The Office of Defense Services (ODS) offers career opportunities for attorneys, legal assistants, legal administrative specialists, investigators, client intake specialists, forensic social and mitigation specialists, and administrative and information technology professionals. ODS fills jobs as they become vacant. For information about the ODS’ law clerk program and internships, please click on the links at the bottom of this section.
If you are interested in working at the ODS, please email a cover letter and resume to ODS human resources ODS_HR@delaware.gov. ODS will send an electronic confirmation after your resume is received. ODS will keep your resume on file for 12 months. As positions become available, ODS will review your resume to see if you meet the requirements for the vacant position(s).
Benefits | Internships | Law Clerk Programs
The Office of Defense Services’ Office of Parental Representation (“OPR”) seeks a Peer Parent Advocate to work within a multi-disciplinary team on behalf of parents engaged in child welfare proceedings in Sussex County. This position would provide support and perspective from someone with “lived experience” in the child welfare system – having experienced the removal of their children and successful reunification.
Essential Functions
The Peer Parent Advocate will serve as a vital component of a parent’s legal defense team, including an Assistant Parent Defender and Parent Engagement Social Worker. The Peer Parent Advocate’s role will be to provide support and guidance from an experienced perspective while the parent works on their case plan and strives for reunification with their child.
Essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to:
Job Requirements for Peer Advocate
An ideal Peer Parent Advocate is one who has achieved successful custodial reunification with their child(ren) following legal removal. Candidates who have navigated Family Court hearings, case planning, and the challenging child welfare legal system as a Respondent are encouraged to apply. Those who have experienced an investigation, safety planning, or other types of child welfare system interaction will also be considered.
Required qualifications include:
Preferred qualifications:
Benefits
Additional Employment Information
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Friday, September 5, 2025.
Anticipated start date: Monday, October 6, 2025.
The Office of Defense Services seeks a highly motivated, organized, and enthusiastic Legal Assistant to fill a full-time role within the Office of Parental Representation (“OPR”) based in the New Castle County office. This position will provide assigned Assistant Public Defenders with the necessary legal and administrative support in providing high-quality indigent defense services to parent clients facing Division of Family Services involvement.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements for Legal Assistant:
OR
OR
OR
Benefits
Upon eligibility benefits to include:
Additional Posting Information
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Interviews in progress
Anticipated start date: Monday, November 17,2025
Full-Time Assistant Public Defender – Post Disposition Unit
The Office of Defense Services’ Public Defender’s Office seeks a motivated and enthusiastic attorney to join our statewide practice in a full-time capacity to represent incarcerated individuals in litigation in our post-disposition unit. The attorney will counsel, investigate, prepare, and litigate petitions filed under 11 Del. C. §§ 4214 and 4217, pardon applications, motions for registry relief, expungement petitions, and other post-disposition applications as needed. This role demands deep knowledge of Delaware sentencing law, § 4217’s eligibility criteria and procedures, work with experts (especially medical), and strong client advocacy skills. This role will handle cases statewide.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Applicants with experience in criminal law are preferred. Applicants without experience in criminal law but with a strong interest in the field and litigation experience are also encouraged to apply. The salary is commensurate with experience. To qualify, the attorney must be admitted, or pending admission, to the Delaware Bar.
Benefits
Upon eligibility benefits to include:
Additional Posting Information
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov.
Application end date: Until filled
Full-Time Legal Assistant – Post Disposition Unit
The Office of Defense Services seeks a highly motivated, organized, and enthusiastic Legal Assistant to fill a full-time role within the statewide Post Disposition Unit based at the Wilmington office. This position will provide dedicated legal and administrative support to Assistant Public Defenders representing individuals in post-disposition filings statewide.
The Legal Assistant will play a key role in ensuring that filings are thoroughly prepared, procedurally sound, and client-centered. The Legal Assistant will also support in ensuring that filings are complete, timely filed and received and docketed. This position supports ODS’ mission of advancing justice with compassion and ensuring fair, ethical representation for all clients.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements for Legal Assistant
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
OR
OR
A Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or a related field.
