The Department of Public Defense (DPD) provides legal representation to adults and youth who have been charged with a crime and cannot afford an attorney.

The King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) provides legal representation to indigent people who face a loss of liberty on account of a felony or misdemeanor criminal case, juvenile criminal case, dependency case, involuntary commitment, sex offender commitment, and contempt of court. The Department also works to address racial disproportionality in the criminal legal system, the collateral consequences of systems involvement, and other structural and/or systemic issues that undermine the rights of the accused.

Public Defense Mitigation Specialists assist attorneys in developing defense strategies by providing advice and recommendations to attorneys, in assessing clients and their families, participating in case strategy and planning, and presenting relevant diagnostic social service needs of clients, particularly as it pertains to establishing the best possible legal defense and/or outcome.

Students placed at DPD will have the opportunity to interact with multiple systems and enhance their assessment and written communication skills. Students will be exposed to various clinical modalities and have the opportunity to gain familiarly with DSM V, depending on practicum instructor and placement. Students will gain familiarity with local resources, and will coordinate, monitor, and refer clients to relevant social services. Students will have the opportunity to address systemic injustices on behalf of their clients and advocate for client access to appropriate services and improved legal outcomes.

Some of the practice areas within DPD include:

Adult criminal practice: Students will work in felony and misdemeanor courts to improve legal outcomes and suggest alternatives to incarceration for DPD clients. Students will conduct biopsychosocial assessments, visit clients in the jail as well as in the community, write reports for the courts, provide client advocacy and support, and connect clients to appropriate community resources.

Family defense practice: Students will learn the child welfare system and the role of public defense in defending the fundamental right of family integrity. They will advocate for parents and youth who are represented by attorneys at DPD. Students will meet with clients in the community and will travel to the client. Students will provide advocacy and support to parents and youth, conduct home visits, write social histories, and link clients to appropriate services.

Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) practice: Students will utilize clinical and social work skills to advocate for clients facing civil commitment for a mental health disorder (and, under new laws, possibly also for substance use disorders). Students will develop outpatient treatment plans and secure housing and treatment options with client direction and hospital support. They will help attorneys address needs of clients with co-occurring disorders and travel with clients as needed.

Sex offender commitment: Students will work with clients civilly committed following the completion of their criminal sentence. Students will coordinate housing, treatment, and develop community release plans. They will assess eligibility for public benefits and help clients access benefits upon release. Students will also write treatment plans to advocate to the courts for client release to the community.

• Many opportunities throughout placement to work within Mitigation Unit team to staff cases, discuss community resources, and developing client interventions

• Collaborate with community providers, jail staff, treatment providers, etc.

Students will be able to identify a policy within the criminal/legal field that they are interested in knowing more about and how it may be impacting DPD clients. There will be opportunities to attend Seattle and King County council meetings and participating in UW's Lobby Day.

ORCA pass

• Strong commitment to social and racial justice
• Public defense experience or familiarity with the populations that DPD serves
• Demonstrated ability to keep up to date with changing work and practices in the social
work/mitigation field
• Skill in handling confidential information
• Skill in using office software programs including Microsoft Word platforms (word, excel,
outlook, etc.) and department case management system
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, in person and in writing
• Skill in working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Regular, reliable and predictable attendance.

The ideal candidate will be able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability work autonomously, asking for help/support as frequently as needed.

Practicum students will be placed at TDAD, where the primary practice area will be in the Seattle/Kent felony divisions, Seattle Municipal Court (SMC), and King County District Court (KCDC). There may be exposure to the Juvenile, ITA and Sex Offender Commitment practices as well.

Offers for placement are contingent on successfully obtaining jail clearance, passing a background check, and successful reference check.

English, however, fluency in another language a plus

Interested students should email their current resume, cover letter, and a self-authored writing sample to Nina Elmore at nina.elmore@kingcounty.gov.