Post Bar Law Clerk/Deputy District Attorney I

Salary : $74,568.00 - $111,966.40 Annually

Location : San Luis Obispo, CA

Job Type : Permanent - Hourly

Job Number : 1124PM-000308-01

Department : District Attorney

Division : District Attorney

Opening Date : 01 / 13 / 2025

Closing Date : 2 / 28 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Pacific

About the Position

The San Luis Obispo District Attorney's Office is accepting applications for P ost Bar Law Clerk. Thisposition provides individuals who have recently taken the California Bar examination, but do not yet meet the minimum qualifications for the Deputy District Attorney I, the opportunity to compete in the recruitment process and develop their legal analysis and courtroom presentation skills in a fast-paced, collaborative, dynamic prosecuting agency while awaiting California Bar results. This is a temporary, non-benefitted position with a maximum of 960 working hours per fiscal year.

For Post-Bar applicants : This recruitment is for those taking the State Bar exam July 2025; it is a paid clerkship, pay is currently $35.85 / hr; Prior to starting in the Post Bar position, the candidate must have completed all other requirements for Admission to the California State Bar, aside from receiving California Bar Exam results.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion and verification of each requirement (i.e. successful completion of JD program, positive determination of background investigation and completion of California Bar exam) and must be successfully completed within a reasonable time before beginning employment as a Post Bar Law Clerk.

Based on department operational needs, preference may be given to candidates who already meet minimum qualifications for the Deputy District Attorney I position or have completed the California Bar exam.

The mission of the department "is to bring justice and safety to our community by aggressively and fairly prosecuting crime and protecting the rights of crime victims." We are seeking individuals who share this mission. This position is responsible for the prosecution of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. Our prosecutors are involved in a variety of case types including sexual assault, domestic violence, gang, juvenile, and civil cases involving mental health, family support, consumer law, and environmental law. A typical day will include appearances in court, preparation of briefs, opinions, pleadings and other legal documents, as well as, the researching, preparation and trying of criminal cases before a judge or jury.

For Attorney applicants : The department is also accepting applications for entry level Deputy District Attorney I.

Deputy District Attorney is part of a career series for Deputy District Attorney I, II, III and IV. Attorneys in these classifications perform professional legal work, consistent with departmental responsibilities.

Click here for a complete job description of Deputy District Attorney I.

Click here to learn more about the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an individual who is driven, self-motivated and has a desire to serve their community by seeking and pursuing justice on behalf of victims of crime. Excellent analytical, research, written communication, and verbal advocacy skills are required.

Knowledge of : The canons of professional ethics of the American Bar Association and the related provisions of the California State Bar; the principles and application of criminal and civil law; trial procedures and rules of evidence; legal research methods; legal principles and precedents and their application.

Ability to : Present statements of facts, law and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form; effectively analyze and appraise legal problems and to apply legal principles and precedent to particular sets of facts; establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Education and Experience :

All levels must have membership in the California State Bar which must be maintained throughout employment, AND :

Deputy District Attorney I : No experience needed.

Please note : Applicants who do not yet meet the qualifications for the Deputy District Attorney I position may still apply to this recruitment if they meet the requirements for the Post Bar Law Clerk as described under the "About the Position" section of this posting.

How to Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. To apply for this position, click "apply" at the top of this page. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at . Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov .

Supplemental Information

BACKGROUND CHECK :

To accept a position with the District Attorney's Office, you must successfully complete a Background Investigation. Below is a partial list of offenses or issues that may disqualify you from successful completion. Please review the below list :

• Any felony conviction
• Recent misdemeanor conviction, or any two misdemeanor convictions as an adult
• Poor employment history
• Any sale, manufacture, or cultivation of illegal drugs
• Recent use of illegal substances such as opiates, hallucinogens, injectables, cocaine, methamphetamine, or similar substance
• Poor driving record such as numerous hazardous traffic violations or chargeable accidents
• Recent conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs, or any two convictions for this offense as an adult
• Any act of domestic violence, as defined by law
• Any crime committed against a child
• Behavior or derogatory remarks constituting discrimination or bias toward others based on their race, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other protected class
• Any material misstatement of fact or intentional omission of information during the application or background process

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points

If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.

Make a Difference

Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits

Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link) .

Some benefits include :

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through : childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates :

The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions :

The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),

Learning and Development

The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include :

Student Loan Forgiveness

Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program

Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.

Do you possess a current membership in the California State Bar?

If you are a current student, when do you anticipate graduating from law school? Please provide the expected month and year.

If you are a recent law school graduate, please indicate your anticipated date for taking the bar exam, including month and year.

Why do you want to be a post bar law clerk or prosecutor for the County of San Luis Obispo?

What transferrable skills or experience would you bring to our office?

Assume the following facts : You are a Deputy District Attorney and have been assigned to conduct a preliminary hearing. Before the preliminary hearing starts, a Police Department Officer tells you that he uses a personal recording device while investigating crimes and it is his practice to not book the recording into evidence. He does this to help prepare his written reports. In this case, the Officer recorded a citizen who witnessed the incident and did not include their statement in his report because they wished to remain anonymous. What, if anything, do you do and why?

Required Question

Salary : $74,568 - $111,966