Director of Non-Capital Appellate Representation

This position provides a unique opportunity to lead the Office of the State Public Defender’s (OSPD's) non-capital appellate program through mentorship, legal training, and strategic guidance. As the Non-Capital Appellate Director, you will help cultivate a culture of excellence, strengthen appellate advocacy, and empower attorneys and caseworkers to provide exceptional representation to clients across California.

Under the supervision of the Assistant Chief Counsel, the Non-Capital Appellate Director is responsible for the leadership, supervision, and strategic development of OSPD’s Non-Capital Appellate Program. Primary responsibilities include:

• Providing comprehensive legal supervision of all non-capital appellate cases, including direct supervision of an Attorney IV, hands-on mentoring and development of assigned attorneys, and final review of all non-capital appellate briefs.
• Designing and implementing a strategic plan for the Non-Capital Appellate Program, managing case selection, resource allocation, and caseload balance in consultation with OSPD leadership, and overseeing program structure and attorney progression toward capital qualification.
• Building and maintaining relationships with appellate projects and partner agencies to identify cases appropriate for OSPD representation and coordinating comprehensive training in appellate advocacy, legal research, and writing, and post-conviction practice.
• Contributing expertise to other OSPD projects and assuming direct client representation as agency needs require.

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, and Retirement benefits. For more information on what is offered by the State of California, please visit the California Department of Human Resources CalHR website and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System CalPERS website.