About Defense Talent Exchange
The only talent platform built exclusively for criminal defense providers and the legal professionals who defend constitutional rights across California.
Why We Built This
Across California, qualified defense attorneys sit unemployed due to county budget cuts while neighboring offices desperately need experienced counsel to handle constitutionally-mandated caseloads. The system is broken.
Public defender offices, conflict panel administrators, and alternative defense providers all struggle with the same problem: finding experienced, mission-driven attorneys and defense team members who understand the unique demands of indigent defense work.
Generic legal job boards don't understand the difference between a conflict panel assignment and a staff attorney position. They don't know what Legal Server is, why specialty court experience matters, or how caseload standards affect job satisfaction.
We built Defense Talent Exchange because the Sixth Amendment requires effective representation — and that starts with getting the right people into the right roles.
Our Values
Constitutional Mission
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to effective counsel. We exist to make that promise real by connecting the right talent with the right defense organizations.
Client-Centered Defense
We believe in holistic defense — attorneys, investigators, social workers, and mitigation specialists working together for the best possible outcomes.
Free for Job Seekers
Every tool on this platform is 100% free for defense professionals. Resume builder, career assessment, job search, market intelligence — all free, always.
Data-Driven
We track caseload data, salary benchmarks, budget crises, and hiring trends so defense professionals can make informed career decisions.
Bilingual by Design
Criminal defense serves diverse communities. Our platform is fully bilingual (English/Spanish) because the defense workforce should reflect the communities it serves.
Speed Matters
When budget cuts displace defense professionals, every day without representation matters. Our fast-track pipeline gets displaced attorneys back to work in 48 hours.