Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities with the Office of the Public Defender. The advantages of working in the Office of the Public Defender include:

• » The opportunity to work and learn under the guidance of well-respected, experienced criminal practitioners
• » Extensive training programs and experience
• » Immediate and comprehensive courtroom/trial experience
• » Professional independence
• » Variety of experiences
• » Comfortable office environment in close proximity to the courts
• » The support of law clerks, investigators, paralegals, mitigation specialists, and pretrial interviewers
• » Access to computerized research and motion/brief bank

• » Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program for Attorneys
• » State Bar dues paid for attorneys
• » Continuing Legal Education (CLE) opportunities
• » 10 paid holidays per year
• » 120.9 hours of paid Personal Leave annually (with increases based on length of service*)
• » 40.3 hours of paid Family/Medical Leave annually (with increases based on length of service*)
• » Health insurance
• » Basic life and AD&D insurance of 1x annual salary
• » Retirement program with contributions matched by the employer
• » Discount dental plan and vision insurance coverage
• » Deferred Compensation Program
• » Employee Assistance Program
• » Payroll savings plans
• » Automatic payroll deposits
• » Short/long-term disability programs
• » Credit Union Privileges
• » Mariflex reimbursement plans for medical and child care expenses
• » 100% subsidized city bus fares

Prospective employees may monitor the Maricopa County Employment webpage for job announcements. Applications are accepted only for active recruitments. Required application forms and supplemental information may be obtained online using the County’s eRecruit tool by visiting http://www.maricopa.gov/human_resources/jobs_index.asp. Help and public use computers are also available during normal business hours at:

Maricopa County Human Resources
County Administration Building
301 West Jefferson, Suite 200
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
Phone: (602)506-3755
Teletypewriter (TT): (602)506-1908
Recorded Job Message: 506-3329

Maricopa County Human Resources reasonable accommodation in the application and/or testing process to eligible individuals requesting assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Employment Services Division at 602-506-5570 or 602-506-1908 (TT) if you believe you may require such assistance.

IT IS THE POLICY OF MARICOPA COUNTY NOT TO DISCRIMINATE IN EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

This employer complies with ARS 23-211 et seq. and submits information on all new hires to E-Verify.

The Maricopa County Public Defender Law Clerk Program gives third year law students and recent law graduates an opportunity to assist attorneys in many aspects of a criminal case. Law clerk positions are available in the trial, appeals, capital, and mental health divisions of our Office. Each law clerk is assigned to a specific unit and works directly with the attorneys within that group. Law clerks perform legal research, draft memoranda or motions, assist attorneys at legal proceedings including arraignments, evidentiary hearings and trials, and attend legal seminars and training workshops. The law clerk position is paid and benefits are available.

The Law Clerk Program includes monthly law clerk training sessions. Each session focuses on a different criminal law topic. The goal of these sessions is to provide continued learning for law clerks that will help in their daily research and writing tasks. As employees of the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, law clerks become members of the Arizona Public Defender’s Association (APDA). The APDA holds an annual conference in June to which all staff and attorneys are invited. The conference is just one of the great training opportunities afforded to the law clerks in the Office.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis upon availability.

To apply for a Law Clerk position, submit a cover letter and resume to:

James J. Haas
Maricopa County Public Defender
620 West Jackson, Suite 4015
Phoenix, AZ 85003

For further information about the Law Clerk Program, contact:

Rebecca Kirchler – Law Clerk/Extern Supervisor
Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office
Phone: (602) 506-7711
Email: kirchlerr@mail.maricopa.gov

The Internship Program is designed to give interns exposure to the work environment of a Public Defender’s Office, including opportunities to observe and assist in legal proceedings and contribute to the work of the criminal defense team. The Program integrates interns into our Office and allows them to assume some of the same responsibilities as our full time personnel.

All interns are supervised by the program coordinator and assigned to work with trial attorney teams consisting of: attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists, paralegals, and secretaries. Internships are available in the trial and appellate divisions of our Office.

The Internship Program offers interns the opportunity to work with several lawyers on a range of cases, providing an overview of the types of work performed by attorneys in either trial or appellate practice. Interns work on a variety of projects; including researching legal issues, writing legal memoranda, drafting and editing pleadings, reviewing case files, assisting in trial preparation, meeting with clients both in and out of jail, attending and participating in witness interviews, assisting in jury selection, observing court proceedings and attending private conferences with judges in chambers.

The Public Defender’s Office does not hire law students for paid internships. However, we are able to accommodate a select number of students who can obtain their own funding. Although this is an unpaid internship, students and recent graduates are offered an excellent opportunity to explore career options, build resumes, network with professionals in their fields of interest, and gain hands-on experience.


To Apply:

Please complete the Internship Program Application. The application must be completed and returned along with a letter of interest and resume to:

Rebecca Kirchler - Law Clerk/Extern Supervisor
Maricopa County Public Defender's Office
620 W. Jackson St. Suite 4015
Phoenix, AZ 85003
E-mail: kirchlerr@mail.maricopa.gov

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Summer - March 1st
Fall – June 1st
Spring – November 1st