Cook County Public Defender
Employment Opportunities
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The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender was established in 1930 and defends indigent clients in one of the largest unified court systems in the United States. We have more than 700 employees including more than 500 attorneys who represent tens of thousands of clients a year, accused of offenses ranging from traffic violations and misdemeanors to felonies such as murder.
Our mission is to protect the rights, liberties and dignity of each person whose case has been entrusted to us by providing the finest legal representation.
Our office has multiple divisions and our offices are located throughout Cook County.
Current Job Openings
There are currently no open positions.
Please follow us on LinkedIn for announcements of future job postings.
Questions about previously submitted applications must be directed to the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources (BHR) at 312-603-3300, x2 or BHR.WorkforceStrategy@cookcountyil.gov.
For information about law student internships, see our Internships & Volunteer Opportunities Page.
Application Procedures
Please carefully complete and submit all applications and required supporting documents, following the instructions on the job listing. Failure to do so may disqualify an applicant from employment consideration.
Cook County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) employer and affords equal employment opportunities to applicants without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, source of income, housing status, military service or discharge status, gender identity, or genetic information.
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Assistant Public Defenders
Applicants for Assistant Public Defender positions must be members of the Illinois Bar at the time they submit their application.
Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in working with indigent clients, a capacity to work long hours and the ability to develop excellent litigation and writing skills.
Attorneys with legal experience outside our office are encouraged to apply for attorney supervisor roles when such postings are listed.
Law students can apply for our Law Student Volunteer Internship Program. For more information on this program click here.
Law students in their final year of school and recent law school graduates who are not yet admitted to the Illinois Bar can apply for pre-licensed positions as explained below.
Pre-licensed Assistant Public Defender Program
Law students in their final year of school and recent law school graduates who are not yet admitted to the Illinois Bar have the opportunity to work as Pre-licensed Assistant Public Defenders. Pre-licensed Assistant Public Defenders have one calendar year after their start date to get sworn-in to the Illinois bar. Upon being sworn-in, they are automatically promoted to Assistant Public Defender I.
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The Minimum Qualifications For Pre-licensed Assistant Public Defenders Are
- Must be currently enrolled in an accredited school of law having completed at least 54 credit hours required. (Must provide original law school transcript at time of interview)
- OR
- Have graduated from an accredited school of law with a Juris Doctorate degree preparing to take the Illinois bar or awaiting Illinois bar results, but not yet licensed as an Illinois attorney. (Must provide law school transcript).
Support staff, investigators, mitigation specialists, case workers, social workers, interpreters, and other non-attorney positions
Our office’s work to provide the finest legal representation for all of our clients would not be possible without skilled support staff, investigators, mitigation specialists, case workers, social workers, language interpreters and other important roles.
Important notes for applicants
- Documents uploaded for previous or different applications will not be considered. Applicants must upload documents separately for each application.
- Failure to provide required documents prior to the closing date will result in disqualification from further consideration.
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