OR
Benefits
Upon eligibility benefits to include:
Additional Posting Information
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Monday, November 17, 2025
Anticipated start date: Monday, December 15, 2025
Full-Time Forensic Social Specialist – Post Disposition Unit
The Office of Defense Service’s Public Defender Unit is seeking a highly motivated, organized, and Bachelors level human service professional for a full-time Forensic Social Specialist (“FSS”) position in the statewide Post Disposition Unit based in the Wilmington office.
The FSS will work as part of an interdisciplinary defense team to assess client needs, gather mitigation materials, coordinate evaluations, and identify appropriate medical and community resources and re-entry plans, to support post-disposition filings, including but not limited to petitions for sentence modification filed under 11 Del. C. §§ 4214 and 4217, pardon applications, expungement petitions, motions for registry relief, and other post-disposition filings. The FSS will provide comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and mitigation reports, will coordinate with forensic experts as needed, and will initiate treatment and reentry referrals and planning to support clients being represented by the post-disposition unit.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements
The candidate must possess:
Benefits
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov mail to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Monday, November 17, 2025
Anticipated start date: Monday, December 15, 2025
Full-Time Forensic Nurse – Post Disposition Unit
The Office of Defense Services seeks a highly motivated, organized, and trauma-informed Registered Nurse (RN) for a full-time position within the Post Disposition Unit. The position may be located in Wilmington, Dover, or Georgetown.
This position plays a critical role in supporting attorneys and forensic social specialists representing individuals seeking sentence modification under Title 11, § 4217 of the Delaware Code
The Forensic Nurse will evaluate and make assessments from medical records to support compassionate release petitions based on serious chronic or life threatening illness, age-related infirmity, or rehabilitation needs, ensuring that advocacy is both clinically accurate and ethically grounded.
The Forensic Nurse serves as a key medical liaison between the defense team, correctional healthcare providers, and community medical resources, ensuring that each compassionate release motion includes accurate, comprehensive clinical evidence.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements
The candidate must possess:
Benefits
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov d send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Monday, November 17, 2025
Anticipated start date: Monday, December 15, 2025
The Office of Defense Services’ Public Defender’s Office seeks a motivated and enthusiastic attorney to join our Wilmington office in a full-time capacity defending clients in New Castle County. To qualify, the attorney must be admitted, or pending admission, to the Delaware Bar. Job duties will primarily include a felony trial caseload in the Superior Court and will also encompass defending clients at violation of probation hearings, specialty court proceedings, and other court calendars as needed.
Applicants with experience in criminal law are preferred. Applicants without experience in criminal law but with a strong interest in the field and litigation experience are also encouraged to apply. The salary is commensurate with experience.
Benefits
Upon eligibility benefits to include:
Additional Posting Information
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov.
Application end date: Until filled
The Office of Defense Services seeks a highly motivated, organized, and enthusiastic Human Resource Advisor to fill a casual seasonal role within the New Castle County based at our Carvel office. The Human Resource Advisor will provide assistance with directing customer service regarding onboarding, benefits, pay, offboarding, and other related HR functions from a centralized perspective. Working as an experienced generalist, this position requires great attention to detail and the ability to work minimal supervisory direction.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements for Human Resource Advisor I
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
1. Applicants must possess at least one of the following
Possession of a bachelor’s degree or higher.
One year of professional human resource experience.
Two years’ experience in performing paraprofessional or administrative support work for a human resource function. A Statewide Human Resource Certification or professional human resource certification may substitute for one year experience.
Benefits
This is a Casual/Seasonal position, currently approved to work up to 29.75 hours per week and is a non-pension eligible position without healthcare and/or other benefits.
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Monday, October 27, 2025.
Anticipated start date: Monday, November 17, 2025
The Office of Defense Services’ Public Defender’s Office seeks a motivated and enthusiastic attorney to fill a full-time position as an attorney in Kent County, based in the Dover office. To qualify, the attorney must be admitted, or pending admission, to the Delaware Bar. Job duties will primarily include a misdemeanor caseload in the Court of Common Pleas or Family Court, and will also encompass violation of probation hearings, specialty courts, and other court calendars as needed. Court assignment to be completed upon hire and dependent upon experience.
