Harris County Public Defender’s Office

Hi, I’ll be starting law school in the fall and i would like to practice criminal law. My plan for a few years has been to start as an ADA and then transition to private practice. Recently, however, I’ve come to think that perhaps I would be happier at the HCPD office. There is ample information about being a prosecutor in Houston, from how it is working at the office, the pay scale, hours, etc… but nothing about the PD office.

Essentially, I am writing to see if anyone has worked there, or has any experience. Their website says they only take experiences attorneys. So do they not hire from an intern pool like the DA’s office? Is the pay and promotion structure similar? How is the culture different? Anyway, I’d appreciate any information. Stay safe.