Description
The Tennessee Office of the Post-Conviction Defender (OPCD) is accepting applications for an Assistant Post-Conviction Defender position. Applications received by February 6, 2026, will be given priority consideration. The position will remain open until filled.
Overview of the Office and the Position
OPCD is an independent agency of the Tennessee state government. The agency represents people on Tennessee’s death row in state post-conviction proceedings and in seeking clemency from the Governor. The office also provides non-case-specific assistance and educational resources to trial counsel appointed in capital cases. The office and the position are located in Nashville, but OPCD handles cases throughout Tennessee and travel is required. Please see www.tnpcdo.net for further details about the agency.
Tennessee has a robust capital post-conviction practice which offers a perfect blend of trial and appellate work. Evidentiary hearings are conducted in all capital post-conviction cases, providing meaningful opportunity to develop evidence and build a record on clients’ behalf. OPCD handles cases both at the evidentiary stage, and during the appeal of the post-conviction court’s decision. The office is located 20 minutes from Tennessee’s death row, enabling frequent client visits.
The attorneys work on teams with investigators and paralegals, and their primary duties include: 1) developing and maintaining close working relationships with clients, 2) review and analysis of voluminous records, 3) identification of potential legal claims and investigative needs, 4) claim development through oversight of investigation and record collection, 5) consultation with experts, 6) drafting of extensive legal pleadings, 7) preparation and presentation of evidence at evidentiary hearings, 8) oral arguments in post-conviction and appellate courts, and 9) preparation and presentation of clemency applications to Governor’s staff.
Qualifications
-Demonstrated commitment to and passion for protecting the rights of indigent clients
-Strong written and oral advocacy skills
-Ability to analyze complex legal issues
-Understanding of mental illness, intellectual disability, and trauma
-Ability to collaborate closely with others in a team setting
-Strong organizational skills
-Ability to develop trusting relationships with clients
-Ability to communicate with and advocate on behalf of people from a variety of cultural backgrounds
-Flexibility to work evenings and weekends
-Ability to travel within Tennessee, as well as out of state
-A valid driver’s license Tennessee law license or eligibility for admittance to Tennessee State Bar through comity or bar examination (see Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7 for details: https://www.tncourts.gov/rules/supreme-court/7)
Prior experience in capital defense, post-conviction litigation, trial and/or direct appeal practice, complex civil litigation, or judicial clerkship is preferred.
Benefits and Compensation
-Salary ranges from $70,872 to $185,724 and is based on years of legal practice experience; salary is increased each year per statutory step scale, and the scale itself is typically adjusted annually for cost of living
-No state income tax
-Flexible work hours, including hybrid in-office/remote work schedule
-Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, as well as pharmacy benefits
-10 weeks of paid parental leave
-Generous annual, sick, and compensatory time accrual
-Retirement program recognized as one of the strongest pension funds in the country
-Partial tuition fee waivers at state institutions of higher learning for state employees and discounts on undergraduate tuition for children of state employees
-In-house and national training opportunities
For more information regarding the benefits of Tennessee state employees, please visit: https://www.tn.gov/hr/employees1/benefits.html. For more information about the state retirement program, please visit: https://treasury.tn.gov/Retirement/Retire-Ready-Tennessee/for-State-Employees.
Requirements
Application Process
OPCD is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for all citizens. OPCD strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subject to discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
Interested candidates should send: 1) a cover letter discussing their interest in capital defense work and qualifications for the assistant post-conviction defender position; 2) a resume; 3) three professional references; and 4) a writing sample to apply@tnpcdo.net. Applicants must provide all the requested materials to be considered.
Applicants will receive a questionnaire to complete once they submit their application materials. Interviews with final candidates will be conducted in person starting in the second half of February 2026. Ideal starting date for the new attorney is May 1, 2026. If applicable, a successful candidate will need to relocate to Nashville by the starting date and begin the process for admission to the Tennessee bar upon acceptance of the position.
