DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER I-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Position/Program Information

Law Office of the Los Angeles County

PUBLIC DEFENDER

EXAM NUMBER:

L9246J-EA

RECRUITMENT TYPE:

Open Competitive - Emergency

About Us
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.

We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County’s homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County’s jails and into treatment services and works to reduce the collateral social and economic impacts of contact with the criminal legal system, such as losing employment, social services, and housing. The collective services provided and supported by our workforce have a direct positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.

When to Apply
Applications will be accepted from Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) until the needs of the services are met. Application filing period is subject to closure without prior notice.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

Who can Apply
The Law Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Deputy Public Defender (DPD) I vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Law School graduates, who have a current California Bar card to practice law in all courts of California AND law school graduates, who have registered for and are scheduled to take the California State Bar Examination or are waiting for their California Bar Exam results.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to DPD I.

Special Salary Information
New appointments shall be compensated at Step 6 ($8,149.46) of the DPD I salary range.

Essential Job Functions

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
Represents indigent defendants at various stages of a criminal case (e.g., arraignment, preliminary hearing, and other hearings, pre-trial motions, trial of a misdemeanor case) by writing legal motions (e.g., pretrial, in limine, continuances, dismissals, bail review, new trials); 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 witnesses 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 (e.g., right to counsel, right to a trial); find inconsistencies in witnesses' statements; and advises clients of the appropriate course of action to be taken in their defense.

Interviews a variety of individuals (e.g., prospective clients, clients, witnesses, family members, expert witnesses) regarding criminal case matters by researching and reviewing pertinent information (e.g., witness statements, court documents, transcripts, police reports), 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 (e.g., financial, conflict) 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 (e.g., acquittal, dismissal, reduction).

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 his/her case; and provide a recommendation regarding what is in the client's best interest (e.g., trial, plead, or other alternative resolutions, such as diversion).

Prepares criminal cases by conducting legal research (e.g., reviewing case law and statutes); examining legal documents (e.g., briefs, pleadings, subpoenas); 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 (e.g., acquittal, dismissal, reduction).

Confers with a variety of individuals (e.g., defense team, law enforcement, judges, prosecutorial agencies) 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; negotiate case resolutions; and determine the best course of action that should be taken on behalf of the client.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You MUST meet ONE of the requirement(s) listed below in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment:

1) Admission to practice law in all courts in California.

• To be considered under this option, you must submit proof of meeting the California State Bar requirements:
  
  • A copy of your current/valid California State Bar Card -OR-
    
  • A copy of a letter from the California State Bar that specifically states you have achieved a passing score on the California State Bar Examination AND that you have satisfied ALL of the requirements for admission to practice law at the time of filing. All correspondence must be on the California State Bar letterhead. We will not accept any other form/letter of result notification (e.g., printout from the internet).

2) Graduation from law school AND current registration to take the California State Bar examination*:

• To be considered under this option, you must submit supporting documentation showing that you are scheduled to take the upcoming* California State Bar examination.**
  

You may submit your supporting documents for Options 1 and 2 at the time of online filing or you may email them to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from the date of your application. Please include the exam number and title in the subject line of your email. If you do not provide the required documentation within the specified time frame you will be disqualified from the exam process.

*If you provide proof for Option 2 above, you will be permitted to participate in the selection review process for this opportunity. However, your name will be withheld from hiring consideration until you submit proof of admission to practice law in all courts in the State of California (as outlined under Option 1).

**Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. As such, candidates must be registered and received confirmation of their participation to take the most immediate upcoming Bar exam (i.e., candidates applying in August through January, must be registered for the February Bar exam; candidates applying in March through June, must be registered to take the July Bar exam)

LAW GRADUATES WITH PROVISIONAL LICENSEES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

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 class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

EXAM CONTENT
Before the end of your initial work assignment, the department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

Additional Information

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 www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty and logging into your account.
• Many important notifications including application rejections 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 , AOsorio @pubdef.lacounty.gov , Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov , and noreply@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 have the ability to 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 www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty 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 www.governmentjobs.com/carees/lacounty, 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.
• Applicants must submit all applicable documents at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the date the application is filed, via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov . Include the examination number and title in your email's subject line. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application.

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 which 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: L9246J-EA
Department Contact Name: Amannda Osorio
Department Contact Phone: (213) 948-2711
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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