California State Public Defender
4.1
Glassdoor Rating
80+
Total Staff
55+
Attorneys
300+
Annual Caseload
2
Open Positions
About
Handles death penalty appeals and other complex appellate matters at the state level. Highly competitive positions.
Strategic Career Intelligence
Specializations
Career Pathways
Experience Value
Elite appellate practice handling death penalty and complex habeas cases. Very low caseloads allow deep research and brief writing. Highly competitive — positions here signal top-tier legal talent.
Holistic Defense Services
Open Positions(2)
View AllSalary Ranges
| Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | $100,000-$120,000 |
| Mid-Career | $125,000-$155,000 |
| Senior | $160,000-$195,000 |
| Leadership | $200,000-$280,000 |
Budget & Funding Intelligence
Total Budget
$25M
Primary Sources
2025-01-01
Figures cited: $25M OSPD budget
Budget Trend
= StableFunded directly by the state general fund. Budget is stable and insulated from county-level fiscal pressures. Highly specialized appellate/capital caseload.
Quick Info
- County
- Statewide
- Region
- Sacramento
- Case Management
- Custom
- Caseload/Attorney
- ~5
- Phone
- (916) 322-2676
- Website
- Visit
Union Representation
CASE
Unionized workplace
Benefits
- CalPERS Retirement
- Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
- PSLF-Eligible
- Paid CLE
- Generous PTO
Funding Sources
- California State General Fund
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