County of Sonoma
Deputy Public Defender I - Extra-Help
County of Sonoma, Santa Rosa, California, us, 95402
Advance your legal career and bring your passion for public service to the Public Defender's Office!Starting salary negotiable up to $76.37/hour!This extra-help (temporary) Deputy Public Defender position can be filled at the I, II, III, or IV level, depending on the candidate's qualifications. As attorneys gain experience and meet or exceed performance standards, they are eligible for promotion to subsequent levels in the series, up to level IV. If you are interested in being considered at the various levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate, concurrent recruitments being conducted for those levels. Deputy Public Defender I is an entry-level class and requires the incumbent to work under close supervision. If you are an experienced attorney, please check out our II, III, and IV-level recruitments.The Public Defender's Office
The Public Defender and his Office have the mandated responsibility of defending any person who is not financially able to employ counsel and who is charged with the commission of any contempt or offense triable in the superior or municipal courts. Additionally, the Public Defender represents qualified individuals in probate and welfare proceedings, and may represent any person who is not financially able to employ counsel in proceedings relating to the nature or conditions of detention prior to adjudication.When you join the Office as an extra-help Deputy Public Defender I, you will perform legal work involving the investigation, preparation, and presentation of criminal and civil cases before the courts. Using your independent judgment and initiative, you will work directly with clients and:Investigate, research, prepare, and defend criminal and/or civil casesInterpret and apply laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of cases, opinions, and briefsPrepare pleadings and other legal documents in connection with trials, hearings, and other legal proceedingsConduct general legal researchInterview and advise witnesses regarding criminal complaintsAs the ideal candidate, you will have a substantial interest in criminal defense work and possess:Experience working as a law clerk or other professional legal positionImpeccable research and writing abilitiesKnowledge of post-conviction reliefDemonstrable excellence in public speakingExperience in and/or with a Public Defender's officeCompletion of any California Public Defender's Association training seminars (desirable but not required)Minimum Qualifications
Experience:
None required.Professional License:
Current active membership in the State Bar of California.License:
Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
duties, powers, limitations, and authorities of the Office of the Public Defender; principles of criminal law, principles of trial procedure and rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedures; statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.Ability to:
research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; prepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly, logically and persuasively in written and oral form; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff members, departmental representatives, county officials, the courts, law enforcement agency officials, and the general public; understand and accept differences in human behavior, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds.Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.This recruitment is being conducted to fill an extra-help (temporary) Deputy Public Defender position in the Public Defender's Office at either the I, II, III, or IV level. The employment list established from this Deputy Public Defender I recruitment may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.How to Apply
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Public Defender and his Office have the mandated responsibility of defending any person who is not financially able to employ counsel and who is charged with the commission of any contempt or offense triable in the superior or municipal courts. Additionally, the Public Defender represents qualified individuals in probate and welfare proceedings, and may represent any person who is not financially able to employ counsel in proceedings relating to the nature or conditions of detention prior to adjudication.When you join the Office as an extra-help Deputy Public Defender I, you will perform legal work involving the investigation, preparation, and presentation of criminal and civil cases before the courts. Using your independent judgment and initiative, you will work directly with clients and:Investigate, research, prepare, and defend criminal and/or civil casesInterpret and apply laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of cases, opinions, and briefsPrepare pleadings and other legal documents in connection with trials, hearings, and other legal proceedingsConduct general legal researchInterview and advise witnesses regarding criminal complaintsAs the ideal candidate, you will have a substantial interest in criminal defense work and possess:Experience working as a law clerk or other professional legal positionImpeccable research and writing abilitiesKnowledge of post-conviction reliefDemonstrable excellence in public speakingExperience in and/or with a Public Defender's officeCompletion of any California Public Defender's Association training seminars (desirable but not required)Minimum Qualifications
Experience:
None required.Professional License:
Current active membership in the State Bar of California.License:
Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
duties, powers, limitations, and authorities of the Office of the Public Defender; principles of criminal law, principles of trial procedure and rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedures; statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.Ability to:
research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; prepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly, logically and persuasively in written and oral form; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff members, departmental representatives, county officials, the courts, law enforcement agency officials, and the general public; understand and accept differences in human behavior, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds.Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.This recruitment is being conducted to fill an extra-help (temporary) Deputy Public Defender position in the Public Defender's Office at either the I, II, III, or IV level. The employment list established from this Deputy Public Defender I recruitment may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.How to Apply
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
#J-18808-Ljbffr