Job Details for Assistant Federal Public Defender
| Court Name/Organization | Oregon Federal Public Defender |
| Overview of the Position | Assistant Federal Public Defenders fight systemic injustice by advocating for qualified defendants in federal criminal cases and other covered matters for individuals who are financially unable to obtain adequate representation. |
| Location | Portland, OR |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 02/03/2026 - 03/29/2026 |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Classification Level/Grade | AD 21 - AD 29 |
| Salary | $88,848 - $194,031 |
| Link to Court Careers Information | https://or.fd.org/faqs/employment |
| Announcement Number | 2026-01 |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
Primary Job Duties
- Represent qualifying individuals charged with violating federal criminal statutes by handling all stages of federal criminal trial matters in the district court.
- Frequently appear in court before both magistrate judges and district court judges. Court appearances include: initial appearances, pretrial release hearings, motion hearings, trials, sentencings, appeals, and probation violation proceedings.
- Advocate for clients from diverse backgrounds, including those with histories of trauma, mental health, and substance abuse issues.
- Work in teams with co-counsel, investigators, paralegals, legal assistants, social workers, and
- contracted experts.
- Support clients through holistic problem-solving and community engagement during pretrial, trial, and sentencing proceedings, as well as with reentry.
- Write persuasive briefs to achieve client goals and work for improvement in the law.
- Maintain frequent client contact in person, by phone, and in writing.
Miscellaneous
Primary Job Duties
- Represent qualifying individuals charged with violating federal criminal statutes by handling all stages of federal criminal trial matters in the district court.
- Frequently appear in court before both magistrate judges and district court judges. Court appearances include: initial appearances, pretrial release hearings, motion hearings, trials, sentencings, appeals, and probation violation proceedings.
- Advocate for clients from diverse backgrounds, including those with histories of trauma, mental health, and substance abuse issues.
- Work in teams with co-counsel, investigators, paralegals, legal assistants, social workers, and
- contracted experts.
- Support clients through holistic problem-solving and community engagement during pretrial, trial, and sentencing proceedings, as well as with reentry.
- Write persuasive briefs to achieve client goals and work for improvement in the law.
- Maintain frequent client contact in person, by phone, and in writing.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.