Make a Difference. Become a Defender.
The Defender Association of Philadelphia is a non-profit law firm dedicated to providing exceptional, client-centered legal representation to individuals facing criminal charges in Philadelphia. Our attorneys work as part of an interdisciplinary team that includes social workers, investigators, mitigation specialists, and administrative professionals—each playing a vital role in advocating for our clients and strengthening our communities.
Our mission extends beyond the courtroom. We are committed to advocating for clients at every stage of the legal process from arrest to reentry with the goal of minimizing system involvement, reducing collateral consequences, and addressing the harms caused by prolonged contact with the criminal legal system.
Representing approximately 70% of individuals charged with crimes in Philadelphia, the Defender Association is organized into specialized practice units that provide representation from preliminary arraignments through appeals. Our model of client-centered advocacy is grounded in both zealous courtroom representation and active community engagement through initiatives such as Participatory Defense Hubs, expungement clinics, and other outreach events.
Each year, we welcome a new cohort of Assistant Defenders. Cohort members begin with an intensive month-long training program focused on litigation skills, client-centered advocacy, and courtroom practice. Our new attorneys begin practicing in preliminary hearings and then progress through rotations including misdemeanor trials, misdemeanor and felony pretrial, felony waiver trials, and jury trials. Each stage of practice is accompanied by targeted training, mentorship, and supervision to ensure attorneys are prepared for increasing responsibility. Given the depth of training and the holistic nature of our model, we ask all new attorneys to commit to a three-year term. More information about our office, trial practice units and client representation model can be found on our website.
Qualifications
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- A strong commitment to indigent defense and/or criminal litigation
- Relevant experience through law school clinical programs, internships, trial advocacy coursework, or a comparable litigation background
- Mastery of the rules of evidence, criminal and constitutional law, statutory interpretation, and professional ethics
- The ability to build trust with clients from diverse backgrounds and experiences
- Demonstrated interest in working with racially and socioeconomically oppressed individuals and communities
- Willingness to collaborate across disciplines within the Defender office
- Ability to travel to courtrooms and correctional facilities throughout Philadelphia
Compensation
- Barred Attorneys: $75,000
- Non-Barred Applicants: $55,000
Third-year law students who plan to sit for the Pennsylvania Bar Exam immediately after graduation are encouraged to apply. Applicants who are licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania are also encouraged to apply.
Union Membership & Collective Bargaining:
The Defender Association of Philadelphia staff attorneys are proudly unionized. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by the union, and the Defender Association is an NLRB Agency Shop. As a condition of employment, newly hired attorneys will be required to either join the union or pay an agency fee in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. Employment protections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement commence following an introductory 120-day probationary period.
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and law school transcripts online. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Benefits & Perks
- Comprehensive Benefits: Affordable medical care options plus employer-paid vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance.
- Generous Time Off: An initial Twenty-five (25) days of paid time off (PTO) annually, in addition to all Federal Holidays.
- Wellness Initiatives: Dedicated, separate sick leave policy alongside organizational wellness programming to support your physical and mental health.
- Family Support: Twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave.
- Retirement: Generous 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer match plus an additional 1% employer incentive payment.
- Commuter Benefits: Free SEPTA (public transit) All-Access Key Card.
- Professional Growth: Ongoing professional training and development, including institutional memberships in the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the National Association of Public Defenders. Free CLE credits and reimbursement for yearly Pennsylvania Attorney Registration fees.
- Malpractice Coverage: Fully covered malpractice insurance for all attorneys.
- Culture: Meaningful, mission-driven work within a deeply supportive team.
- Student Loan Benefits: The Defender is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
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The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Skills Required
- Strong commitment to indigent defense and/or criminal litigation
- Relevant experience through law school clinical programs, internships, trial advocacy coursework, or comparable litigation background
- Mastery of rules of evidence, criminal and constitutional law, statutory interpretation, and professional ethics
- Ability to build trust with clients from diverse backgrounds and experiences
- Demonstrated interest in working with racially and socioeconomically oppressed individuals and communities
- Willingness to collaborate across disciplines within the Defender office
- Ability to travel to courtrooms and correctional facilities throughout Philadelphia
- Commitment to a three-year term
- Plan to sit for the Pennsylvania Bar Exam immediately after graduation
- License to practice law in Pennsylvania
What We Do
The Defender Association of Philadelphia is a nonprofit public-defense organization providing client-centered legal representation to adults and juveniles in Philadelphia, including people facing criminal charges and clients in mental-health proceedings, as well as children in dependency matters. It complements courtroom advocacy with social-service connections, reentry support, community collaboration, and justice-system advocacy, aiming to protect constitutional rights and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.
