What are the responsibilities and job description for the DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER II position at County of Los Angeles?
Law Office of the Los Angeles County
PUBLIC DEFENDER
EXAM NUMBER:
L9248G
RECRUITMENT TYPE:
OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY
WHEN TO APPLY:
Applications will be accepted from Friday, May 17, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until the needs of the service are met. Application filing is subject to closure without prior notice.
WHO WE ARE
The Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, providing a beacon for evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system. Our Offices are headed by innovative and progressive leaders collaboratively working towards our agency’s mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele.
WHAT DOES A DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER DO?
As a Deputy Public Defender (DPD) II, you will perform legal work of average difficulty including handling complex misdemeanor cases and less complex felony cases assigned to the Office. You will report to higher-level attorney staff while maintaining greater independence than the trainee-level DPD I classification. Additionally, as a DPD II, you may represent the defense of juvenile clients in adjudication hearings in juvenile court, which are not considered criminal and do not involve a jury.
No withholds will be allowed for this examination. Required experience/education must be fully met at the time of filing, and indicated on the application.
OUR IDEAL TEAM MEMBER
Do you hold our shared values of advocacy, zealously working to meet the needs of our clients; compassion, listening to, respecting life experiences, and telling the stories of our clients; dedication to indigent defense and collaboration, and working with stakeholders to achieve our clients' goals?
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Represents indigent defendants at various stages of a criminal case by writing legal motions; arguing motions in court; engaging in negotiation discussions with judges, prosecutors, etc.; listening to information presented at trial and comparing it to pretrial information; making objections at hearings or at trial; cross-examining and examining witnesses to defend the client; presenting witness and evidence on behalf of the client; and preparing closing arguments to persuade the trier of fact of the merits of the case in order to protect the client's constitutional rights; find inconsistencies in witnesses’ statements; and advise clients of the appropriate course of action to be taken in their defense.
- Interviews a variety of individuals regarding criminal case matters by researching and reviewing pertinent information, putting the interviewee at ease and building rapport, communicating and comprehending information both verbally and in writing, and using effective interviewing techniques in order to determine eligibility for representation; gather important information for cases, resolution, and legal documents; find inconsistencies between witness testimony and accounts; and decide what defense strategies are most viable leading to positive outcomes for the client.
- Advises clients at each stage of the case by initially discussing the alleged crime with the client; reviewing witness statements, police reports, etc. with the client and explaining legal or technical terminology in layman’s terms; evaluating the strength or weakness of the case; and discussing possible actions to take in court and evaluating alternatives; in order to ensure that the client understands the legal process as it pertains to their case; and provide a recommendation regarding what is in the client’s best interest.
- Prepares criminal cases by conducting legal research; examining legal documents; reviewing electronic evidence; preparing investigation requests; preparing, drafting, and reviewing legal documents, motions, and correspondences; maintaining and properly documenting case files; appointing and utilizing expert witnesses; interviewing and preparing witnesses; and preparing questions to ask potential jurors; in order to effectively represent clients; and decide what defense strategies are most viable leading to positive outcomes for the client.
- Confers with a variety of individuals by meeting and discussing details of a client’s court case, presenting a clear and persuasive case on behalf of the client, and working with neutral or opposing parties to find common ground in order to gather important case information, negotiating case resolutions, and determining the best course of action that should be taken on behalf of the client.
Have one year of experience in the practice of criminal law at the level of our Office's Deputy Public Defender (DPD) I* position -AND- Be admitted to and is an active licensee with the California Bar Association to practice law in all courts in California.
*Experience at the level of a DPD I is typically gained as an attorney by participating in the litigation of criminal misdemeanor and less complex felony cases, including conducting (misdemeanor) jury trials, case management, conducting preliminary and contested hearings, and participating in all stages of criminal trial practice (writing motions, consultation, etc.).
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
A legible copy (photocopy or PDF format), of your active California State Bar Card (CSBC) for the current year must be attached to your application or provided within 10 business days from the date of your application via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov. If the watermark of the current year is not visible or it is not received by the allotted time, your application will be rejected.
As a DPD, you must maintain your active status with the CSB at the time of application, exam process, selection, and appointment, and for the duration of your employment with the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender.
OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE
Out-of-class experience for this examination will not be accepted.
VETERAN'S CREDIT
If you served in the military and were honorably discharged, you may qualify for Veteran's Credit. To receive this credit, please include a copy of your form DD214 for our review.
LICENSE
A valid California Class "C" Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
PHYSICAL CLASS II - LIGHT
This job requires light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit, and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved. OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS
This exam process will consist of a Structured interview weighted at 100%, assessing:
- Professional Experience
- Critical Thinking
- Decision-Making Skills
- Client Focus
- Relationship Building Skills
- Conscientiousness
- Adaptability
- Ethics and Integrity
- Cultural Sensitivity
VACANCY INFORMATION
The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender.
AVAILABLE SHIFT
Deputy Public Defenders are rotated through a variety of developmental assignments to prepare the attorney to handle cases of increasing difficulty; incumbents may be assigned to work in any area of Los Angeles County and on any shift (evenings, nights, and weekends).
APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION
- APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.
- Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button for this posting. Please review your application for accuracy before submitting it. You can also track the status of your application by visiting Governmentjobs.com and logging into your account.
- Many important notifications such as application rejections, test notices and invitations, and notice of exam results will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. It is your responsibility to provide a valid email address and review all notifications sent to you. Please add Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov, Noreply@governmentjobs.com, and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered or blocked as spam/junk/clutter mail.
- Applicants can opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications. You can always access some of these notifications by logging into your profile inbox at Governmentjobs.com which saves a copy of all emailed notices. It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.
- Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the first day of filing as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on Governmentjobs.com, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
- The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Fill out your application and Supplemental Questionnaire completely. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week and description of work performed. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
- Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to verification at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment. Utilizing verbiage from the Class Specification and Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and you may be disqualified.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Applicants can find out more information about select in-person library services and locations by visiting the Los Angeles County Library website.
NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD
All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password.
Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records that are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI)
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
Questions? Contact us:
Exam Number: L9248G
Department Contact Name: Jason Sasaki
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929
Salary : $107,652 - $161,700
