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Law Offices of the Public Defender 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida

Job Opening: Capital Mitigation Specialist

The Public Defender for the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida seeks capital mitigation specialist for a fast-paced, client-centered office. 

PD-11 Overview: The Public Defender is an elected official who has a constitutional duty to provide legal representation to persons in jeopardy of losing their life or liberty who cannot afford to hire a private attorney. Our office employs nearly 200 lawyers plus investigators, mitigation specialists, secretaries, and paralegals to assist with the more than 65,000 cases we handle each year. We recruit locally and nationally with just one goal in mind: To put together a diverse team of outstanding men and women from all racial and ethnic backgrounds who are able to provide high-quality representation to our clients. 

Position Type: Full-time


Job Description

The capital mitigation specialist works with an in-house team of experienced attorneys and fact investigators. Primary responsibilities are to conduct comprehensive client and family biopsychosocial histories and identify mitigation themes for settlement and/or the penalty phase of capital cases. Experience in field/ community and jail settings is required.


Requirements and Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, sociology, or a related field is preferred. A Master’s Degree in a related field is a plus. The candidate must have an educational background and experience in working with clients with various needs such as mental health, substance, developmental, Intellectual Disability, and trauma. He/she must be able to work within a team setting, follow through on assigned requests, and be able to organize and prioritize workload to manage cases efficiently. Extensive documentation of work product is required.

Applicants must have a clean driving record, a valid Florida Driver’s License, and proof of automobile insurance. English/Spanish and/or English/Creole preferred.

Additional responsibilities:  
  • Identifying and interviewing witnesses
  • Identifying, collecting, reviewing/summarizing records
  • Identifying and developing mitigation themes in cases
  • Preparing proffers, chronologies, and memos related to the life history of the client
  • Assisting attorneys in identifying and working with expert witnesses
  • Participation in case staffing with team

Salary and Benefits

  • Salary is commensurate with experience
  • Health insurance
  • Annual leave – 15 days per year
  • Sick leave - 12 days per year
  • Paid holidays – 13 days per year
  • $25,000 life insurance policy - paid by the State of Florida
  • Optional employee-paid supplement insurance plans available (additional life insurance, vision, dental, cancer, hospitalization, and disability)
  • State retirement benefits - vesting after 8 years in a pension plan or after 1 year for the investment plan
  • Deferred compensation – option of saving a portion of monthly salary in a tax-sheltered account
  • Free tuition for college courses on a space-available basis.

How to Apply

Complete an Application for Employment and submit your resume and writing sample, all in PDF format, to jobs@pdmiami.com.

Failure to provide required documentation information may result in rejection of your application.


How Your Application Will Be Evaluated

Your submitted application package will be reviewed to determine compliance with application requirements, level of position-relevant work experience, education and training.

After your application package has been reviewed, you may be required to participate in a selection interview. Non-local candidates may be interviewed initially via Zoom or other electronic means.


The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants will be considered irrespective of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or political affiliation.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or the People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

Veterans are encouraged to apply.