San Mateo County Private Defender

San Mateo County Bar Association's
Private Defender Program

The San Mateo County Bar Association’s Private Defender Program (PDP) was established in 1969 to provide high-quality, zealous legal representation for clients charged with crimes in San Mateo County who cannot afford an attorney. Overseen by a 15-member Board of Directors, we are a “Managed Assigned Counsel” (MAC) program committed to client centered holistic representation.

The PDP is appointed by the San Mateo County Superior Court to represent financially eligible individuals at public expense. This includes people accused of felonies and misdemeanors, juveniles in delinquency cases, parents and juveniles in dependency cases, and cases brought under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act.

Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of our clients. We practice client-centered, holistic legal advocacy, which goes beyond traditional legal defense to address the full range of our clients’ needs and break the cycle of incarceration. To support this work, we provide our attorneys with all necessary support services, including investigators, paralegal services, access to our Partners for Justice Advocates, criminal immigration services, and social workers. Additionally, attorneys have access to expert witnesses to testify and assist in legal proceedings.

We have been recognized by the Standing Committee Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants of the American Bar Association and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association as one of the preeminent indigent defense organizations in the country.

What is the difference between a Private Defender and a Public Defender’s Office?

PDP is a Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) program. We are similar to a Public Defender’s Office in that both systems provide indigent criminal defense, but they differ in structure and administration.

A Public Defender’s Office employs full-time attorneys who represent indigent clients, while a MAC program assigns cases to private attorneys who contract with the program. The MAC program ensures the attorneys have the support they need to represent their clients effectively and works to ensure high-quality legal defense throughout the process.

PDP attorneys are private attorneys with their own legal practices who take on assigned cases. We support these attorneys by providing access to investigators, social workers, client advocates, expert witnesses, and other ancillary services. We also oversee cases and offer ongoing education, training, and guidance to ensure the highest standard of representation.

If you aren’t a public defender’s office, does that mean I cannot get resources for my case?

The PDP provides our attorneys with access to support services like investigators, paralegal services, access to our Partners for Justice Advocates, criminal immigration, and social workers. Additionally, attorneys have access to expert witnesses to testify and assist in legal proceedings.

What is a Managed Assigned Counsel (“MAC”) program?

In a “Managed Assigned Counsel” (MAC) system, an independent administrator manages a panel of private attorneys who take court appointments, provides the attorneys with access to investigators and other resources, and oversees the quality of representation.

In a traditional appointed counsel panel system, the court assigns cases directly to private attorneys, often on a rotational basis. The attorneys work independently with minimal oversight and, while they may have access to some resources, they are generally responsible for handling cases without centralized support. Payment is typically administered by the court or another government entity, but there is little case management beyond ensuring assignments are made.

A MAC Program introduces centralized management to improve quality and efficiency. An independent office oversees case assignments, ensuring attorneys are qualified and workloads are well distributed. The program also provides access to support services such as investigators, social workers, and expert witnesses. The MAC office also monitors the quality of representation, offers training, and ensures attorneys have the resources they need to provide effective defense.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply to become part of the Private Defender Panel?

If you want to work for the PDP as an attorney, investigator, social worker, law clerk, or intern, please email your resume and cover letter to PDPrecruitment@SMCBA.org

If you are applying to be a PDP panel attorney, please also complete a PDP attorney application.

We will be in touch with you shortly regarding your application. If you have questions about your application, call 650-298-4000 and ask for the following:

Attorney application for the adult panel — Jessica Agnich
Attorney application for the juvenile or civil commitment panel — Ron Rayes
Intern and law clerk application — Mitri Hanania
Investigator application — Indiana Albanes
Social worker application — Harpreet Samra

Who is my assigned attorney and how do I get their contact information?

If you don’t know who your assigned PDP attorney is, please call 650-298-4000 and we will provide you with their name and contact information.

I have a bench warrant out of San Mateo County. What do I do?

If you have an attorney, contact your attorney about getting back on the calendar. If you do not know who your attorney is or cannot reach your attorney, please call 650-298-4000 and ask for the attorney of the day.

If you have a bench warrant in a juvenile case, contact the juvenile office at 650-312-5396.

How do I leave feedback about my PDP attorney?

Please complete this form to provide feedback about your attorney directly to the PDP.

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San Mateo County
Private Defender Program

San Mateo County Bar Association's
Private Defender Program

Client Resources

Frequently Asked Questions