Public Defender Jobs in South Carolina
Public Defender jobs in South Carolina concentrate in the public sector, with county and circuit public defender offices across the state anchoring most of the hiring from entry-level staff attorneys to chief public defenders. The largest markets are Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville, where the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense and major circuit offices maintain consistent rosters. Well-known employers with lasting hiring presence include the Richland County Public Defender's Office, the Charleston County Public Defender's Office, and the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense itself. The most in-demand specialties are felony criminal defense, juvenile delinquency representation, and appellate work. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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About us
York County is located in the Piedmont region, between the Broad River and the Catawba River. Its diverse landscape is home to family-friendly towns/cities, a progressive urban region and lakefront communities. We are excited that you want to join our team and recognize that our employees are the foundation for our success.
Mission Statement- York County provides quality public services in an open, efficient, and responsive manner.
Vision Statement - York County provides an environment where all citizens and businesses can thrive and succeed.
Core Values -Excellence through Professionalism
- Respect - respect builds bridges, not silos.How we live it? Golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated.
- Dedicated- strong work ethic.How we live it? Persistence, reliability and commitment to do your best.
- Integrity- do the right thing instead of what is convenient.How we live it? Displaying strong moral principles.
- Knowledgeable- ready and able.How we live it? Having the right competencies necessary for achievement.
- Friendly- service with a smile.How we live it? Being respectful, pleasant and helpful to ALL.
About our opportunity
We invite you to apply to join our team as a full-time (exempt) Assistant Public Defender within the 16thCircuit Public Defender Office. The purpose of this position is to represent indigent clients who are charged with serious criminal offenses.
Compensation: Depends on experience and education
Location: York County Office and Union County Office
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; occasional evenings and weekends depending on operational needs.
Our Total Compensation Package:
- Compensation – competitive market-rate pay, and negotiable based on qualifications.
- Comprehensive State Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Long-term disability
- Parental Leave
- Bereavement Leave
- Deferred Compensation 401K Plans
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Public Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness Program)
- 11 Paid Holidays + 3 Optional Holidays
- Longevity Pay
- SC State Retirement Plan Pension
- Paid Vacation and Sick Time
- Expanded Sick Bank
- Critical Care and Cancer Insurance
- Wellness Screenings
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Professional Development / Trainings / Conferences
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
- Coordinates, assigns and reviews work and establishes work schedules; maintains standards; monitors status of work in progress; inspects completed work assignments; answers questions; gives advice and direction as needed.
- Provides legal representation, consultation, and advice to clients.
- Represents clients during criminal investigative proceedings, which requires the ability to drive.
- Prepares a defense, conducts legal research, gathers facts, and interviews the client and witnesses.
- Works closely with clients, providing and discussing information, strategies, and developments.
- Arranges for bail to be set and bonds to be posted.
- Prepares motions, pleadings, and legal arguments.
- Prepares legal documentation and representing clients in court.
- Handles pretrial discovery, withdraw pleas, suppression motions, and appeals.
- Attends sentencing and negotiating plea bargains.
- Performs related work as assigned.
About you
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Juris Doctorate Degree.
- Five (5) years of practicing criminal law.
Certifications and Licenses:
- Valid state driver’s license.
- Must be licensed to practice law in the State of South Carolina and be a current member of the SC Bar Association.
Physical Demands / Work Environment / Disclaimer
Physical Demands:
Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.
- Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.
York County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.
Standard Clauses:
May be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, and emergencies (man-made or natural) to meet the business needs of the County. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of essential functions and responsibilities that are required of an employee for this job. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
About us
York County is located in the Piedmont region, between the Broad River and the Catawba River. Its diverse landscape is home to family-friendly towns/cities, a progressive urban region and lakefront communities. We are excited that you want to join our team and recognize that our employees are the foundation for our success.
Mission Statement- York County provides quality public services in an open, efficient, and responsive manner.
Vision Statement - York County provides an environment where all citizens and businesses can thrive and succeed.
Core Values -Excellence through Professionalism
- Respect - respect builds bridges, not silos.How we live it? Golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated.
- Dedicated- strong work ethic.How we live it? Persistence, reliability and commitment to do your best.
- Integrity- do the right thing instead of what is convenient.How we live it? Displaying strong moral principles.
- Knowledgeable- ready and able.How we live it? Having the right competencies necessary for achievement.
- Friendly- service with a smile.How we live it? Being respectful, pleasant and helpful to ALL.
