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Employment Opportunities
If you are interested in working for the Public Defender's Office as a paid employee, please follow the links below:
- Current job listings can be viewed at http://jobs.myflorida.com
- Download and complete Employment Application
- You will be contacted by a member of our HR Department
If you would like to submit a resume for a position we haven't listed please click here to email our HR department and inform them of your interest. Please include your resume and the required forms listed above.
Position Descriptions for Paid Employees:
Assistant Public Defender Position Description
Communications Assistant Position Description
Investigations Position Description
Legal Assistant Position Description
Social Worker Position Description
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination
or violence in the workplace.
Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency
hiring authority Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with
Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
If you wish to volunteer or intern with the Public Defender's Office, please follow these steps:
- Download and complete the required forms:
- Volunteer/Intern Registration Form
- ADA Release Form -- click on your location (Lee
Collier Charlotte Hendry)
- Volunteer Confidentiality Certification
- Worker's Compensation Memorandum
- Click here to email our HR Department of your interest,
resume and required forms.
- You will be contacted shortly by a member of our staff.
For more information about internships, click here.
The 20th Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office is one of Florida's offices established for the representation of persons charged with criminal law violations. The office's practice consists of criminal defense litigation in cases involving juvenile, misdemeanor, felony and capital felony offenses, and appeals. This office is committed to meeting the needs of its clients. Only those individuals who are dedicated to providing the finest legal representation, and who recognize the importance of community service involvement, should apply.
This office staffs more than 120 employees: attorneys, legal assistants, investigators, customer service technicians, disposition specialists, and other support staff.
The 20th Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office is an equal opportunity employer.
We are seeking attorneys who are sincerely interested in providing the best possible legal representation for our clients. Additionally, all attorneys are urged to become involved in service to the community and participate in pro bono projects throughout the year. Only those individuals who are dedicated to providing the finest legal representation, and who recognize the importance of community service involvement, should apply.
We are seeking career-minded individuals who are interested in a challenging position in a fast-paced law firm. Prior legal experience is desirable, and strong computer skills are required; experience in the legal field is a bonus. These positions require frequent interaction with clients and the general public. Desirable applicants are detail-oriented, motivated, self-starters.
State employee benefits include group health and life insurance and retirement benefits. Vacation and sick time are accumulated monthly. There are several paid holidays annually, and each employee is also entitled to an additional personal holiday on the date of his or her choice.
To be considered for a position with the Public Defender's Office you must complete the application process found on this site. Candidates are evaluated based on background, organizational fit, and career potential.
Employment offers are personally communicated, and an employment letter is sent setting forth the expectations of the position.
The Public Defender's Office is seeking motivated and experienced applicants with previous legal experience. Applicants must be capable of managing a demanding caseload. A recognition of the importance of community service, as previously described, is essential. The office is committed to a policy of equal opportunity, without regard to age, gender, color, race, national origin, religious persuasion, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions, or disability. We observe laws regarding Veteran's Status.
Public Record Requests
Public Records are documents, papers, letters, maps, books, audio and video tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, or other material regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by the Department, which are used to perpetuate, communicate or formalize knowledge.
Public records held by the Office of the Public Defender 20th Judicial Circuit are available upon request for inspection or copying pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Article I, s. 24 of the State Constitution.
Records are not always readily available and will have to be located, reviewed for exempt or confidential information, and redacted if necessary. As such, the time to fulfill a public records request will vary depending upon the particular record or records requested and the volume of the request. Department personnel are committed to fulfilling your request as quickly and efficiently as is reasonably possible.
Costs may apply to public records requests. For more information click here.
You can make your public record request in a variety of ways:
By E-Mail at publicrecordsrequest@pd20.org
Please leave some contact information so we can respond, and include as much detail as possible regarding the records you are requesting, including date ranges.
By Regular Mail to:
Department of Public Records
Office of the Public Defender 20th Judicial Circuit
Lee County Justice Center Annex
P.O. Drawer 1980
Fort Myers, FL 33901-1980
By E-Mail: PublicRecordsRequest@pd20.org
By Fax: (239) 533-1562