Employment Opportunities

Work on behalf of clients as an attorney, investigator, social worker, or legal secretary. LDA is looking for applicants with the skills and training to perform at the highest level of advocacy. In all positions, LDA needs people with a demonstrated passion for defending the less fortunate.

Open positions are posted here. We also announce open positions on our Facebook page and on twitter @SLLegalDefender. For specific inquiries into current openings at LDA, please send an email to: webmail@sllda.com.

Open to members in good standing with the Utah State Bar Association. While prior trial experience is strongly considered, LDA is looking for attorneys with passion and skill to integrate into our culture of excellence and dedication to our client base. Attorneys are responsible for handling a demanding caseload through all phases of litigation while coordinating the efforts of their support team, including investigators, social workers, experts and support staff. Professional development by attending trainings both within and without the office expected. LDA offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package.
Open to members in good standing with the Utah State Bar Association. While prior appellate experience is strongly considered, LDA is always looking for appellate attorneys who have demonstrated excellence in legal writing and appellate advocacy. Appellate attorneys are responsible for handling a demanding caseload through all phases of the appeal from opening briefs through oral argument and beyond. Professional development by attending trainings both within and without the office expected. LDA offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package.
Mitigation Coordinators interview and assess LDA clients in order to evaluate competency to proceed, develop re-entry service plans, and referrals to substance abuse, mental health, as well as vocational training programs. Social workers play an important role in the defense team, providing attorneys with the means to advocate for alternatives to incarceration and sentencing mitigation. LDA offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package.
Investigators and investigative aides independently examine the facts and witnesses in a case. Duties include locating and interviewing witnesses, examination of evidence, preservation and re-creation of crime scenes, and the serving of subpoenas. Investigators confer with the defense team on the preparation and defense of criminal cases, testifying in court as necessary.
Candidates must possess strong people skills, the ability to look beyond assumptions, and the willingness to reexamine facts. Tenacity and creativity are also important job skills. LDA offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package.
Legal assistants are often the front line of LDA’s client-centered representation. They perform detailed clerical work, including retrieving legal documents; responding to inquiries made in-person and over the telephone; utilizing computer technology to retrieve and input information; assembling legal papers and case files; filing motions and other legal papers; distributing mail and delivering legal papers; evaluating and transcribing various types of documents by listening to dictated material and operating transcribing equipment; interfacing with office staff, clients and members of the public.
Candidates must be flexible and thrive in a fast-paced environment. LDA offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package.

Law Clerks & Internships

Appellate Law Clerks
LDA hires law students as law clerks on a fairly regular basis. Those law students with particular talents in research and writing and who have an interest in working for a public defender should submit a current resume, cover letter outlining your interest in working for LDA, and a legal writing sample to: webmail@sllda.com.

Internships
LDA also offers unpaid internships for law students.

NOW HIRING

NOW HIRING: Felony Attorney
The largest public defense agency in Utah is looking to hire members of the Utah Bar who are self-directed, creative, client-centered, and passionate about defending our clients. We seek attorneys with a diversity of experience, perspectives, and personalities. Five years of criminal law trial experience is preferred.
Successful applicants can expect to handle a demanding caseload and should be prepared to write and argue a variety of motions, interact with a diverse clientele, become familiar with substance abuse and mental health issues, and enjoy trial work.
Interested attorneys should submit a cover letter and resume to Salt Lake Legal Defender Association at jobs@sllda.com by September 20, 2019.

NOW HIRING: Misdemeanor Attorney
The largest public defense agency in Utah is looking to hire members of the Utah Bar in good standing who are self-directed, creative, client-centered, and passionate about defending our clients and the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution. We seek attorneys with a diversity of experience, perspectives, and personalities. While trial experience is a plus, our office offers robust professional development opportunities, including mentoring, internal training, and attendance at external CLEs. Applicants can expect to handle a demanding caseload and should be prepared to write and argue a variety of motions, interact with a diverse clientele, become familiar with substance abuse and mental health issues, and have the opportunity to develop excellent trial skills. We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits.
Interested attorneys should submit a cover letter and resume to Salt Lake Legal Defender Association at jobs@sllda.com by September 20, 2019.