Website Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy
AGENCY DESCRIPTION:
The Department of Public Advocacy is Kentucky’s statewide public defender system with offices
spanning from the beautiful Appalachian Mountains to the scenic lakes of southern Kentucky to
the farmlands of Western Kentucky to the urban areas of Louisville, Lexington, and
Covington (Cincinnati area). DPA has trial, appellate, post-conviction, capital, and juvenile
opportunities.
Ky DPA is nationally recognized as a model state-wide public defender system with an
outstanding training and education program for newly hired Law Clerks and Attorneys. Our
Kentucky Defender College provides over 150 hours of on-your-feet training and education
covering practice in District Court, Defending Children, Trials, Circuit Court, and Voir Dire. We
invite anyone who has a passion for defender work to come to Kentucky and join us in the fight
for justice and freedom. We begin making early offers in October to law students planning to
graduate in the following 8 months or who are awaiting bar results.
Position Description:
• LAW CLERK: 4Ls or unlicensed law school graduates; Taking or awaiting bar results in any state.
o Salary: $51,510
o Full-time, attorney-track position
o Full state benefits
o Start Date: In most cases, immediately after taking the bar exam.
o Ky is a UBE (Uniform Bar Examination) state requiring a passing score of 266.
Ky transitions to the NextGen exam July 2027
NOTE: Law Clerks usually shift pretty quickly over to a Staff Attorney I position.
Why be a Kentucky Public Defender:
• Holistic Client Representation
• 150 hours of nationally recognized public defender training and education
• Courtroom experience from Day 1
• Mentorship Program
• Statewide Agency
• State Employee Benefits: Health Insurance, 401K, Retirement, comp time earned, paid holidays,
earned vacation, and sick leave
• Inclusive and diverse workforce
• Low cost of living
• Daily opportunities to make a difference for people who need you
Preferred candidates are highly motivated to practice criminal defense. If you want to be the strongest
line of defense for the poorest Kentucky citizens in a court of law, we welcome you to join us!
For more information about state employee benefits: https://personnel.ky.gov/
Kentucky is a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state with a passing score of 266.
Kentucky switches to the NextGen UBE in July 2027 requiring a passing score of 616.
To apply for this job email your details to Patti.Heying@ky.gov