Applicants with experience in criminal law are preferred. Applicants without experience in criminal law but with a strong interest in the field and litigation experience are also encouraged to apply. The salary is commensurate with experience.
Benefits
Upon eligibility benefits to include:
Additional Posting Information
The Office of Defense Services The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Until filled
Full-Time Investigator
The Office of Defense Services seeks a highly motivated, organized, and enthusiastic Investigator to fill a full-time role within the Kent County Unit based at the Dover office. This position is responsible for directly assisting assigned attorneys by investigating and obtaining statements from witnesses and the defendant for the preparation of cases for ultimate resolution consistent with the applicable facts and laws.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements for Investigator
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
AND
Benefits
Upon eligibility benefits to include:
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Until Filled
The Office of Defense Services’ Public Defender’s Office seeks a motivated and enthusiastic attorney to fill a full-time position as an attorney in Sussex County, based in the Georgetown office. To qualify, the attorney must be admitted, or pending admission, to the Delaware Bar. Job duties will primarily include either a misdemeanor and or felony caseload in the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court or Superior Court, and will also encompass violation of probation hearings, specialty courts, and other court calendars as needed. Court assignment to be completed upon hire and dependent upon experience.
Applicants with experience in criminal law are preferred. Applicants without experience in criminal law but with a strong interest in the field and litigation experience are also encouraged to apply. The salary is commensurate with experience.
Benefits
Upon eligibility benefits to include:
Additional Posting Information
The Office of Defense Services The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Conditions of Hire
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Until filled
Legal Assistant Supervisor
The Office of Defense Services seeks a highly motivated, organized, and enthusiastic Legal Assistant Supervisor/Office Manager to fill a full-time role within Sussex County Public Defenders Office. The successful applicant will be responsible for providing technical leadership, guidance, and training to office Legal Assistants and Legal Administrative Specialists and other support staff as required.
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements for Legal Assistant Supervisor:
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
OR
Benefits
Upon eligibility benefits to include:
A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire and to maintain employment.
Additional Posting Information
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Wednesday, October 20, 2025.
Anticipated start date: Monday, November 3, 2025.
Casual Seasonal Client Intake Specialist
The Office of Defense Services seeks a highly motivated, organized, and enthusiastic Client Intake Specialist to fill a casual seasonal role within the Sussex County based at our Georgetown office. The Client Intake Specialist is the first interaction clients have with the Office of Defense Services, professionalism, people skills, and confidentiality are critical.
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements for Client Intake Specialist:
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
1. Possession of an Associate’s degree or higher in a Behavioral or Social Science field.
AND
1. One year experience in a Behavioral or Social Science related field.
2. One year experience in applying laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
3.Interviewing experience and knowledge of applicable interviewing techniques.
4. Strong assessment, writing, speaking, interpersonal skills.
5. Six months experience in record keeping.
6. Six months experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.
Benefits
This is a Casual/Seasonal position, currently approved to work up to 29.75 hours per week and is a non-pension eligible position without healthcare and/or other benefits.
English/Spanish bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.
Additional Posting Information
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or veteran status.
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Monday, October 27, 2025
Anticipated start date: Monday, November 17, 2025
C/S Legal Administrative Specialist
The Office of Defense Services seeks a highly motivated, organized, and enthusiastic entry level Legal Administrative Specialist to fill a casual seasonal role within Sussex County based at our Georgetown office. This position will provide assigned Court and Assistant Public Defender’s with the necessary legal and administrative support in providing quality, constitutionally mandated, indigent defense services. In addition to this, the position will provide receptionist services for the office. The schedule will be Monday through Friday, six-hour a day starting time each day at 8:30 am.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class:
Job Requirements for Legal Administrative Specialist
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
Benefits
This is a Casual/Seasonal position, currently approved to work up to 29.75 hours per week and is a non-pension eligible position without healthcare and/or other benefits.
The Office of Defense Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to ODS_HR@delaware.gov
Application end date: Monday, October 27, 2025.
Anticipated start date: Monday, November 17, 2025.
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