Public Defender
Impact: Regulatory
Advise clients on legal matters, represent them in court, and draft legal documents. This role demands meticulous research, strong analytical skills, and persuasive communication to navigate complex legal frameworks and achieve favorable outcomes.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Team: 39%, Solo: 61%
- Client facing
- Always
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- 9% travel
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 40
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $117,088
- Entry-level
- $71,693
- Senior
- $217,042
- Growth by 2033
- 18.3%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- None
- Salary growth potential
- 15.7%
- Typical student debt
- $26,989 to $74,048
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Financial Modeling
- Legal Research
- Regulatory Compliance
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Time Management
- Leadership
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Master's Degree
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 3 to 7 years
- Years to senior
- 12 to 19 years
- Career switching
- Very Hard
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Advance through specialized roles, partnership tracks, or senior management positions. Opportunities for leadership and mentorship are common.
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 6.2%
- AI disruption risk
- Very Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 6.1/10
- Meaning
- 8.6/10
- Work-life balance
- 6.7/10
- Prestige
- 6.2/10
- Social perception
- Moderate