Team-Oriented, Client-Centered Environments

Colorado Public Defender offices are team-oriented, client-centered environments where commitment, collaboration and self-motivation are important attributes for success. Our clients’ goals drive our representation. Depending on the position, applications are either handled centrally by our State Administrative Office or locally by one of our twenty-one regional trial offices or appellate office. Please refer to the specific job posting for more information.

Current Open Positions

Browse current job openings with the Colorado State Public Defender, including attorney roles, investigator positions, internships, administrative, and other careers across Colorado.

Attorney Positions

Trial Attorney Open Positions and Internships

View information on applying for a Trial Attorney position: Trial Attorney positions.

Appellate Attorney Open Positions and Internships

View information on applying for an Appellate Attorney position: Appellate Attorney positions.

Public Defender Career Paths

The Colorado State Public Defender employs attorneys, investigators, forensic social workers, paralegals, and administrative professionals across trial offices, appellate offices, and the State Administrative Office.

Brief Job Descriptions

Attorneys

• We employ almost 600 attorneys who represent clients in state trial and appellate courts. The attorneys’ work cannot be successful without dedicated core staff in all of the offices.

Criminal Defense Investigators

• Every trial office employs a crew of criminal defense investigators who work as a part of the multidisciplinary team to explore the facts of each case and seek a narrative of innocence for every client.

Forensic Social Workers

• The OSPD employs a small but mighty team of forensic social workers who investigate the lives and experiences of our clients and advocate for less punitive outcomes.

Administrative Staff

• Our administrative staff meet our clients at the front door of the office and over the phone to assist them with applying for representation, contacting members of the client’s team, and other questions. They help ensure that the client files are updated with upcoming court events and new discovery.

Paralegals

• Paralegals are legally trained professionals who support the team directly in preparing a case for court presentation, researching legal issues, writing letters and pleadings, and communicating with clients.

State Administrative Staff

• The State Administrative Office employs professionals of various expertise to support the trial and appellate offices. Professionals working out of the State Office include:
  • Leadership
  • Training
  • Human resources
  • Finance, Payroll, and Budget
  • IT specialists are assigned either centrally or regionally.