Napa County

  • Attorney III (Public Defender)

  • Napa County
  • Napa, California United States View Map
The Napa Valley

Napa County is home to 140,000 residents who share a strong sense of community and a legacy of preserving and protecting our rich agricultural heritage.

Located in the heart of California's preeminent wine region, the Napa Valley is also part of the dynamic San Francisco Bay Metropolitan Area. With its sunny Mediterranean climate and proximity to the mountains and ocean, the Valley offers residents easy access to virtually unlimited shopping, dining, cultural and recreational opportunities.

The Napa Valley's strategic location, natural and cultural resources, history of responsible land use planning and attractive quality of life provide the ideal mix of small town living and big city amenities.

Napa County as an Employer

As an organization, the County is dedicated to improving the lives of our citizens and reflecting the best of the community's values: Respect, Accountability, Dedication, Integrity and Innovation. Learn more HERE .

The Position

The Public Defender provides legal representation for adults and juveniles who are charged with criminal offenses and otherwise unable to afford counsel. The Public Defender also represents those facing involuntary medication, conservatorships, parole and PRCS violations, and MDO, NGI, and SVP commitments. The Public Defender vigorously protects the constitutional rights of the accused.

About the Position:

The Attorney III will have the experience and ability to handle complex felony cases with clients facing potentially lengthy prison exposure and cases that present challenging and complicated legal issues. The Attorney III will demonstrate proven experience as a criminal defense lawyer, a strong understanding of criminal law and legal procedure, excellent oral and written communication skills, the ability to work under pressure, and experience handling high-profile and complex criminal cases.

Job duties will include:
  • Reviewing police reports and other relevant discovery,
  • Conducting legal research, drafting and litigating appropriate motions,
  • Directing investigation, including contacting witnesses, issuing subpoenas and collecting relevant documents,
  • Communicating with clients to explain legal processes and developments,
  • Advising clients of legal rights and options,
  • Appearing with and for clients at all court hearings, including trials, other hearings and sentencings,
  • Negotiating with the prosecution to obtain the best outcome for the client,
  • Taking felony cases to trial, including serious and violent felonies, multiple strike cases and/or sex offenses,
  • Perform other related duties as required.


Experience and Education:
An individual must possess any combination of experience and education that would likely produce the required knowledge and abilities. A desirable combination is:

Experience: Four years of general legal experience or three years of criminal law, or one year in a District Attorney's or Public Defender's Office as an Attorney II equivalent in Napa County.

Education: Graduation from an accredited law school.

License or Certificate:*
  • Active membership in the California State Bar Association .
  • Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
*Any license, certification, or registration required for this position shall be maintained (i.e. active and in good standing) at all times during employment with Napa County. For continued employment with Napa County, you must maintain such license, certification, or registration to meet the minimum qualifications of this position.

The list established by this recruitment may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and extra help vacancies for up to one year.

The Recruitment Process :
Application Deadline 5:00 pm PST, Wednesday July 29, 2026 Supplemental Question Scoring Week of August 3, 2026

Supplemental questions will be scored by subject matter experts. Only the most qualified applicants from the scoring of the supplemental questions will be invited for an Oral Panel Interview. Oral Panel Interview Tentatively scheduled for the week of August 10, 2026

Only the most qualified candidates from the Oral Panel Interview will be placed on the eligibility list and may be considered to fill positions for up to one year.

The Human Resources Department reserves the right to change the recruitment process at any time.

Example of Duties

View the full job description, including the example of duties, Attorney III

B enefits
Learn more about the benefits package for this position HERE .

Disaster Service Workers:
Napa County employees automatically become Disaster Service Workers. This means that when Napa County experiences emergencies (earthquake, wildfire, power outage, flood, etc.) you may be asked to pivot from your regular duties to provide critical services to those affected by the emergency (CA Govt Code § 31012).

ADA Accommodation:
Applicants requiring accommodation during the application and/or selection process pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act should contact County of Napa Human Resources at (707) 253-4303.

Napa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PUBLIC SERVICES EMPLOYEES BENEFITS INFORMATION

SALARY -
Salaries are based on a five-step range. Appointments are usually made at the beginning step with advances occurring at six months and the completion of each year thereafter. Salary rates are reviewed annually.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS INFO -
Click here for additional benefits information forPublic ServicesEmployees:
https://www.countyofnapa.org/DocumentCenter/View/25886/Benefits-Summary---Public-Service-Employee-PSE

THESE BENEFITS DO NOT APPLY TO EXTRA HELP POSITIONS

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

PHYSICAL STANDARDS -
Certain designated County positions require a candidate to pass a physical examination prior to appointment. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of this examination.

FINGERPRINTING -
All employees hired into allocated positions or extra help positions will be fingerprinted.

SELECTION PROCESS -

FOR POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT - The selection process will include an oral board interview, psychological assessment, background investigation, and a pre-employment physical exam.

Closing Date/Time: 7/29/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
7/29/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Napa County

Napa County

The Napa Valley - Internationally known for its fine wines, exciting restaurants and world-class resorts, is home to 130,000 residents who share a strong sense of community and a legacy of preserving and protecting our rich agricultural heritage.

Located in the heart of California’s preeminent wine region, the Napa Valley is also part of the dynamic San Francisco Bay Metropolitan Area. With its sunny Mediterranean climate and proximity to the mountains and ocean, the Valley offers residents easy access to virtually unlimited shopping, dining, cultural and recreational opportunities.

The Napa Valley’s strategic location, natural and cultural resources, history of responsible land use planning and attractive quality of life provide the ideal mix of small town living and big city amenities.

The County of Napa is a highly respected employer within the local community as well as throughout the region. We offer rewarding and challenging work, flexible hours, competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package and tremendous opportunities for career growth. At the County of Napa we truly value our employees and are committed to diversity in our family-oriented environment. This is why we are the Employer of Choice for more than 1,300 employees.

As an organization, the County is dedicated to improving the lives of our citizens and reflecting the best of the community’s values: integrity, accountability, and service.


Please visit our career page for current opportunities: www.napacountycareers.com

A general law county, Napa County is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors elected by district for four year terms. The Board of Supervisors appoints a County Executive Officer who is responsible for providing overall management for the County’s operations, including day-to-day supervision of the County’s appointed department heads.

Napa County has a budget of over $454 million and has enjoyed relative financial stability in recent years compared to many agencies. More than 1,300 county employees provide services to the public through 17 departments—5 managed by elected officials and the remainder managed by a department head appointed by the Board of Supervisors based on the recommendation of the County Executive Officer. County services include land use permitting, road maintenance, social services, public safety, elections, public health, behavioral health, environmental management, airport operations, library services, emergency operations and dozens of other pro-grams that benefit County residents. As an organization, Napa County is dedicated to improving the lives of its residents and reflecting the best of the community’s values: integrity, accountability and service.

 

 

 

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