It is desired that each candidate have deep commitment to the rights of individuals charged with a crime or whose liberty is at stake. The candidate should also have a desire to protect the Constitution and the rights of the community through defending each individual assigned.

• Experience working as a team member, computer literacy, communication skills, the ability to receive assignments and follow through with assignments and other characteristics of quality trial counsel are desired.

• A Public Defense Attorney will independently handle a caseload and provide effective assistance to those entitled to counsel at public expense in Grant County.

• The attorney will comply with performance guidelines and the WSBA Standards of Public Defense.

• Essential job skills include, but are not limited to full management of a caseload, preparing for hearings (pretrial, motions, trial and post-trial hearing, show cause, reviews, etc.), the ability to plea bargain in the client's interest, significant reading and analyzing discovery, interviewing witnesses, working with the court, colleagues, and non-attorney staff and investigators, etc.

• It is desired that each candidate has a deep commitment to the rights of individuals charged with a crime or whose liberty is at stake. The candidate should also have a desire to protect the Constitution and the rights of the community through defending each individual assigned.

• Experience working as a team member, computer literacy, communication skills, the ability to receive assignments and follow through with assignments and other characteristics of quality trial counsel are desired.

• Other

• This position is not represented by a labor union.

• Education, Experience, and Licensing

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Any combination of education and experience may be substituted as long as it provides the desired skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required:

• Admitted member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.

DRUG SCREENING REQUIREMENTS:

• This position is subject to drug and alcohol testing in accordance with applicable federal and Washington State law, including RCW 49.44.240. Pre-employment testing (where used) will not consider results based solely on non-psychoactive cannabis metabolites or lawful off-duty cannabis use, but employees may be tested for impairment and for other controlled substances where permitted or required by law (including for safety-sensitive duties, post-accident, or reasonable suspicion situations).

Preferred:

• Trial experience is a plus. Will consider all experience levels.

• Demonstrated ability to handle a high-volume of cases.

• Physical Abilities and Working Conditions

• The job is primarily a typical law office position that requires office time, attending court both on the courthouse campus and includes at least some travel to satellite courts, crime scenes, interviews and training.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, write, hear and speak. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision, peripheral, and depth perception. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform this job.

• Annual Leave

• Sick Leave

• 12 Paid Holidays

• Grant County Health Insurance

• Washington Dental Service Dental Insurance Coverage

• Flexible Spending Account

• Life and AD&D Insurance

• PERS or LEOFF Retirement

• Supplemental Retirement/Deferred Compensation

• Supplemental Life & AD&D, LTD Insurance

• Employer

• Grant County

• Address

• 35 C. St. NW

• PO Box 37

• Ephrata, Washington, 98823

• Website

• http://www.grantcountywa.gov