Job Details for Assistant Federal Public Defender
| Court Name/Organization | Arkansas Eastern Federal Public Defender |
| Overview of the Position | The Federal Public Defender is accepting applications for an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Trial Unit. This is a full-time position located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Trial Unit represents indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in the U.S. District Court and provides appellate representation in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Applicants must be committed to zealous representation of the indigent accused and must be committed to protecting their constitutional interests while providing holistic representation. Our office mission requires that each employee embrace our core values of compassion, courage, competency, creativity, and collaboration. |
| Location | Little Rock, AR |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 02/17/2026 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Classification Level/Grade | AD 21 - AD 29 |
| Salary | $74,678 - $197,100 |
| Announcement Number | 2026-05 |
Qualifications
Ideal candidates will have criminal litigation experience, excellent oral and written communication, excellent research skills, demonstrated ability to work with a team, ability to multitask and meet concrete deadlines, and the ability to aggressively, but civilly, represent the client. Further, the ideal candidate will be client-centered, open-minded, creative, a quick learner, honest, hard-working, energetic, and respectful of others. A working knowledge of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines is preferred. The selected applicant should expect to defend the full range of federal criminal offenses, including guns, drugs, child pornography, white collar, and immigration matters. Travel is required for case work and training.
Applicants must be members in good standing of a state bar and eligible for admission to the Eastern District of Arkansas.
Employee Benefits
Salary is commensurate with experience and education and is comparable to that of Assistant U.S. Attorneys with similar qualifications and experience. The salary range is $76,748 to $197,100. The position is excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of the competitive Civil Service. Benefits include health and life insurance, retirement, and the Thrift Savings Plan. A final offer of employment is subject to a successful background check.
Application Info
To be considered, please send the following in PDF format to Caletta_Jones@fd.org: (1) A letter of interest, (2) a resume, (3) a writing sample, and (4) three references.
No phone calls or follow up emails please.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.