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Federal Defender Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

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Federal Defender information

See Florida salary details

$35.1K

$58.7K

$98.6K

How much do federal defender jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for federal defender in Florida is $58,727.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47,800.00 and $64,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a federal defender?

Federal defenders are attorneys who provide legal representation to individuals charged with federal crimes who cannot afford to hire private counsel. They are part of the federal public defender system, which is designed to ensure that everyone has access to fair legal defense, regardless of their financial situation. Federal defenders handle a variety of cases, ranging from drug offenses to white-collar crimes, and work to protect the rights of the accused throughout the federal criminal justice process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a federal defender?

To thrive as a Federal Defender, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, bar admission, and a comprehensive understanding of federal criminal law and procedure. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, and experience with case management systems, are typically required. Exceptional advocacy, negotiation, and communication skills, along with empathy and resilience, help distinguish outstanding defenders. These competencies are essential for ensuring effective legal representation, protecting clients' rights, and navigating the complexities of the federal justice system.

What are some common challenges faced by federal defenders in managing their caseloads?

Federal Defenders often handle a high volume of complex cases, which can require balancing tight deadlines, thorough legal research, and frequent court appearances. Managing client communication and building trust, especially with clients facing serious charges, can be demanding. Collaboration with investigators, paralegals, and other attorneys is essential to prepare effective defenses. Staying up to date with changes in federal law and procedure is also a key part of the role, as is maintaining a commitment to ethical and diligent representation under often challenging circumstances.

What is the difference between Federal Defender vs Public Defender?

AspectFederal DefenderPublic Defender
CredentialsJuris Doctor, bar admission, specialized federal criminal law knowledgeJuris Doctor, bar admission, state-specific criminal law knowledge
Work EnvironmentFederal courts, federal criminal casesState courts, state criminal cases
EmployerFederal Public Defender ServiceCounty or state government agencies
Industry UsageFederal criminal defenseState criminal defense

The main difference between a Federal Defender and a Public Defender lies in their jurisdiction and employer. Federal Defenders work in federal courts handling federal criminal cases, while Public Defenders serve in state courts handling state criminal cases. Both roles require a Juris Doctor, bar admission, and strong criminal law knowledge, but their scope and employer differ significantly.

What cities in Florida are hiring for Federal Defender jobs?

Cities in Florida with the most Federal Defender job openings:

Federal Defender jobs near you
Infographic showing various Federal Defender job openings in Florida as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,727 per year, or $28.2 per hour.

Systems Engineer M365

Educational Federal Credit Union

Miami, FL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

  • Administer Microsoft 365 (Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive) including user lifecycle, licensing, permissions, mail flow, and governance.
  • Manage email security platforms (Proofpoint, Microsoft Defender), authentication standards (DMARC/DKIM/SPF), and DLP/anti phishing controls.
  • Monitor service health, manage incidents, coordinate escalations, and execute migrations, feature rollouts, and tenant configuration changes.
  • Support Microsoft 365 Copilot enablement including licensing, policy configuration, data governance, and adoption.
  • Administer Microsoft Entra ID including conditional access, SSO integrations, app registrations, authentication methods, and hybrid identity (Azure AD Connect/Cloud Sync).
  • Maintain and harden on premises Active Directory including replication, Sites & Services, OU delegation, and security benchmarks.
  • Manage Intune for MDM/MAM, Autopilot, configuration/compliance profiles, and Defender for Endpoint.
  • Implement MFA, passwordless authentication, PIM, and enforce endpoint security baselines across all device platforms.
  • Administer Microsoft Defender XDR components and Microsoft Purview (DLP, sensitivity labels, retention, information barriers).
  • Collaborate with IT Security on Sentinel alerting, automation, and tuning.
  • Support regulatory compliance (NCUA, FFIEC, GLBA) through configuration, evidence collection, access reviews, and audit preparation.
  • Perform security patching, vulnerability scanning support, incident response participation, and documentation for audits.
  • Administer Windows Server environments (AD, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, file/print services).
  • Manage Hyper V virtualization, server provisioning, patching, hardening, and lifecycle management.
  • Maintain SAN/NAS storage, enterprise backups, and disaster recovery testing.
  • Support Azure networking, VPN connectivity, VLAN verification, and firewall rule coordination.
  • Administer RingCentral UCaaS including provisioning, call routing, IVR, and device support.
  • Troubleshoot voice quality and connectivity issues across sites.
  • Assist with basic network troubleshooting and hybrid connectivity components.
  • Develop automation using PowerShell, Graph API/SDK, and Power Automate; maintain scripts in version control.
  • Support change management, user adoption, and evaluation of new Microsoft features and security best practices.
  • Serve as Tier 2/3 escalation for infrastructure issues and maintain accurate ticketing and documentation.
  • Monitor systems and networks to proactively address alerts and performance issues.
  • Use AI powered tools to enhance productivity and operational efficiency.
  • Participate in maintenance windows, on call rotation, vendor collaboration, and cross training within the IT Infrastructure team.
  • Maintain runbooks, configuration guides, and knowledge base documentation.
  • Complete or participate in additional duties or projects as assigned by management

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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