What is an assistant federal public defender and how to become one

Key steps to become an assistant federal public defender

1. Explore assistant federal public defender education requirements

   Most common assistant federal public defender degrees

   Doctorate

   79.5 %

   Bachelor's

   17.9 %

   Master's

   2.6 %

2. Start to develop specific assistant federal public defender skills

   Skills	Percentages
   District Court	36.32%
   Litigation	16.56%
   Criminal Defense	16.24%
   Appeals	8.62%
   Federal Courts	7.47%

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3. Complete relevant assistant federal public defender training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant federal public defenders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant federal public defender based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant federal public defender resumes.

4. Research assistant federal public defender duties and responsibilities

   • Achieve not guilty verdicts in DUI, aggravate assault, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, and battery trials.
   • Prepare clients for criminal cases including trial and appeals.
   • Organize and teach CLE courses and supervise the internprogram.
   • Serve as primary attorney on brief in numerous federal appeals.

5. Apply for assistant federal public defender jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for an assistant federal public defender job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams