How To Become An Assistant Public Defender: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant public defender and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

An assistant public defender provides technical and administrative assistance to public defenders in providing legal representation to indigent clients. They assist in preparing for such cases through performing research relating to the case, mediating and negotiating for settlements, attending trials, and providing competent defense to the client. They handle an array of cases, including civil cases, criminal cases, and minor offences.

Assistant public defenders are typically employed by the government. They provide representation to clients, including those in juvenile and mental health commitment. A successful assistant public defender should have in-depth knowledge of the law, litigation skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, research skills, and attention to detail.

Assistant public defenders usually work 40 hours a week. They split their time between the office and the court and as such, they might work extra hours. They may also be required to work overtime when preparing for urgent cases.

ScoreAssistant Public DefenderUS Average

Salary

5.3

Avg. Salary $68,476

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 6.30%

Black or African American 5.47%

Hispanic or Latino 7.69%

Unknown 4.37%

White 75.86%

Gender

female 49.34%

male 50.66%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assistant public defender

Explore assistant public defender education requirements

Most common assistant public defender degrees

Doctorate

57.1 %

Bachelor's

37.3 %

Master's

3.8 %

Start to develop specific assistant public defender skills

Skills	Percentages
Appeals	8.24%
Litigation	8.23%
Legal Research	7.66%
Criminal Defense	6.29%
Mental Health	5.29%

Complete relevant assistant public defender training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant 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 public defender based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant public defender resumes.

Research assistant public defender duties and responsibilities

Manage, train and mentore newly hire ADA's in courtroom management and trial advocacy.
Achieve not guilty verdicts in DUI, aggravate assault, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, and battery trials.
Manage homicide cases from investigation stage to trial including complex plea negotiations with other government agencies and the defense bar.
Manage and direct all phases of criminal litigation from initial consultation through appeals process.

Prepare your assistant public defender resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant public defender resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant public defender resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable assistant public defender resume templates

Build a professional assistant public defender resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assistant public defender resume.