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Public Defender In Jobs in Pennsylvania (NOW HIRING)

Receptionist

West Chester, PA · On-site

$18.05/hr

Public Defender Division: Public Defender Opening Date: 06/23/2026 Closing Date: Continuous Weekly ... The ability to remain calm in this position is critical, as there is often exposure to angry ...

Receptionist

West Chester, PA · On-site

$18.05/hr

Public Defender Division: Public Defender Opening Date: 06/23/2026 Closing Date: Continuous Weekly ... The ability to remain calm in this position is critical, as there is often exposure to angry ...

... Public Defender's Office is unable to represent the defendant due to a conflict of interest and indigent parents of children involved in juvenile dependency cases when the full-time Special ...

... Public Defender's Office is unable to represent the defendant due to a conflict of interest and indigent parents of children involved in juvenile dependency cases when the full-time Special ...

Bilingual Treatment Court Case Manager

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

$20.50 - $26/hr

Must be fluent in Spanish and English Reports To: Adult Treatment Court Case Management Supervisor ... and Assistant Public Defender. Inform all parties of their participants' treatment progress ...

Showing results 41-60

Public Defender In information

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

To thrive as a Public Defender, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, state bar admission, and a strong foundation in criminal law and trial advocacy. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, as well as case management systems, is typically required. Outstanding communication, negotiation, and empathy are crucial soft skills for effectively representing clients and managing high caseloads. These skills and qualifications are vital to ensure that clients receive competent legal representation and equal access to justice.

What is a public defender?

Public defenders are attorneys appointed by the court to represent individuals who cannot afford to hire a private lawyer in criminal cases. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that every person receives a fair trial and that their legal rights are protected throughout the judicial process. Public defenders handle a variety of cases, including misdemeanors and felonies, and often work with large caseloads. They play a critical role in upholding the right to legal counsel guaranteed by the Constitution.

What are some common challenges faced by public defenders in Indiana, and how can new hires best prepare for them?

Public Defenders in Indiana often manage high caseloads and must advocate for clients with limited resources, which can be both demanding and rewarding. New hires may encounter time management challenges and the need to quickly learn courtroom procedures and negotiation tactics. Building strong organizational skills, seeking mentorship from experienced colleagues, and staying up-to-date on legal developments are essential for success. Collaboration with investigators, social workers, and other attorneys is also a key part of the role, helping to ensure clients receive the best possible defense.

What is the difference between Public Defender In vs Public Defender Investigator?

AspectPublic Defender InPublic Defender Investigator
CredentialsLaw degree, bar admissionHigh school diploma or equivalent, law enforcement or investigative experience
Work EnvironmentCourts, law offices, legal settingsFieldwork, interviews, case investigation
Employer & IndustryPublic defender offices, government agenciesPublic defender offices, law enforcement collaborations
Primary RoleLegal defense for clientsGathering evidence, interviewing witnesses

Public Defender In and Public Defender Investigator roles both serve the criminal justice system but focus on different aspects. Public Defender In provides legal defense, requiring law degrees and bar admission, while Public Defender Investigators support cases through investigation and evidence collection. Both roles are essential in public defender offices and often work closely together to ensure clients receive comprehensive legal support.

What are popular job titles related to Public Defender In jobs in Pennsylvania? For Public Defender In jobs in Pennsylvania, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Public Defender In jobs in Pennsylvania look for? The top searched job categories for Public Defender In jobs in Pennsylvania are:
What cities in Pennsylvania are hiring for Public Defender In jobs? Cities in Pennsylvania with the most Public Defender In job openings:
Infographic showing various Public Defender In job openings in Pennsylvania as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Case Management Chief I

Montgomery County, PA

Norristown, PA • On-site

$78K - $104K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

Salary: $78,508.00 - $104,682.00 Annually
Location : Norristown, PA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-313
Department: Public Defender
Opening Date: 05/11/2026
SUMMARY
The Case Management Chief is responsible for overseeing a team of assistant public defenders assigned to a specific individual unit or judge. As liaison with the judge, and assistant to the unit chief, this individual is responsible for managing cases which may include: case assignments, preliminary hearings, detention hearings, pretrial motions, probation/parole violation hearings, trials, permanency, adjudicatory, dispositional or emergency hearings and other types of criminal, delinquent or dependency matters. This individual drafts initial requests for pretrial motions, investigations, and social service referrals to represent the client, if applicable, and monitors attorney performance and provides training, counseling and mentoring as needed as an assistant to the Unit Chief. The Case Management Chief is also expected to handle the most serious, complicated or high-profile cases or client matters assigned to the court or unit.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
ADULT TRIAL UNIT and JUVENILE DELINQUENCY UNIT:
• Take inventory of new cases, assigning cases to most qualified attorney in the team for most effective representation.
• Drafts initial pretrial motions, and requests initial investigation, social service referrals, reviews caseloads and productivity of caseloads with individual attorneys, and acts as liaison with individually assigned court judge for entire team during day-to-day operations of that court.
• Review case files, interview clients and other pertinent witnesses.
• Make in-depth referrals to the investigations and social services units.
• Provide supervision and support to the assistant public defenders assigned to their team and will participate in annual evaluations as required.
• Perform additional duties as specified by the Chief Public Defender.
CHILD ADVOCACY/DEPENDENCY UNIT:
• The Case Management Chief is responsible for managing the Orphan's Court schedule which runs parallel to the Juvenile Court schedule and, providing the rest of the team with updates on appellate case law, and working collaboratively with the District Attorney's Office in Child Abuse Prosecutions and with the Solicitors office in Child Abuse Hearings and Termination of Parental Rights Trials.
• The Case Management Chief is responsible for vertical representation of clients in Termination of Parental Rights matters in the Orphan's Court, complex child abuse cases, and complex dependency matters and representation of multiple clients that are victims of child abuse and/or neglect and possibly subject to Termination of Parental Rights proceedings.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education and Credentials
Juris doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.
• Active bar license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Experience and Skills
• Minimum of five years relevant legal experience preferred.
• Must have relevant trial experience, having tried multiple cases to verdict.
• Must be knowledgeable of the applicable law and the justice and/or family court system.
• Must have excellent communication (oral and written) skills.
• Must be able to do legal research and writing.
• Prior supervisory and management experience is highly preferred, but not required.
• Must be familiar with Microsoft Office 365 and/or general data entry.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred, but not required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
• Office and Court environment with frequent trips to jails, detention centers, State Correctional Institutions, placements, and treatment facilities
• Prolonged sitting, standing, walking in an office and court environment.
• Significant and repeated use of a keyboard.
• Ability to travel to other in and out of County locations to meet with clients, observe evidence, or complete tasks related to client representation.
An Employee who can show proof of general professional proficiency via a certification in the Spanish language will be utilized when needed and will be given a salary increase of 5%.