What's the actual difference between a public defender and a private attorney, and can I just request one?

Facing a legal situation and trying to understand my options for representation if I can't afford a private lawyer.

A public defender is a licensed attorney provided at no cost specifically in criminal cases when the court determines you can't afford private representation — this is a constitutional right in the US for cases where jail time is a possible outcome, but it generally doesn't apply to civil matters (like landlord disputes, small claims, or most family law issues). Public defenders are fully qualified attorneys, though they often carry very large caseloads, which is the most common criticism of the system. You typically request one when you first appear in court by telling the judge you can't afford an attorney — the court will usually ask about your income/assets to confirm eligibility. For civil legal issues where public defenders don't apply, free or low-cost legal aid organizations (often income-based) exist in most areas specifically to fill that gap — they're a different system from public defenders but serve a similar purpose for non-criminal matters.