Senior Public Defender II — Lead Complex Felony Defense

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Independence (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,800; Full time

Job summary

Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services in Independence, Kansas seeks a Senior Assistant Public Defender (PD II) for the Southeast Kansas Regional Public Defender Office. The role requires a Kansas-licensed attorney with at least three years in criminal defense to independently handle complex, high-severity cases.

Ideal candidates show strong communication, organization, and leadership to support a client-centered, collaborative defense model.

Qualifications

• Must be a graduate from an ABA accredited law school and licensed attorney.
• Must be active and in good standing in the State of Kansas at time of employment.
• Preferred minimum of 3 years of experience in criminal defense or comparable legal practice.

Responsibilities

• Senior Assistant Public Defenders possess a fully advanced litigation skill set and handle complex motions.
• They may assume informal leadership roles and assist with professional development.
• Assist with development, guidance of others, and agency-wide needs as directed by Chief Public Defender.

Skills

Exceptional communication

Written and oral communication

Time management

Organizational skills

Litigation skills

Client-centered representation

Education

ABA-accredited law school graduate

Licensed attorney in Kansas

Tools

E-filing systems

Case management systems

Job description

Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services in Independence, Kansas seeks a Senior Assistant Public Defender (PD II) for the Southeast Kansas Regional Public Defender Office. The role requires a Kansas-licensed attorney with at least three years in criminal defense to independently handle complex, high-severity cases.

Ideal candidates show strong communication, organization, and leadership to support a client-centered, collaborative defense model.