Overview
A remote, paid research study is seeking current or former public defenders with hands-on experience representing indigent clients in the United States.
This contract position involves completing an initial survey that maps the real work performed by public defenders—primary responsibilities, task breakdowns, smaller activities, and dependencies between tasks—based on participants’ professional experience (not an idealized job description).
Responsibilities
During the initial survey, you will:
- Describe your primary responsibilities as a public defender
- Break your work into specific tasks and smaller activities
- Explain dependencies between tasks (which tasks rely on outputs or information from others)
- Describe different versions or variations of the same task where applicable
- Identify the jurisdiction and period in which you practiced
- Provide responses based on your own professional experience
Written instructions and support from a study coordinator will be provided. No outside research or real work product is required.
A later survey may be offered to selected participants. That stage may involve reviewing a combined task tree and adding additional details. Scope and compensation for the later stage will be confirmed separately before participation.
Compensation & Payment Terms
- $100/hour of reviewed survey time
- Wave 1 limited to 90 minutes
- Maximum Wave 1 payment: $150
- If additional time is needed, you must contact the study coordinator before continuing beyond the 90-minute cap
- Compensation for any later survey will be communicated before that stage begins
- Payments are made weekly through Stripe or Wise based on completed services
Contract & Engagement
- Independent contractor engagement
- Fully remote
- Flexible schedule
- Research activities may be extended, shortened, or concluded early depending on project requirements and performance
- No access is required to confidential or proprietary information belonging to an employer, client, or institution
Requirements
You should have:
- Current or former experience as a public defender
- Hands-on experience representing indigent clients in the United States
- Ability to describe the work you personally performed
- Ability to identify the jurisdiction and period in which you practiced
Court-appointed and contract public defense experience may qualify. If your public-defense work was performed under one of these arrangements, include that information in your application.
Not Qualifying
The following experience alone is not sufficient:
- Prosecutorial experience without public-defense experience
- Law school experience without hands-on public-defense practice
- Legal-content annotation or similar legal data work
- Legal practice without experience providing public defense
Prior experience with similar research projects is welcome but not required.
Research & Confidentiality Requirements
All responses must be based on your own professional experience rather than AI-generated answers.
Do not provide:
- Client names
- Case numbers
- Identifying case details
- Confidential information
- Attorney-client privileged material
- Documents or work products from real cases
The study does not require documents from actual cases.
How to Apply
Submit:
- Your resume
- A short description of your public-defense experience
- Your availability
Applications are reviewed before eligible participants receive a personal survey link. Submitting an application does not automatically enroll you in the study or begin paid survey work.
Eligibility Note
- H-1B and STEM OPT candidates are not currently supported.
Location