Los Angeles County Public Defender
3.8
Glassdoor Rating
1,100+
Total Staff
700+
Attorneys
500,000+
Annual Caseload
14
Open Positions
About
The largest public defender office in the world. Handles over 500,000 cases annually across 40+ branch offices throughout Los Angeles County.
Strategic Career Intelligence
Trial Volume
~2,400 jury trials/year office-wide
Source: LA County Public Defender Annual Report 2024
Avg. Time to First Trial
2-4 months (misdemeanor assignment)
Specializations
Career Pathways
Experience Value
Largest PD office in the world — unmatched trial volume and case diversity. DPD I attorneys typically handle 30-50 trials in their first 2 years. Alumni are highly sought after by private firms and federal defender offices.
Specialty Courts
Holistic Defense Services
Open Positions(14)
View AllDeputy Public Defender I
Deputy Public Defender II
Deputy Public Defender III
Mitigation Specialist
Defense Investigator
Juvenile Defense Attorney
Mental Health Court Attorney
Paralegal (Defense)
Appellate Attorney
Sentencing Advocate
Client Advocate / Peer Navigator
Training Attorney
Prop 36 / Resentencing Attorney
Competency Restoration Attorney
Salary Ranges
| Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | $95,000-$110,000 |
| Mid-Career | $120,000-$145,000 |
| Senior | $150,000-$180,000 |
| Leadership | $190,000-$260,000 |
Budget & Funding Intelligence
Total Budget
$330M
Primary Sources
2025-06-25
Figures cited: $330M total PD budget, 2.8% increase from FY2024-25
Budget Trend
= StableBudget received modest 2.8% increase but caseload growth of ~5% means per-case funding is effectively declining. County's AAA bond rating provides stability, but PD caseloads exceed NAC standards by 3-4x. Medium vulnerability reflects structural underfunding despite nominal increases.
Quick Info
- County
- Los Angeles
- Region
- Los Angeles
- Case Management
- Legal Server
- Caseload/Attorney
- ~714
- Phone
- (213) 974-2811
- Website
- Visit
Union Representation
AFSCME Local 685
Unionized workplace
Benefits
- CalPERS Retirement (2% @ 62)
- Health/Dental/Vision (LA County plan)
- PSLF Eligible
- Paid CLE (40 hrs/yr)
- AFSCME Union Membership
- Deferred Compensation (457b)
- 11 Paid Holidays
- Generous Sick/Vacation Leave
Labor History
2024-08-20
Staff attorneys filed workload grievance citing NAC caseload violations
Funding Sources
- Los Angeles County General Fund
- State Trial Court Trust Fund
- AB 625 State Allocation
Find Your Role Here
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