I applied through university. The process took 4 months. I interviewed at Orleans Public Defenders in Oct 2023
Interview
Interview is three rounds. First is a basic screener, second is a panel with complicated ethical questions, third is a panel that has you do a sentencing/bond argument. The office is trying to move away from hiring from "fancy" law schools in the Northeast and West Coast, they are looking for more people from the area. Overall was a decently positive experience, Zoom panel interviews are always awkward and hard to gauge.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How would you handle a client who does not respect you as their attorney? Why NOLA?
I applied online. I interviewed at Orleans Public Defenders (New Orleans, LA) in Apr 2021
Interview
Very informative, well conducted interview. Questions were well thought out questions which required you to think before you gave your answers. Was asked to present a bond argument based on a fact pattern that i was given, feedback was very positive.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why do you want to become a public defender within our office?