Public Defender – Paid Research Study

Contract · Remote · United States

Compensation: $100/hour
Maximum Wave 1 Compensation: $150

About the Study

This remote paid research study is seeking current or former public defenders with hands-on experience representing indigent clients in the United States.

The study aims to map the actual work performed by public defenders, including primary responsibilities, individual tasks, smaller work activities and dependencies between tasks. The focus is on participants' real professional experience rather than an idealized public defender job description.

What You'll Do

During the initial survey, you will:

• Describe your primary responsibilities as a public defender

• Break your work down into specific tasks and smaller activities

• Explain which tasks depend on outputs or information from other tasks

• 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. This stage will involve reviewing a combined task tree and adding additional details. The scope and compensation for the later stage will be confirmed separately before participation.

Compensation

• $100/hour of reviewed survey time

• Wave 1 is limited to 90 minutes

• Maximum Wave 1 payment: $150

• If additional time is needed, contact the study coordinator before continuing beyond the 90-minute cap

• Compensation for any later survey will be communicated before that stage begins

Who Should Apply

You should have:

• Current or former experience as a public defender

• Hands-on experience representing indigent clients in the United States

• The ability to describe the work you personally performed

• The 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.

Who Does Not Qualify

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.

How to Participate

Apply with:

• 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.

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.

Contract & Payment Terms

• Independent contractor engagement

• Fully remote

• Flexible schedule

• Payments are made weekly through Stripe or Wise based on completed services

• Research activities may be extended, shortened or concluded early depending on project requirements and performance

• The study does not require access to confidential or proprietary information belonging to an employer, client or institution

• H-1B and STEM OPT candidates are not currently supported