Vacancies

Vacancies

Applying for Vacancies

A job application must be on file in Human Resources by the position closing date in order for employment consideration. A resume cannot be substituted for the completed job application. There are several ways to obtain an application for employment with the Missouri State Public Defender System:


Listed below are the job opportunities currently available with the Missouri Public Defender System.

For job descriptions and qualifications, click on the position title in the table below. This list is updated once a week, so it may not yet include vacancies that have been posted through other advertising sources. For information on job opportunities more recent than the last update, contact the Human Resources Office at (573) 777-9977.

Out-of-state applicants: If you are licensed in another state, you may be eligible for a temporary Missouri license. If eligible, you can apply for current MSPD attorney vacancies. If you’ve taken the UBE in a jurisdiction outside of Missouri and wish to transfer your score, you may also be eligible to do so. Learn more about temporary Missouri licenses and UBE score transferring here.

PositionLocationClosing Date
Assistant Public DefenderVarious Rural OfficesContact HR for additional information
Assistant Public DefenderAvaApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderBolivarApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderCarthage (Joplin)Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderChillicotheApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderClaytonApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderColumbia AppellateApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderColumbia TrialApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderFarmingtonApplications accepted until Wed., Mar. 29
Assistant Public DefenderFultonApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderHannibalApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderHarrisonvilleApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderHillsboroApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderJackson (Cape Girardeau)Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderKansas City App/PCRApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderKansas City TrialApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderKennettApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderKirksvilleApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderLebanonApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderMonettApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderNevadaApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderPoplar BluffApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderPortagevilleApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderRollaApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderSedaliaApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderSpringfieldApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderSt. CharlesApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderSt. JosephApplications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public DefenderSt. Louis City TrialApplications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Assistant Public DefenderWest PlainsApplications accepted until position is filled
Children's Defense Team Appellate AttorneyKC, STL, or ColApplications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Deputy District DefenderLebanonApplications accepted until position is filled
District DefenderAvaApplications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
District DefenderKennettApplications accepted until position is filled
District DefenderSt. Louis Children's Defense TeamApplications accepted until Wed., Mar. 22
Human Resources SpecialistColumbia Director's OfficeApplications accepted until Wed., Mar. 29
Operations AssistantColumbia Director's OfficeApplications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Legal AssistantClaytonApplications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Legal AssistantMonettApplications accepted until position is filled
Mitigation SpecialistColumbia CapitalApplications accepted until Wed., Mar. 29
Mitigation SpecialistColumbia PCRApplications accepted until position is filled
Specialty Practices Division DirectorUndeterminedApplications accepted until Wed., Mar. 29
Holistic Defense Services CoordinatorSt. Louis CityApplications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Last updated Mar. 22, 2023

Our offices make a significant investment of time and effort to train new attorneys. In addition, our clients depend on continuity in the personal attorney/client relationship and require representation by an experienced attorney with specialized training. For these reasons, we expect attorneys to make a two-year commitment to both the Missouri State Public Defender System and the local office in which they are employed. During this two-year time period, an attorney is not eligible to apply for transfer to a different office within the Public Defender System. Fulfillment of the two-year commitment to the local office and the Public Defender is a factor in determining an attorney’s eligibility for reemployment.

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