Senior Assistant Public Defender - Chesterfield

Virginia Department of Human Resource Management

• $100K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (J.D) and admission to the Virginia State Bar or eligibility for admission by waiver
  • Extensive experience in criminal litigation
  • Deep understanding of Virginia Criminal Law and Constitutional Law
  • Experience in public defender office and criminal defense teamwork
  • Three+ years as a criminal defense attorney
  • Strong organizational and communication skills
  • Leadership and management experience for mentoring purposes

Responsibilities

  • Conduct client and witness interviews to gather evidence
  • Collaborate with staff investigators on case investigations
  • Litigate pretrial motions and trial cases in various courts
  • Identify suitable sentencing alternatives for clients
  • Model client-centered representation and collaborative culture
  • Assist Chief Public Defender in supervising and training attorneys
  • Serve as a role model in teamwork and trial advocacy

Benefits

  • Opportunity for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) based on loan type
  • Full-time, salaried position
  • Collaborative office environment
  • Professional development through mentorship opportunities
  • Potential for overseeing and training new attorneys
Full Job Description
Senior Assistant Public Defender - Chesterfield

Job no:
Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Chesterfield, Virginia
Categories: Law / Judiciary

Title: Senior Assistant Public Defender - Chesterfield

State Role Title: Legal Services Manager I

Hiring Range: $100,225.00 + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: CHESTERFIELD 326

Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Duties:
Duties include conducting client and witness interviews, working with staff investigators to investigate cases, and litigating pretrial motions. The attorney will be responsible for trying cases in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts, as well as identifying appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients. The Senior Assistant Public Defender will serve as a role model for client-centered representation and collaborative office culture. This position includes assisting the Chief Public Defender in supervising and training attorneys.

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctor (J.D) and Virginia State Bar admission or eligibility for admission by waiver, extensive criminal litigation experience, comprehensive knowledge of Virginia Criminal Law, Constitutional Law and the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel are required. Applicants must have the willingness to try cases and the desire to improve as a trial attorney. The qualified applicant will be well-organized and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Teamwork is highly valued in this office, and the qualified applicant will have demonstrated proficiency in working with others as a member of a criminal defense team to achieve successful outcomes for clients. Applicants must be able to lead, mentor, have management skills, have at least three years of experience as a criminal defense attorney, and have significant experience working in a public defender office. A valid driver's license and the means to travel to all courts and regional jails is required.

Additional Considerations

Candidates who are familiar with the Chesterfield judicial system will be considered.

Special Instructions

Applications for this position require a cover letter and resume. Failure to submit both may disqualify you from further consideration.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

While creating an account through the state system will save your basic information (please remember your username and password), applications are NOT saved for future openings. We encourage you to apply to any and all of the positions you may be considering within the IDC.

This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan.

Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry into the status of an application. Please login to the RMS system for status updates.

Contact Information

Name: Ashley Washington

Phone: 804-662-7249

Email: [email protected]

Advertised: 30 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 07 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

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