Public Defender

City of Phoenix; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 163,000 - 212,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive benefits package

Pension and retirement plans

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off and holidays

City-provided transit pass

Job summary

The City of Phoenix is seeking an experienced Public Defender to lead and supervise the Public Defender Office. The role hires and oversees contract attorneys, sets policy, and manages budgets while ensuring compliance with City codes and state statutes.

Ideal candidates demonstrate strong ethics, strategic leadership, and a commitment to staff development and community fairness. This full-time position may require extended hours, including evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• Five years experience as a practicing criminal defense attorney, including two years in management and policy making.
• Active State Bar of Arizona membership in good standing.
• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet minimum requirements may be substituted.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee 80 contracted attorneys providing defense services for indigent defendants.
• Oversee a department of 16 employees, contract staff, and legal contractors.
• Develop policies and procedures; manage budgets; review proposed legislation.
• Ensure compliance with City codes and state statutes; provide strategic leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Ethical standards

Policy development

Budget management

Contract management

Education

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law

Job description

About This Position

The City of Phoenix is seeking an experienced, highly ethical legal professional to serve as the City's Public Defender. This critical leadership position is responsible for planning, directing, managing, and supervising all functions of the City's Public Defender Office.

In this role, you will hire and oversee contract attorneys; develop policies and procedures; manage budgets; and review proposed legislation.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing and overseeing more than 80 contracted attorneys providing defense services to indigent individuals facing misdemeanor charges in Phoenix Municipal Court - one of the ten busiest municipal courts in the U.S.
• Working within Phoenix Municipal Court, Maricopa County Superior Court, Maricopa County Jails, and at community-based legal services events.
• Ensuring high professional standards, consistent application of office policies, and compliance with all relevant City codes and state statutes.
• Providing strategic leadership, fostering staff development, and promoting justice and fairness in all casework.
• Managing a department of 16 employees (including 6 attorneys), legal contractors, and contracted support staff.

Knowledge & Expertise

• City codes and state statutes, with emphasis on criminal law and procedures.
• Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Principles of criminal law and appeal procedures related to municipal ordinance and state statute violations.
• Principles of office management, contract management, and effective supervision.

The Public Defender reports to the Public Defender Review Committee, appointed by the Phoenix City Council, and performance is evaluated based on results achieved.

This is a full-time position and may require extended hours, including evenings and weekends.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who provides clear direction, demonstrates grit and persistence, and upholds a high degree of ethics in all aspects of their work. They are a strong advocate for both staff and the community, able to recognize nuance, navigate complex situations, find thoughtful compromise, and build rapport and meaningful relationships. They approach their work with curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning, fostering an environment that supports growth, fairness, and collaboration.

Salary

$163,176 - $212,139.20 annually.

• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
• The City contributes 9% of salary into 457/401(a) plans with no matching required. $6,000/annual car allowance and $1,440/annual cell phone allowance.

Benefits

A comprehensive Executive benefits package is offered which includes:

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans
• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Employer paid long-term disability
• Free Bus/light rail pass
• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days
• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi

For more details, visit: Executive Benefits.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five years experience as a practicing criminal defense attorney, including two years of substantial involvement in the management process and policy making function of a law office.
• Member of the State Bar of Arizona in good standing.
• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• This position is subject to Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) background standards. Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment must be fingerprinted and will have their fingerprints used to check the Criminal History Records of the State of Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Any records returned will be reviewed to determine the candidate's suitability for the job.
• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here.
• The City job description can be found here.

Preferred Qualifications

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:

• Previous City of Phoenix Municipal Court experience.
• High professional and ethical standing in the legal community.
• Ten years criminal trial and motion practice experience at the misdemeanor and/or felony level.
• Experience with trial skills training of attorneys and evaluating attorney performance.
• Experience working with legal services contracts.

Recruitment Dates

Recruitment closes October 30, 2026. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

• Job interviews may be held by video or audio conference.
• If you are in need of computer resources, click here for free options.
• Arizona at Work has frequent classes to help with resume writing, interviewing skills, and general career guidance. Click here for more information.
• Explore other Employment Opportunities with the City of Phoenix.
• Subscribe to receive e-mail notifications about new employment opportunities.
• If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to an accessibility issue, please contact the Human Resources Department by phone at [phone] or by text at [phone]. You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

REFERENCE: Public Defender (NC), JC:10230, ID# 63188, 10/05/2026, USM, JR, Benefits: Executive

Building the Phoenix of tomorrow.

City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.