Disability Attorney Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Introduction

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) is seeking a visionary,\r\nmission-driven litigator to serve as an Attorney Trainer within our statewide\r\nTraining Division.\r\n\r\n\r\nAt MOPD, we provide zealous, client-centered, and\r\nconstitutionally mandated representation to indigent individuals across\r\nMaryland. The Attorney Trainer is instrumental in cultivating our advocacy\r\nforce. This position designs and delivers high-performance trial advocacy curriculums, provides intensive individualized\r\nlitigation coaching, and occasionally co-counsels complex cases in the\r\ncourtroom.\r\n\r\nThe Maryland Office of the Public Defender is a statewide agency that\r\nprovides superior representation to indigent clients at all stages of the\r\ncriminal case, including trial, appeal, and eligible post-conviction\r\nproceedings. Representation is provided through offices and services at 52\r\nlocations statewide with a workforce of approximately 1000 employees.\r\n\r\n\r\nAt MOPD,\r\nwe use our legal education and expertise to fight for justice and fairness. As\r\ntenacious advocates, we refuse to remain silent amid human suffering. Our unique\r\ntalents, identities, educational backgrounds, and perspectives guide us in providing\r\nsuperior representation to our clients. We stand firm against prejudice, systemic\r\nracism, and inequity in all communities and spaces. OPD promotes diversity, equity,\r\nand inclusion in all aspects of its work and welcomes candidates with lived experience\r\nin the criminal legal system.\r\n

GRADE

ASTD22\r\n

LOCATION OF POSITION

Anne Arundel County (Training\r\nDivision Headquarters, with frequent statewide travel)\r\n

Main Purpose of Job

\r\n\r\nOVERVIEW OF THE POSITION\r\n\r\nThe Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) is seeking an\r\nexceptional, forward-thinking litigator and educator to join our statewide\r\nTraining Division as an Attorney Trainer.\r\n\r\n\r\nAt MOPD, we believe that every client-regardless of their background or\r\nfinancial resources-deserves elite, zealous, and client-centered advocacy. As\r\nan Attorney Trainer, you will not just teach the law; you will cultivate the\r\nskills, passion, and strategic thinking of our state's public defenders. This\r\nrole is a unique hybrid of strategic curriculum design, performance-based\r\ncourtroom coaching, and direct litigation mentorship.\r\n\r\nOperating from our Training Division headquarters with statewide reach,\r\nyou will directly shape the legal minds defending our communities. You will\r\nbuild and lead high-impact training programs that take new attorneys from their\r\nfirst day of orientation to complex felony trials, using modern adult-learning\r\nmodels and dynamic trial advocacy techniques. If you are a seasoned trial\r\nlawyer with a passion for mentorship, a deep commitment to systemic equity, and\r\nthe desire to empower the next generation of public defenders, this is your\r\nopportunity to make a systemic impact on justice in Maryland.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES\r\n\r\nKey responsibilities are divided into the following key programmatic\r\nareas:\r\n\r\n Curriculum Design & Instruction: Develop and facilitate MOPD's\r\nfoundational and continuing legal education (CLE) programs, including the\r\nintensive New Attorney Orientation and core programmatic partnerships like\r\nGideon's Promise. Design interactive workshops on all stages of litigation:\r\nvoir dire, opening statements, cross-examinations, and sentencing advocacy.\r\n\r\n Individualized & Coaching; Mentorship: Conduct one-on-one video\r\nreviews of attorney mock performances and courtroom trials. Review and provide\r\nstructured developmental feedback on written advocacy (motions to suppress,\r\nsentencing memoranda). Co-counsel complex trials with junior attorneys to\r\nprovide live, structured courtroom mentorship.\r\n\r\n Evaluation & Quality Assurance: Conduct statewide litigation\r\nneeds assessments across MOPD's 12 operational districts. Design and track\r\nmetrics to evaluate the long-term classroom retention of trial skills.\r\n\r\n\r\n Strategic Collaboration & Resource Creation: Partner with\r\nDistrict Public Defenders and specialized divisions (e.g., Forensics, Mental\r\nHealth) to incorporate advanced sciences into general trial defense. Maintain\r\nand update the division's digital trial notebooks, manuals, and templates.\r\n\r\n Administration: Track attendance, manage certification credits, and\r\ncomplete standard agency data reporting.\r\n\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS\r\n\r\nEducation: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.\r\n\r\nExperience:\r\nFive (5) years of active criminal defense litigation experience, including\r\nextensive experience handling felony trials and complex litigation.\r\n\r\nLicensure Requirement:\r\n\r\n Admission to the Bar of\r\nthe Supreme Court of Maryland (or admission to the Barof another state with immediate eligibility for admission under Maryland\r\nOut-of-State Attorney rules).\r\n All licenses must be maintained in active, good standing.\r\n\r\nDESIRED/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS\r\n\r\n Prior experience as a clinical law professor, trial\r\nadvocacy instructor, orsystematic peer mentor/coach.\r\n Familiarity with the national standards of public defense\r\npractice and client-centered advocacy.\r\n Demonstrated experience using modern adult learning\r\nmodels (such asperformance-based advocacy training).\r\n\r\nKNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs)\r\n\r\n Expert Knowledge: Advanced understanding of Maryland criminal law,\r\nrules ofevidence, and constitutional procedure (4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments).\r\n Advanced Litigation Skills: Mastery of courtroom presentation, trial\r\nstrategy,legal writing, and persuasive storytelling.\r\n Instructional Skill: Strong ability to deliver\r\nconstructive, developmental feedback to professional peers and present complex\r\nmaterial to diverseaudiences.\r\n Digital Proficiency: Competency with virtual learning environments\r\n(GoogleMeet, Zoom, MS Teams, LMS platforms) and media presentation\r\nsoftware.\r\n Mission Alignment: A deep and active commitment to systemic equity,\r\nracialjustice, and MOPD's mission of client-centered\r\nrepresentation.\r\n\r\n\r\nSELECTION PROCESS\r\n\r\n\r\nApplicants who meet the minimum and selective qualifications will be evaluated basedon their education, training, and experience relative to the requirements of the position.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe evaluation process may include:\r\n1. A structured interview panel.\r\n2. A brief teaching/instructional demonstration (conducted virtually or in-person).\r\n3. A review of a submitted writing sample (such as a pretrial motion to suppress ortrial brief).\r\n\r\n\r\nTherefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on yourapplication. Please report all related experience, education, and dates of work.\r\n

