Description
APPLICATION DEADLINE- MAY 29, 2026
About Us.
The mission of Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) is to defend and protect the rights, liberties, and dignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. We do so by providing constitutionally and statutorily mandated representation that is effective, zealous, inspired, and compassionate.
OSPD’s Appellate Division, nearly 60 people strong, handles appeals of felony convictions and post-conviction rulings from across the State of Colorado. We seek to hire attorneys who will zealously and professionally represent indigent clients in Colorado’s appellate courts. These attorneys will join our office in September 2026 or later.
OSPD appellate attorneys demonstrate compassion, commitment to public service, and a desire to advocate on behalf of the poor. We are team-oriented, but we are also self-directed. We believe personal commitment to producing excellent work is an important attribute for success. We are highly skilled at research, legal analysis, writing, and oral advocacy. We manage our time effectively, we pay strong attention to detail, and we believe in the Oxford comma.
Typical responsibilities for Appellate Division attorneys include:
- Reviewing trial court records and transcripts to identify potential issues for appeal.
- Conducting legal research to evaluate relative strengths and weaknesses of issues identified for appeal.
- Writing well-reasoned and persuasive briefs based on evidence in the appellate record and the relevant law.
- Maintaining regular contact with clients throughout an appeal via in person and virtual prison visits, phone, and letters.
- Establishing positive, productive, and respectful working relationships with clients and their families, consistent with ethical obligations.
- Managing caseload and time to provide vigorous and effective representation to all clients.
- Presenting oral argument in the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court.
- Traveling to, and performing duties in, correctional institutions, jails, and district courts.
- Developing professional, cooperative, productive, and respectful relationships with all members of the Public Defender system, including administrative staff, paralegals, and other attorneys.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications.
- Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
- License to practice law in the State of Colorado.
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to conduct incisive legal research.
- Ability to review appellate records, which may include graphic visual depictions of evidence and crime scenes.
- Ability to process and retain large amounts of information.
- Ability to handle interruptions as well as challenging calls and letters.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage confidential information.
- Ability to form and maintain strong professional relationships with clients and colleagues.
(Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.)
Preferred Qualifications.
- Experience representing clients in criminal appeals.
- Experience in indigent defense.
- Experience with Colorado’s appellate courts and the appellate process.
How to Apply.
By Friday, May 29, 2026, please submit a single PDF including the following, in this order:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Law school transcripts (an unofficial transcript is acceptable)
- List of references
- Writing sample (unedited by others, no more than 10 pages; if your submission is an excerpt from a longer piece of writing, please provide an introduction explaining the context of your excerpt)
Note: We are trying to get to know you and your individual skills, so please do not include any AI-generated content in your submission.