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Celebrating 110 Years of Advocacy

The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office remains dedicated to justice, defending rights, and transforming lives through unwavering legal representation and social advocacy.
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Know Your Rights

Understanding your rights as a justice-involved individual empowers you to participate in democracy and ensures your voice is heard and respected.
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Law Clerk & Volunteer
Student Program

Learn about our structured clerkship and internship programs that provide students mentorship from experienced defense attorneys and invaluable real-life experiences.
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Careers

Join our multidisciplinary team of advocates in the finest criminal defense firm in the nation, including investigators, paralegals, and social workers, to help provide a comprehensive and client-centered strategy.
Available Positions

Outreach Court

The Community Outreach Court (COC) is a collaborative initiative spearheaded by the LA City Attorney’s Office, the LA County Public Defender’s Office, the LA County Alternate Public Defender’s Office, and the LA Mayor’s Office of Community Safety.
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LACPDO Receives Gold Eagle Award

LACPDO’s groundbreaking Neurocognitive Disorders Team was honored with the prestigious Gold Eagle Award at the 37th Annual County Quality and Productivity Awards
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Executive Career Opportunity

The Departmental Chief Information Officer II (DCIO II) is an unclassified (at will) position that reports directly to the Chief Deputy Public Defender. The DCIO II serves as the Chief Information Officer for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, providing strategic leadership over all information technology operations. This role directs the planning, design, development, implementation, and maintenance of the Office’s automated systems, ensuring alignment with the Department’s mission of client-centered representation and justice reform.
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Latest News

LA County Public Defender, Ricardo D. García has issued the following statement: "Our immediate concern is ensuring the fair treatment of all individuals involved in the recent events at UCLA. We are closely monitoring the situation and have deployed our Rapid Response Team to provide on-the-ground support to arrestees.
In celebration of April as Arts Month, the LA County Office of the Public Defender announces the completion of a major renovation project that transformed a former file-storage warehouse into a modern, state-of-the-art office space, now adorned with unique artwork inspired by the criminal legal system.
A County Public Defender, Ricardo D. García has issued the following statement: "The video exposing probation officers encouraging violence between detained youth is appalling. These actions by officers violate the duty of care owed to our youth and perpetuate a culture of violence rather than rehabilitation."

Social Media

Ricardo D. Garcia, L.A. County Public Defender, appeared on Univision 34 Los Angeles to discuss, in spanish, the recently implemented AB 1261. This bill requires the state to provide legal representation for immigrant youth in the State of California.
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So many people wrapped up in the criminal legal system have a cognitive disorder that affects planning, decision-making, and judgment. When the system expects something different without providing proper support, it explains why people cycle in and out far too often.

Noah Cox, LA County Deputy Public Defender, joins the @publicdefenselesspodcast to talk about the realities clients with cognitive disorders face and the critical work of our Neurocognitive Disorders Team, which helps bridge that gap with understanding, advocacy, and care.

Listen to the full conversation through the link in our bio.
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“Justice too long delayed is justice denied.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
 
As we honor his legacy, LA County Public Defender offices will be closed Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”
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🚨WE'RE HIRING!🚨The Administrative Deputy II is the highest-level administrative officer in the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. This executive-level position is responsible for directing and overseeing all departmental administrative support operations and services. This role is essential to ensuring operational efficiency, fiscal integrity, regulatory compliance, and alignment with our mission of client-centered representation and justice reform. 🔗Click the link in our bio or scan the QR code to apply today!🔗
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Happy New Year from the Public Defender’s Office! 

Notice of closure: All our offices will be closed on Thursday, January 1, 2026 and will reopen on Friday, January 2, 2026.
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