County of Sonoma
Position Information
Advance your legal career and bring your passion for public service to the Public Defender's Office! Starting salary negotiable up to $79.42/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.
The Public Defender's Office has 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 cases
Interpret and apply laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of cases, opinions, and briefs
Prepare pleadings and other legal documents in connection with trials, hearings, and other legal proceedings
Conduct general legal research
Interview and advise witnesses regarding criminal complaints
As the ideal candidate, you will have a substantial interest in criminal defense work and possess many of the following:
Experience working as a law clerk or other professional legal position
Impeccable research and writing abilities
Knowledge of post-conviction relief
Demonstrable excellence in public speaking
Experience in and/or with a Public Defender's office
Completion of any California Public Defender’s Association training seminars (desirable but not required)
The County of Sonoma
offers a rare and compelling array of scenic, recreational, and geographic characteristics. The County encompasses over one million acres of land and water; rich with agriculture, parks, campsites, lakes, and open space. Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed. Minimum Qualifications 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. 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. 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
offers a rare and compelling array of scenic, recreational, and geographic characteristics. The County encompasses over one million acres of land and water; rich with agriculture, parks, campsites, lakes, and open space. Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed. Minimum Qualifications 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. 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. 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