INVESTIGATOR II, PUBLIC DEFENDER

Position/Program Information


TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
We welcome applications from anyone. FILING PERIOD
The application filing period will begin on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 8:00 A.M. (PT) - Continuous.
We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close
unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates. EXAM NUMBER
7-2901-K


Why work for us?
With almost 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California with over 100,000 employees in 39 departments, we provide vital and diverse public services like law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, and cultural activities.

The County has more than 2,100 different job types, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. Join us and discover one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the county with a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.
For more information about our amazing benefits, please visit us here: https://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/

DEFINITION:
Develops and carries out difficult criminal investigations to support the defense of persons represented by the Public Defender.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class work in the Public Defender's Office under the technical and administrative direction of an Investigator III, Public Defender. Incumbents are assigned to conduct difficult investigations under basic investigation guidelines where they act independently analyzing evidence using a broad range of investigative techniques to develop basic or additional evidence support of the defense. Incumbents must possess skill in applying an extensive understanding of investigative procedures, court and legal proceedings, interviewing, and acquiring information from various sources, both public and private. They must also possess a detailed knowledge of the California Penal Code, California Vehicle Code, and the rules of evidence.

Essential Job Functions

• Plans and conducts inquiries that assist the defense in a wide range of major adult and juvenile criminal cases.
• These cases may involve numerous defendants or multiple offenses.
• Examines the scene of the crime, locates and identifies material evidence, and records findings.
• Acquires information about witnesses’ locations by interviewing employers, public agencies, families, neighbors, and others.
• Acquires additional information by accessing a computerized database.
• Follow leads and locate witnesses through phone inquiries and searches of directories, utility records, motor vehicle records, and other agencies' records.
• Interviews and obtains information from witnesses and determines whether there is sufficient basis for the witness to be subpoenaed for court testimony.
• Testifies in court as the investigator of record and makes subsequent in-trial investigations, as the need arises.
• Prepares detailed reports of completed investigations to assist the defense.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY

OPTION I: One year's investigative experience at the level of Los Angeles County's class of **Investigator I, Public Defender.

OPTION II: Three years law enforcement experience as a *full-time police officer as defined in Section 830.1 of the Penal Code of the State of California.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of appointment to perform job-related essential functions. Applicants will be required to provide a personal automobile and drive them in the County service at the rate of compensation allowed by the Board of Supervisors.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
4 - Arduous- This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Physical Requirements:
Applicants must be in good general physical condition, free from disease or defects that would interfere with the satisfactory fulfillment of the responsibilities of this position.

Vision: Acuity - Minimum of 20/70 vision in each eye uncorrected, correctable to 20/30 in both eyes.Color perception - Any impairment beyond minor hue difficulty is disqualifying.
Hearing:
The better ear should have a loss no higher than 25 dB averaged across the test frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz. There may not be a peak loss at any of the test frequencies greater than:

30 dB at 500 Hz
30 dB at 1000 Hz
40 dB at 2000 Hz
40 dB at 3000 Hz

There may be no greater than a 35 dB loss in the worse ear when averaged over the measured tones. No peak loss can exceed 45 dB at any tested sound level. In the case of a questionable, unusual, or borderline hearing loss, the applicant's record will be reviewed by the Occupational Health Service consultant in otolaryngology, who will make a recommendation as to the applicant's employability, and forward it to the Medical Director for final disposition.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of California criminal law.
Excellent verbal communications and interpersonal skills.
Extensive knowledge of computer programs, including Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, and Lexis Nexis.

Additional Information

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION :
License Information: Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain and present a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant’s driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must not be currently suspended, restricted, or revoked.

* Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40-hour workweek. Work performed part-time will be prorated on a month-for-month basis.

** To qualify under Option I, the applicant must have experience at the level of Investigator I, Public Defender. Investigator I Public Defender is defined as: Conducts criminal investigations of limited scope and complexity to assist in defending clients.

Note : You may still qualify even if your job title isn’t the same as the ones listed. What matters is that your experience is at a similar level - meaning your job involves similar responsibilities, requires comparable skills and knowledge, and takes place within a similar organizational structure. Please provide a clear explanation of your experience to demonstrate that it is at the appropriate level.

EXAMINATION CONTENT: The examination will consist of an interview weighted 100%. The oral interview will assess education, training, experience, personal fitness and general ability to perform the duties of the position.

Applicants need to achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be placed on the list.

FINGERPRINTING AND SECURITY CLEARANCE :
Before a final appointment is made to this position, successful candidates must acquire security clearance. This includes passing a detailed background investigation and a Live Scan fingerprint search. An individual may be withheld from appointment if they have a conviction record incompatible with the fundamental responsibilities of the role for which they have applied. Any false statement or omission of material fact may cause forfeiture of employment rights. Information presented on employment applications, resumes and during the examination process may be verified.

Example of disqualifying factors are :
-Poor employment history
-Any felony conviction or conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude
-Job related misdemeanor convictions
-Certain serious traffic convictions or patterns of traffic violations such as three (3) moving violations in one year or failure to appear.
-Substance abuse

VACANCY INFORMATION: The list of qualified candidates resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the office of the Alternate Public Defender. Appointees for this position must be able and willing to work in any area within Los Angeles County and may be subject to transfer at any time.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION : Successful candidates will be added to the eligible list according to their score group for a period of six (6) months following the date of promulgation. Passing this examination and being added to the eligible list does not guarantee an offer of employment.

RETAKE PERIOD: No person may compete in this examination more than once every six (6) months. Applications will be processed on an as received basis and promulgate onto the eligible list accordingly.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: All applicants are required to submit a standard County of Los Angeles Employment Application online (via NEOGOV electronic submission) ONLY. Applications submitted by US Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.

To Apply for this examination, click on the "Apply" tab located on the top right corner of the screen. Your application must be submitted electronically by 5:00 p.m., PST, on the last day of filing. Visit the NEOGOV website at https:www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty.

Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your submission depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the requirements. Provide any relevant education, training, and 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, description of work performed. If your applications is incomplete, it will be rejected. All information is subject to verification. This exam may close at any time without prior notice. We may reject your application at any time during the selection process.

ATTACHMENT: Applicants may upload required or additional documents (i.e. copy of degree, certification, etc.) as attachments at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach the required and/or additional documents at the time of filing, you may email them to sgonzalez@apd.lacounty.gov within fifteen (15) calendar days of online filing. Please include the exam number and the exam title in the subject line.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their applications online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

Department Contact Name: Sandra Gonzalez
Department Contact Phone: (213) 974-8185
Department Contact Email: sgonzalez@apd.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Phone: (213) 974-8185
Teletype Phone: (213) 974-0911
California Relay Services Phone:(800)735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

Los Angeles County

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