The Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Diversity and dignity are central to our work. We hire without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, height, weight, veteran status, military obligations, or marital or parental status. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in any personnel decisions or employee interactions.
Come join our team! We work to keep people out of prison through holistic representation, collaboration, and education. Our clients are people accused of federal crimes who cannot afford private lawyers. We protect their rights and center their humanity at every stage of the criminal case and beyond. We value hard work, diversity, teamwork, creativity, flexibility, and fairness.
Everyone in our office, regardless of title, is a public defender. We came to this work from a wide range of backgrounds, education, and experience. We stay in this work because we are passionate about fighting injustice and helping our clients.
Employment Opportunities
We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:
| Position | Description | Closing date |
|---|---|---|
| OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR TOP-ICT | 2026-11 OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR TOP-ICT.pdf | When filled |
| Assistant Federal Public Defender - Wichita | 2026-10 AFPD WICHITA.pdf | When filled |
Benefits Package
Link to Federal Insurance Programs Includes:
- Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB)
- Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
- Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
- Long-Term Care Insurance
Link to Flexible Benefits Programs Includes:
- Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA)
- Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA)
Link to Retirement Programs Includes:
- Thrift Savings Plans (TSP)
- Federal Employment Retirement Systems (FERS)
Link to Other Benefits Includes:
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work/Life Services
- Commuter Benefit Program
- Ten Federal Holidays
- Annual Leave (vacation) and Sick Leave
Onboarding Forms
- AO 78 Application for Judicial Branch Employment: Complete the entire application using month and year format for all employment dates. Sign in all designated areas.
- AO 78A United States Courts Appointment: Sign on the "Signature of Appointee" line and have the form notarized. Section A has been completed for you.
- AO 78B Voluntary Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Disability Identification: This voluntary form assists with equal employment opportunity reporting.
- AO 65 FBI Privacy Act Acknowledgement Form: which details the employee’s rights with regards to the background check process.
- FMS 2231 Direct Deposit Form: In Section 3, the check digit box requires the last digit of your routing transit number.
- I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form: Complete Section 1 only. Please provide copies of your driver's license and Social Security card with your submitted forms. You'll need to present acceptable documentation to Human Resources (typically one item from List A, or one each from Lists B and C).
- W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate: Complete for federal tax withholding purposes.
- K-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate: Complete for state tax withholding purposes.