Our History

The San Mateo County Private Defender Program was founded in 1969 to provide the highest-quality indigent legal representation. Unlike most other counties in California that have a Public Defender’s Office, San Mateo County has a Private Defender Program composed of a panel of dedicated private attorneys committed to handling criminal cases. We are a managed assigned counsel (MAC) program, which means the PDP oversees a panel of private attorneys who take assigned court cases. Once the court appoints the PDP to represent an individual, the PDP assigns an experienced criminal lawyer to defend them and oversees the representation.

Who We Are

The PDP employs a Chief Defender, an Assistant Chief Defender, a Managing Attorney for the Juvenile and Civil Commitments Division, a Managing Attorney for the Felony Division, a Managing Attorney for Misdemeanor and Post-Conviction Units, a Managing Attorney of Specialty Courts, a Chief Investigator, a Head of Social Work, a Head of Criminal Immigration, and support staff. San Mateo County’s finest criminal trial attorneys are on the Private Defender panel. Some have always been in private practice, while others have prior experience as public defenders in other counties. A unique feature of the program is that attorneys with 20-30 years of criminal trial experience handle not only serious felony cases, but also less serious misdemeanor matters.

PDP attorneys are experienced criminal lawyers licensed to practice in California. Each lawyer runs their own private law practice and maintains an office within the County of San Mateo. All our attorneys are committed to working with their clients to determine the best approach in each individual case. PDP attorneys work with a panel of well-trained, experienced investigators and social workers, which allows them to provide the most comprehensive legal defense possible. PDP attorneys also have access to immigration advice, paralegal support, client advocates, and expert witnesses to assist with their cases. The goal in each case is to seek the best possible outcome through vigorous and effective legal representation, whether that involves a favorable negotiated plea agreement or jury trial.

Join Us

If you are interested in joining the Private Defender Panel as an attorney, investigator, social worker, law clerk, or intern, please email your resume and cover letter to PDPrecruitment@SMCBA.org or call 650-298-4000 for more information.