The bill addresses the critical shortage of public defense attorneys and professional staff in Washington State, aiming to enhance recruitment and retention efforts. It recognizes the barriers that hinder the entry of new attorneys and staff into public defense roles, particularly in underserved areas. To combat this issue, the bill introduces a training program for public defense mitigation specialists and paralegals, which will be administered by the office of public defense. This program will focus on essential skills, ethical standards, and client communication, while also providing networking opportunities. The training will be available in various formats and will actively recruit justice-impacted individuals.

Additionally, the bill establishes a pool of public defense paralegals to support contracted counsel on an as-needed basis, prioritizing solo practitioners and small law firms. The office of public defense is tasked with ensuring that at least 10 full-time paralegals are part of this pool by June 30, 2027, and will also focus on outreach to justice-impacted individuals for recruitment. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.