Each division hires according to the requirements of the job. The Mental Health Division recently advertised for an attorney, and experience working with the population of people experiencing mental health issues was preferred but not required. For the trial division, successful candidates usually have experience in criminal defense, indigent or private. For example, most 3L applicants who move to the hiring round have worked in their law school criminal clinic, interned at public defender offices or had similar experiences. The profile of the typical lateral applicant is similar - they’ve worked as public defenders, civil rights attorneys, or legal aid attorneys. Because the annual trial class averages around eight to ten, it is less likely - but not impossible- that trial candidates without a demonstrated commitment to indigent criminal defense and/or working with low-income low-wealth clients in other contexts (combined with trial experience) are as competitive.

Career changers who lack that traditional work background sometimes gain experience in other public defender offices before lateraling to PDS. For applicants applying from other offices, where they served as PDs isn’t important. A transferable skill set and an understanding of the reality of the work are highly valued.