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Federal Defender Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Defender of Wildlife

Senior Attorney

Washington, DC · On-site

$160K - $180K/yr

January 2025 POSITION SUMMARY The Senior Attorney engages in legal advocacy and develops and litigates cases under federal environmental and natural resources law to advance Defenders' conservation ...

Cyberbit

Federal Account Executive

Washington, DC · Remote

Manage prospecting and sales activities in assigned territory with a focus on new product pipeline growth in the Federal sector. * Develop close plans for targeted opportunities and drive ...

HiddenLayer

AI Solutions Architect- Federal

Washington, DC · Remote

$71.25 - $94/hr

AI Solutions Architect- Federal Location- Remote (US), DC Metro Area Preferred Clearance- Active Top Secret or TS eligible strongly preferred ABOUT THE ROLE: You will serve as the pre-sales technical ...

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All JobsFederal Defender JobsFederal Defender Jobs in Washington

Federal Defender information

See Washington salary details

$53.2K

$89K

$149.5K

How much do federal defender jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for federal defender in Washington is $89,008.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,500.00 and $97,400.00 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 Washington are hiring for Federal Defender jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Federal Defender job openings:

Federal Defender jobs near you
Infographic showing various Federal Defender job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,008 per year, or $42.8 per hour.

Supervisory Information Technology Manager

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Washington, DC • On-site, Remote

$169K - $209K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Summary
The Supervisory Information Technology Program Manager provides leadership and accountability for the Defender Services' national IT management, governance, and oversight processes in coordination with the judiciary's Chief Information Officer.
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Duties
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The Defender Service Office (DSO) ensures the right to counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, the Criminal Justice Act, and other statutory authorities is enforced on behalf of those who cannot afford to retain counsel and other defense services. DSO also provides strategic planning, policy development, operational planning and implementation, and oversight of defender services information technology.
The incumbent of this position serves as a senior expert and technical authority leading and advising on new policies and standards. This includes communication with diverse stakeholder groups and policy makers. The incumbent provides executive leadership and strategic direction.
The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
  1. Leading the development and execution of the defender services program IT strategy.

  1. Developing, recommending, and coordinating IT policies that support effective use of resources, in consultation with the agency's CIO, DSO, and IT experts within other departments.

  1. Advising the judiciary on IT standards development as the Defender Services representative.

  1. Establishing local federal defender office IT standards.

  1. Advising the DSO Chief and relevant programmatic bodies on IT matters.
  2. Providing IT support and advice to the Committee on Defender Services, as well as program reviews for DSO.
  3. Managing budget formulation and reporting activities associated with Defenders Services IT.
  4. Supervising the DSO's IT Security Officer and overseeing the operations of the National IT Operations and Applications Development Branch.
  5. Providing coaching, recruitment, and retention strategies to maintain effective IT staffing levels across National IT Operations and Applications Development and Federal Defender Offices.
  6. Coordinating with DSO's Data Management Division on data governance and requests.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
  1. All information is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false answers or omissions of information on application materials or inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
  2. Selection for this position is contingent upon completion of OF-306, Declaration of Federal Employment during the pre-employment process and proof of U.S. citizenship for competitive status positions or conversion to a competitive status position with the AO. If non-citizens are considered for hire into a temporary or any other position with non-competitive status or when it is confirmed by the AO Human Resources Office there are no qualified U.S. citizens for a competitive status position (unless prohibited by a law or statue), non-citizens must provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. and proof of entitlement to receive compensation. Additional information on the employment of non-citizens can be found at USAJOBS Help Center | Employment of non-citizens/. For a list of documents that may be used to provide proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, please refer to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
  3. All new AO employees will be required to complete an FBI fingerprint-based national criminal database and records check and pass a public trust suitability check.
  4. New employees to the AO will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights/responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  5. All new AO employees are required to identify a financial institution for direct deposit of pay before appointment.
  6. You will be required to serve a trial period if selected for a first-time appointment to the Federal government, transferring from another Federal agency, or serving as a first-time supervisor. Failure to successfully complete the trial period may result in termination of employment.
  7. If appointed to a temporary position, management may have the discretion of converting the position to permanent depending upon funding and staffing allocation.

Qualifications
Applicants must have demonstrated experience as listed below. This requirement is according to the AO Classification, Compensation, and Recruitment Systems which include interpretive guidance and reference to the OPM Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions.
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of this position. Specialized experience must demonstrate experience in ALL areas defined below:
1. Managing enterprise IT operations.
2. Supervising IT personnel and overseeing network and systems administration.
3. Implementing cybersecurity policies and leading technology projects supporting organizational objectives.
Desired not required:
At least 10 years of IT experience with at least 5 years of executive management experience.
Education
Bachelor's degree required. Graduate degree preferred.
Additional information
The AO is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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