The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) seeks a dedicated and zealous litigator to serve as an Assistant Public Defender in the Mental Health Division (MHD). The Mental Health Division protects and advances the rights of indigent persons with mental illness in administrative hearings, as well as in District and Circuit Court civil proceedings. The involuntary commitment of an indigent client to a psychiatric hospital or court-ordered involuntary outpatient psychiatric treatment is a severe curtailment of liberty that cannot be accomplished without due process of law. Mental Health attorneys are responsible for the representation of criminal defendants committed to state hospitals pursuant to a finding of not criminally responsible (NCR), at subsequent release hearings before judges and juries across the State, clients in involuntary civil commitment hearings before administrative law judges, and in appellate hearings before circuit courts. In July of 2025, attorneys in the MHD will represent indigent persons with mental illness in civil forced outpatient treatment hearings before judges and juries in circuit courts in every Maryland county. MOPD is committed to building a culturally diverse staff and strongly encourages people historically underrepresented in law practice to apply.
MOPD’s vision is for Justice, Fairness, and Dignity for All. We are committed to our core values of a culture of excellence, client-centered representation, and tenacious advocacy, and we remain united as a team in achieving our mission. At MOPD we use our legal education and experience to fight for justice and fairness, no matter what, and we refuse to remain silent amid human suffering. Our unique talents, identities, educational backgrounds, and perspectives guide us in representing our clients. We stand up against prejudice, systemic racism, and inequity in all the spaces we occupy. Learn more about our mission and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
