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Public Defender

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April 11, 2024 Updated May 24, 2025 16 minute read
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Public Defender: A Comprehensive Career Guide

A public defender is an attorney appointed by the court to represent individuals who cannot afford to hire a private lawyer for their defense in criminal proceedings. This role is a cornerstone of the justice system, ensuring that the right to legal counsel is upheld for everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Public defenders play a crucial part in safeguarding constitutional rights and striving for fair outcomes within the complexities of the legal process.

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Salaries for Public Defender

City
Median
New York
$106,000
San Francisco
$110,000
Seattle
$112,000
See all salaries
City
Median
New York
$106,000
San Francisco
$110,000
Seattle
$112,000
Austin
$134,000
Toronto
$93,000
London
£55,000
Paris
€66,000
Berlin
€96,000
Tel Aviv
₪58,000
Singapore
S$106,000
Beijing
¥130,000
Shanghai
¥110,000
Shenzhen
¥37,000
Bengalaru
₹423,000
Delhi
₹346,000
Bars indicate relevance. All salaries presented are estimates. Completion of this course does not guarantee or imply job placement or career outcomes.

Path to Public Defender

Take the first step.
We've curated five courses to help you on your path to Public Defender. Use these to develop your skills, build background knowledge, and put what you learn to practice.
Sorted from most relevant to least relevant:

Reading list

We've selected some books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Public Defender.
Cover image
Court Reform on Trial
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Provides a comprehensive overview of access to justice from a comparative perspective, examining how different countries have approached the challenge of ensuring that all citizens have equal access to the legal system.
Court Reform on Trial: Why Simple Solutions Fail...
Paperback
$$
Court Reform on Trial: Why Simple Solutions Fail...
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
Justice as Fairness
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Classic work of political philosophy that develops a theory of justice based on the idea of fairness. Rawls' theory has been influential in the field of access to justice, as it provides a framework for thinking about how to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the legal system.
Justice as Fairness: A Restatement
Paperback
$$
Justice as Fairness: A Restatement [Paperback] [Jan...
Paperback
$$
A Theory of Justice Revised edition + Justice as...
Paperback
$$$
(Deutsch) Justice as Fairness / Gerechtigkeit als Fairness...
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System
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Provides a comprehensive overview of the American legal system, including its history, structure, and function. It also examines the challenges to access to justice in the United States.
America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System
Hardcover
$$$$
America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System
Hardcover
$$$
America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System
Hardcover
$$
Bundle: America's Courts and the Criminal Justice...
Product Bundle
$$$$
Instructor's Edition- America's Courts and the...
Hardcover
$$$
America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
The Law and Business of Litigation Finance
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Provides a comprehensive overview of litigation finance, which is the practice of providing financial support to plaintiffs in lawsuits in exchange for a share of any recovery.
The Law and Business of Litigation Finance
Hardcover
$$$$
The Law and Business of Litigation Finance
Hardcover
$$$$
The Law and Business of Litigation Finance
Kindle Edition
$$$$
Relevant careers
Lawyer
Attorney
Legal Counsel
Prosecutor
Legal Aid Lawyer
Related topics
Access to Justice
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