About our opportunity
We invite you to apply to join our team as a full-time (exempt) Assistant Public Defender within the 16thCircuit Public Defender Office. The purpose of this position is to represent indigent clients who are charged with serious criminal offenses.
Compensation: Depends on experience and education
Location: York County Office and Union County Office
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; occasional evenings and weekends depending on operational needs.
Our Total Compensation Package:
- Compensation – competitive market-rate pay, and negotiable based on qualifications.
- Comprehensive State Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Long-term disability
- Parental Leave
- Bereavement Leave
- Deferred Compensation 401K Plans
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Public Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness Program)
- 11 Paid Holidays + 3 Optional Holidays
- Longevity Pay
- SC State Retirement Plan Pension
- Paid Vacation and Sick Time
- Expanded Sick Bank
- Critical Care and Cancer Insurance
- Wellness Screenings
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Professional Development / Trainings / Conferences
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
- Coordinates, assigns and reviews work and establishes work schedules; maintains standards; monitors status of work in progress; inspects completed work assignments; answers questions; gives advice and direction as needed.
- Provides legal representation, consultation, and advice to clients.
- Represents clients during criminal investigative proceedings, which requires the ability to drive.
- Prepares a defense, conducts legal research, gathers facts, and interviews the client and witnesses.
- Works closely with clients, providing and discussing information, strategies, and developments.
- Arranges for bail to be set and bonds to be posted.
- Prepares motions, pleadings, and legal arguments.
- Prepares legal documentation and representing clients in court.
- Handles pretrial discovery, withdraw pleas, suppression motions, and appeals.
- Attends sentencing and negotiating plea bargains.
- Performs related work as assigned.
About you
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Juris Doctorate Degree.
- Five (5) years of practicing criminal law.
Certifications and Licenses:
- Valid state driver’s license.
- Must be licensed to practice law in the State of South Carolina and be a current member of the SC Bar Association.
Physical Demands / Work Environment / Disclaimer
Physical Demands:
Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.
- Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.
York County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.
Standard Clauses:
May be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, and emergencies (man-made or natural) to meet the business needs of the County. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of essential functions and responsibilities that are required of an employee for this job. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
See All 7 Public Defender Jobs in South Carolina
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Find Public Defender JobsPublic Defender Jobs by City in South Carolina
Where South Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Public Defender Job Market in South Carolina
A snapshot from current South Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What South Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in public defender jobs across South Carolina.
- Active South Carolina Bar license or eligibility for South Carolina Bar admission required
- Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school
- Experience handling criminal defense cases in South Carolina state courts
- Ability to manage a high-volume caseload independently under court deadlines
- Strong courtroom advocacy and oral argument skills at the trial level
- Familiarity with South Carolina Rules of Criminal Procedure and evidence standards
Public Defender Jobs in South Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a public defender in South Carolina?
To become a public defender in South Carolina, you must first earn a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school and pass the South Carolina Bar Examination, administered by the South Carolina Board of Law Examiners. After admission to the South Carolina Bar, you apply directly to circuit public defender offices or to the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense. Most offices expect demonstrated criminal law coursework or clinic experience from law school.
Which companies hire public defenders in South Carolina?
South Carolina public defender roles are posted by York County Government and Richland County Government and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hiring in South Carolina is driven primarily by circuit public defender offices operating under the oversight of the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense, which funds and coordinates indigent representation across the state.
Which South Carolina cities have the most public defender jobs?
Richland County, York County, and York have the most public defender openings in South Carolina. Columbia leads because it is the state capital and home to the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense, while Charleston and Greenville reflect their status as the state's most populous metro areas, each supporting busy circuit courts with ongoing staffing needs in their public defender offices.
Are there remote public defender jobs in South Carolina?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of public defender openings tied to South Carolina are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting the fact that court appearances, client interviews, and in-person hearings make fully remote work uncommon. Administrative roles, appellate writing positions, and certain supervisory or training functions within larger offices are most likely to offer partial remote flexibility.
How can I get hired as a public defender in South Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a law school clinical externship or summer placement with a South Carolina circuit public defender office, which frequently leads to post-graduation hiring. The South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense and larger offices such as those in Richland and Charleston counties occasionally hire new admittees as staff attorneys. Candidates strengthen their application with criminal law clinic hours, moot court participation, and a demonstrated South Carolina Bar admission timeline.
Where can I find and apply to public defender jobs in South Carolina?
You can find and apply to public defender jobs in South Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current South Carolina openings in one place. Search the available roles, identify the positions that match your background and the counties or circuits you want to work in, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 7 Public Defender Jobs in South Carolina
Find roles in South Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Public Defender Jobs