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:

- Download the Application for Employment (pdf*) from our website.
- E-mail us at Human.Resources@mspd.mo.gov to have an application mailed to you.
- Contact or visit any local Public Defender office to request an application.
- Call the state office at (573) 777-9977 during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm) to have an application mailed to you.

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.

Position	Location	Closing Date
Assistant Public Defender	Various Rural Offices	Contact HR for additional information
Assistant Public Defender	Ava	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Bolivar	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Carthage (Joplin)	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Chillicothe	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Clayton	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Columbia Appellate	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Columbia Trial	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Farmington	Applications accepted until Wed., Mar. 29
Assistant Public Defender	Fulton	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Hannibal	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Harrisonville	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Hillsboro	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Jackson (Cape Girardeau)	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Kansas City App/PCR	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Kansas City Trial	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Kennett	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Kirksville	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Lebanon	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Monett	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Nevada	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Poplar Bluff	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Portageville	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Rolla	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Sedalia	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	Springfield	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	St. Charles	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	St. Joseph	Applications accepted until position is filled
Assistant Public Defender	St. Louis City Trial	Applications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Assistant Public Defender	West Plains	Applications accepted until position is filled
Children's Defense Team Appellate Attorney	KC, STL, or Col	Applications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Deputy District Defender	Lebanon	Applications accepted until position is filled
District Defender	Ava	Applications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
District Defender	Kennett	Applications accepted until position is filled
District Defender	St. Louis Children's Defense Team	Applications accepted until Wed., Mar. 22
Human Resources Specialist	Columbia Director's Office	Applications accepted until Wed., Mar. 29
Operations Assistant	Columbia Director's Office	Applications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Legal Assistant	Clayton	Applications accepted until Wed., Apr. 5
Legal Assistant	Monett	Applications accepted until position is filled
Mitigation Specialist	Columbia Capital	Applications accepted until Wed., Mar. 29
Mitigation Specialist	Columbia PCR	Applications accepted until position is filled
Specialty Practices Division Director	Undetermined	Applications accepted until Wed., Mar. 29
Holistic Defense Services Coordinator	St. Louis City	Applications 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.

Click here for a Missouri map of Public Defender Districts.
Click here for a list of offices and contacts.