The Federal Defender Program is a not-for-profit private corporation which provides free legal representation to all persons accused of committing federal crimes who cannot afford to hire private counsel. The Program was created in 1965. Our goal is to provide the highest quality legal representation to our clients at all stages of their cases.Federal criminal cases include a wide variety of offenses such as drug and gun cases, kidnapping, bank robbery, embezzlement, forgery, counterfeiting, mail theft, mail fraud, interstate theft, and RICO. PILI Fellows work on many of these cases, and are involved in client interviews, both in the defender office and at the nearby Metropolitan Correctional Center. They accompany attorneys on case investigations, make numerous courtroom appearances with the assigned attorneys, and research and draft motions, memoranda appellate briefs, and possibly petitions for certiorari.

This agency is approved to host Graduate Fellows.