Public Defender - Rousseau Centre - Deputy Public Defender - Drug

Memorial Coliseum; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision and more

Longevity pay increases

Retirement plan with matching

Generous paid time off

Wellness reimbursements and gym access

Job summary

Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, IN is seeking a Deputy Public Defender to provide criminal defense for indigent clients in Allen County courts. The role requires Indiana licensure, ABA-law school graduation, and at least two years of criminal litigation experience.

Responsibilities include representing clients in court, maintaining client contact, and collaborating with staff to ensure quality representation. Equal opportunity employer with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Minimum of two years of experience in criminal litigation.
• Valid Indiana license to practice law.

Responsibilities

• Represent defendants in all court appearances including pretrial discovery and sentencing hearings.
• Maintain regular contact with clients via correspondence, phone calls, and in-person meetings.
• Work with support staff to provide high-quality legal representation to indigent defendants.
• File appeals when errors affected the defendant's right to a fair trial.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

ABA accredited law school

Job description

Public Defender - Rousseau Centre - Deputy Public Defender - Drug

Public Defender - Department, 1 East Main Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Under the direction of the Chief Public Defender, the Deputy Public Defender provides criminal defense to indigent defendants in the courts of Allen County, Indiana as mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the Indiana Constitution and Indiana state law. This position is covered under the Circuit Court Employee Handbook. This is an employee-at-will position.

This position offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes:

• Medical, dental, vision and more available first day of employment
• Longevity pay increases: 6 months, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years
• Retirement plan with up to 5% matching
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Paid time off received after 30, 60 & 180 days
• Gym membership and Wellness reimbursements available through insurance

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Works directly with defendant and maintains regular contact with clients through correspondence, phone calls, and in person meetings, while upholding ethical duties of loyalty and confidentiality.
• Represents defendants in all court appearances, including pretrial discovery, withdraw pleas, and suppression notices.
• Works with support staff to provide effective and high quality legal representation to accused indigent people facing felony or misdemeanor charges, juvenile adjudication, and mental health commitments.
• Attends post-trial sentencing hearings for clients who negotiate plea bargains or are found guilty in trial.
• Files appeals when errors are found in court proceedings which prevented the defendant from having a fair trial.
• Graduation from an ABA accredited school of law
• Valid Indiana license to practice law
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and a large volume of work
• Minimum of two years of experience in criminal litigation
• Must have prior experience as lead or co-counsel in no fewer than two felony jury trials that went to verdict or one felony jury trial and one Indiana Public Defender Commission approved trial practice course

LICENSING:

Valid Indiana license to practice law

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). Accordingly, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, disability or medical condition, national origin, and veteran status, and all other categories protected by federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Reasonable accommodations for persons with a known disabling condition will be considered in accordance with State and Federal Law.