We are hiring a Director of Administration! The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington is hiring a Director of Administration, a high-level position that reports directly to the Federal Defender and plays a critical role in the office’s mission of providing top-tier legal services to its clients. The Director of Administration manages the administration and operations in support of both office locations (Seattle and Tacoma), 60+ staff and interns, and our mission of providing diligent, zealous, and holistic criminal defense representation. Our office is recognized as a leading public defense law firm that looks for innovative ways to serve its clients and have a progressive impact on the criminal legal system, both locally and nationally. The Director of Administration is a one-of-a-kind position. We are looking for a leader who can work cooperatively and act independently, manage finite resources effectively, and understand the relationship between our office and the federal court system. The Director of Administration directly supervises at least three staff members with administrative, financial, or information technology responsibilities, while also helping supervise office-wide operations and serving as a key executive advisor to the Federal Defender. https://lnkd.in/gvEt264p #hiring #publicdefense #management #administration #HR #procurement #personnel #criminaldefense #federalcourt
Federal Public Defender, Western District of Washington
Administration of Justice
Seattle, WA 772 followers
Fulfilling our Sixth Amendment right to counsel with diligent, zealous, and respectful legal representation
About us
Established in 1975, the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, to provide legal representation to people charged with committing federal crimes who cannot afford to hire an attorney. The Court appoints our Assistant Federal Public Defenders to represent accused persons before they are charged, upon arrest, for the appeals process, and through federal habeas corpus review.
- Website
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https://waw.fd.org/
External link for Federal Public Defender, Western District of Washington
- Industry
- Administration of Justice
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Seattle, WA
- Type
- Government Agency
- Founded
- 1975
- Specialties
- Criminal Defense, Public Defense, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Investigation, Social Work, Legal Internships, and Public Defense Internships
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
1601 Fifth Avenue
Suite 700
Seattle, WA 98101, US
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1331 Broadway
Suite 400
Tacoma, Washington 98402, US
Employees at Federal Public Defender, Western District of Washington
Updates
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We were privileged to have Linet M. Bravo with us during the ‘23-24 school year as a social work intern! We look forward to following your amazing career and thank you for your dedication to our clients and office!
Earlier this summer, I completed my first grad school internship with the Federal Public Defender, Western District of Washington, a unique and invaluable experience that profoundly shaped my understanding of social work in public defense and the criminal justice system. I partnered with attorneys to conduct defense mitigation, helped retain experts, provided case management, and client support during court hearings. I also conducted research on the impact of social work in federal public defense, highlighting how social workers are instrumental in shifting toward a more compassionate and rehabilitative criminal justice system. Here are some key insights from my research: ▪ Social work in federal public defense enhances both individual case outcomes and systemic effectiveness by offering tailored support and interdisciplinary collaboration, improving legal representation and reducing sentencing through comprehensive client portrayals. ▪ Social workers in federal public defense provide specialized skills, including therapeutic support and clinical interventions, addressing clients' legal, emotional, and practical needs, which can lead to improved outcomes, such as reduced sentences and access to essential services - housing, employment, substance abuse treatment, and other public benefits. ▪ Social workers in federal public defense advocate for client empathy and humanization, aiming to improve legal outcomes and quality of life through non-judgmental support and understanding. ▪ Social work in federal public defense is an emerging field with significant potential, yet its integration is gradual. Raising awareness and promoting these roles to social work students is essential. Our deep understanding of systemic dynamics uniquely positions us to navigate and reform the complex web of factors contributing to mass incarceration on a micro and macro scale. Mass incarceration reflects the convergence of systemic injustices (houselessness, the school-to-prison pipeline, substance abuse, child welfare, and more). Given our involvement in these systems, it's crucial for us to recognize and care about their interconnectedness. My hope is that more defender offices will advocate for increased social work staffing to strengthen the use of holistic defense for continued zealous representation. I want to thank my practicum supervisor, Amanda Merfeld, LICSW, for her leadership, unwavering support, guidance and mentorship over the past year. I also want to express my deep gratitude to Dominic Benavides, Stacey Brownstein, Colleen Fitzharris, Charles Formosa, Mahkaea Jackson-Sams, Greg Murphy, Vicki Lai, Joanna Martin, Vanessa Pai-Thompson, Madeline Scarp and Janet Stanton. Each of you played a pivotal role in making my internship experience an amazing one.
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Our Seattle office is hiring a paralegal! Please see link below to learn more about the opportunity and please help spread the word! #publicdefense #criminaldefense #paralegal #seattle #hiring https://lnkd.in/grnjbmZJ
Paralegal
waw.fd.org
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Our office is thrilled to welcome our new Assistant Federal Public Defender Jorge Leonardo "Leo" Costales to our Seattle office! Leo was an AFPD in Tucson, Arizona, where he has practiced since 2017 after graduating from Vanderbilt University Law School and also served as a state public defender in Lafayette, Louisiana. His colleagues describe him as the “go-to” person in their office, “thoughtful and caring,” and “hated by prosecutors in the best possible way” for his advocacy and tenacity. Leo is fluent in Spanish, learning French, and a competitive chess player. Welcome Leo!
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We are overjoyed to welcome Lindsay McCaslin as an Assistant Federal Public Defender to our Tacoma office! After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law, Lindsay interned at the The Bronx Defenders and then went on to become a state public defender in Virginia. In 2017, Lindsay became an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Norfolk, VA and was there until she decided to move out west and we are so glad she did! Lindsay's colleagues describe her, among many accolades, as “a true believer,” “strong, confident and grounded,” “a compassionate team player,” “a great ally,” and a mentor to new colleagues. Welcome Lindsay!
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Federal Public Defender, Western District of Washington reposted this
July is #DisabilityPrideMonth. Understanding and asserting the rights of people with disabilities during police interrogations is paramount to ensuring their fair treatment and safeguarding their well-being.
Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Have a Disability and Are Questioned by Police - Innocence Project
innocenceproject.org
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Please help us congratulate former legal intern Arthur Etter who accepted a clerkship with a Sixth Circuit Judge for the 2025-26 term and will also be clerking for a N.D. Cal District Court Judge for the 2026-27 term! Arthur interned with us last summer while he was a rising 2L at University of Michigan Law School. Arthur is thrilled for these upcoming opportunities and we are excited to follow his career! Congrats Arthur!
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Congrats to our former legal intern Jared Rothenberg who has accepted a position at the King County Department of Public Defense, ACA Division! Jared interned with us during the summer of 2022 as a rising 2L at the University of Washington School of Law. Jared is excited to start his public defender career in Seattle and we look forward to Jared being part of our local defender community!
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Please welcome Julie Zhang to our undergrad internship program! Julie is a rising sophomore at the University of Washington and intends to major in Computer Science and Economics. Julie is interested in learning more about the criminal legal system and public defense, as well as utilizing data analysis to examine the socioeconomic impacts of immigration policy. We are excited to work with Julie this summer!
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Federal Public Defender, Western District of Washington reposted this
Cassandra Metter, our Weld Works Program Manager, is thrilled to introduce Natalia, Anne, and Savanna - our first all-female work crew at Weld Works, in partnership with the City of Burien. These incredible women are showcasing the strengths of our participants and proving they are more than their pasts. Congratulations on your hard work and the accolades from the City of Burien! 🌟 A special thanks to Project Coordinator, George Williams, pictured here with our work crew on-site! City of Burien Weld Seattle #WeldWorks
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