PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, 20TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER - 21014492

State of Florida; Fort Myers (FL); On-site; USD 74,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Florida Retirement System

Generous Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Tuition waiver

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The State of Florida’s Public Defender’s Office is seeking qualified Assistant Public Defender candidates across the 20th Judicial Circuit, including Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, and LaBelle. A Juris Doctorate and Florida Bar admission or eligibility are required, with extensive entry-level training and professional development opportunities provided.

Responsibilities include case preparation, client counseling, and collaboration with support staff; travel to various circuit locations is

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate is required.
• Florida Bar license is required to be placed in the role.
• Willingness to travel to various circuit locations for assignments and training.

Responsibilities

• Accept, research, and prepare each case efficiently and expeditiously.
• Advise clients on plea offers, rights and options, and sentencing.
• Maintain professional relationships with clients, families, witnesses, and court personnel.
• Coordinate with investigators, interns, and support staff as needed.
• Attend training seminars, division meetings, and staffing sessions.

Skills

Communication skills

English grammar

Organization

Multi-tasking

Confidentiality

Travel

MS Word/Outlook

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

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PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, 20TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER - 21014492

Date: Sep 16, 2026

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website .

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, 20TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER - 21014492

The Law Offices of the Public Defender, 20th Judicial Circuit, may be the place for you!The agency is seeking qualified Assistant Public Defender applicants across the 20th Judicial Circuit, including Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, and LaBelle.

The work that public defenders do is vitally important. Becoming an Assistant Public Defender would allow you to be involved with the defense of indigent individuals accused of a crime and offers endless opportunities to make a real difference within the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Attorneys at the agency are offered extensive entry-level training, as well as professional development opportunities.

A Florida Bar license is required to be placed in the Assistant Public Defender role. In addition to current Florida Bar members, the agency will interview applicants who are awaiting admission to the Florida Bar, as well as applicants who are registered (or who plan to register) to take Florida Bar examination. These candidates may join the agency, ahead of Bar results, with the goal of becoming a member of the Florida Bar and transitioning to the Assistant Public Defender role thereafter.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accepting, researching, and preparing each case efficiently and expeditiously.
• Advising and counseling each client regarding plea offers, client’s rights and options, strategies, sentencing, appellate rights, etc.
• Establishing and maintaining a professional relationship with each client, family, witness, and court personnel.
• Maintaining open lines of communication with clients and their families, witnesses, and court personnel.
• Involving investigators, interns and other support staff appropriately.
• Seeking assistance from experts appropriate to the case.
• Demonstrating maturity and a professional demeanor at all times.
• Exercising sound judgment to achieve desired results.
• Handling emergency assignments when needed.
• Attending and participating in training seminars, division meetings, and staffing sessions.
• Abiding by all Public Defender policies and procedures outlined in manual and performing other related work as required.

ABILITY TO

• Communicate effectively and professionally with clients and staff.
• Use correct English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
• Exhibit sound judgment and good listening skills.
• Handle matters with integrity and confidentiality.
• Plan and prepare reports, correspondence, and charts in a variety of formats.
• Use personal computers and general office equipment.
• Be extremely organized, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Maintain an effective filing system.
• Manage multiple assignments simultaneously including long- and short-range projects.
• Be flexible in work assignments and processes based upon need.
• Travel to various locations throughout the circuit for assignments and training.
• Effectively utilize Microsoft Word and Outlook.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Juris Doctorate

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, technical procedures, legal documents and governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and transcripts.

REASONING ABILITY

Must be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Must be able to evaluate problems, isolate key issues, research and develop alternative solutions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level for this position is moderate.

EQUIPMENT UTILIZED

Personal computers, printers, copiers, scanners, telephones, calculators, cell phones

Job Type

Full-time

Salary

Starting at $74,000 - $77,000 depending on experience

• Access to the Florida Retirement System
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition waiver
• Employee Assistance Program

Ability to commute/relocate

• Fort Myers, FL 33901
• Punta Gorda, FL 33950
• Labelle, FL 33935
• Naples, FL 34112

Nearest Major Market: Fort Myers

Nearest Secondary Market: Cape Coral

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.