Senior Assistant Public Defender - Richmond
Job no:
Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Richmond (City), Virginia
Categories: Law / Judiciary
Title: Senior Assistant Public Defender - Richmond
State Role Title: Legal Services Manager I
Hiring Range: $100,225.00 + Local Salary Supplement + State Benefits
Agency: Indigent Defense Commission
Location: RICHMOND 306
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 city of Richmond's 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. Please note that we do not offer relocation assistance; all salaries are set and cannot be negotiated above the posted range or rate.
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: awashington@vadefenders.org
Advertised: 10 Nov 2026 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 01 Dec 2026 Eastern Standard Time
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