BENEFITS

SALARY AND BENEFITS:\r\n\r\nSalary is dependent on experience and salary rules will apply to State of\r\nMaryland employees.\r\nThis would be a lateral transfer for any internal candidates applying.\r\n\r\nAssistantPublic Defender III - starting\r\nat $109,794 (Grade 22, Step 10)\r\n\r\nPlease visit the State of Maryland Employee's page to review benefit\r\ninformation.\r\n

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

How to Apply\r\n\r\nTo be considered for this position, applicants must submit an online\r\napplication through the State of Maryland job portal. Please ensure you upload\r\nthe following documents in one single PDF file:\r\n\r\n1. A current professional resume.\r\n2. A compelling cover letter detailing your alignment with MOPD's mission\r\nand your approach to employee training.\r\n3. A writing sample such as a pretrial motion to suppress or trial brief.\r\n\r\nAs a State agency, the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) is\r\nan affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. MOPD is committed to the\r\nfull inclusion of all qualified\r\nindividuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental\r\ndisability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national\r\norigin, veteran status, or genetic information.\r\n\r\nAll applicants must be able to communicate with clients and visitors and\r\npossess the ability to complete tasks in a fast-paced work environment.\r\nApplicants must be able to work in various positions and travel to various\r\ncourtrooms and office environments throughout the state. MOPD is further\r\ncommitted to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for\r\nindividuals with disabilities in\r\nemployment, its services, programs, and activities by modifying or\r\nadjusting the job application process or the job or work environment to make\r\nreasonable accommodations to the known applicant or employee to enable the\r\napplicant or employee be considered for the position they desire; to perform\r\nthe essential\r\nfunctions of the position in question; or to enjoy equal benefits and\r\nprivileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees\r\nwithout disabilities, unless the accommodation imposes an undue hardship.\r\n\r\n\r\nApplicants must be able to operate a computer and other office equipment.\r\nApplicants must have access to a motor vehicle or be able to navigate to our 52\r\noffices statewide. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Tawanda\r\nJackson, Human Resources Supervisor, at 410-767-8503 or\r\ntawandal.jackson@maryland.gov.\r\n