NEW: Bay Area Court Intelligence — sentencing analytics, judge data, and pretrial insights for 9 counties >
Defense Intel
Back to Directory

Federal Defenders of San Diego Inc.

San Diego, Federal County · San Diego
Federal Public DefenderLimited OpeningsLow Risk

4.2

Glassdoor Rating

80+

Total Staff

50+

Attorneys

4,000+

Annual Caseload

1

Open Positions

About

Community Defender Organization handling federal cases in the Southern District. High volume of immigration-related cases.

Strategic Career Intelligence

Specializations

Federal Felony DefenseImmigration DefenseFederal AppealsDrug Trafficking Defense

Career Pathways

Federal DefenseAppellate Practice

Experience Value

CDO model provides unique nonprofit structure within federal defense. Border proximity means unmatched immigration defense volume. Drug trafficking and cross-border cases provide specialized expertise highly valued in private practice.

Holistic Defense Services

InvestigatorsMitigation SpecialistsImmigration Specialists

Open Positions(1)

View All

Assistant Federal Defender

San Diego
$85k$120k
federal felonyimmigration2-5 yearsBilingual Preferred
Apply

Salary Ranges

LevelSalary Range
Entry Level$75,000-$92,000
Mid-Career$98,000-$130,000
Senior$135,000-$170,000
Leadership$175,000-$235,000

Budget & Funding Intelligence

Total Budget

$25M

Low Risk

Primary Sources

Federal Defenders of San Diego Inc. — Budget

2025-01-01

Figures cited: $25M estimated annual budget

Budget Trend

= Stable

Community Defender Organization (CDO) model funded through the federal Defender Services Office. Budget stable. Immigration case volume driven by border proximity.

Quick Info

County
Federal
Region
San Diego
Case Management
Defender Services Office
Caseload/Attorney
~80
Website
Visit

Union Representation

Non-union workplace

Benefits

  • FERS Retirement
  • Federal Health, Dental & Vision (FEHB)
  • PSLF-Eligible
  • Paid CLE
  • Federal Leave Benefits
  • TSP (Thrift Savings Plan)

Funding Sources

  • Federal Defender Services Office
  • U.S. Courts Judiciary Appropriation

Find Your Role Here

Take a quick career screener to see how well you match with Federal Defenders of San Diego Inc. and get personalized role suggestions.

Take Career Screener

Ready to Defend Those Who Need It Most?

Whether you're an attorney looking for your next role, building your defense career, or an office with positions to fill — we're here to connect you.