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Job Description
Position/Program Information
THIS IS A POSTING TO REOPEN THE FILING PERIOD, UPDATE POSITION/PROGRAM INFORMATION, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EXAM NUMBER:
L9232I-EA
RECRUITMENT TYPE:
OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY - EMERGENCY
FILING PERIOD:
Applications will be accepted starting Monday, August 25, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (PT).
This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.
WHO WE ARE
The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office 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. Our Office is looking for dedicated and passionate professionals to join our team of paralegals committed to supporting the Public Defender's mission and values.
We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County’s homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office 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 and indirect positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.
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.
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.
The assessment will be weighted 100%. The candidate who successfully passes the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Paralegal.
WHO CAN APPLY
The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Paralegal vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Paralegals provide assistance to Deputy Public Defenders engaged in criminal defense, juvenile delinquency case defense, and in the representation of clients in mental health proceedings. They research and analyze factual information and law sources such as statutes, court decisions, criminal pleadings, police reports, legal documents, and articles for use in preparing legal documents such as briefs, motions, etc. They research, document, and analyze social and criminal background information, and prepare comprehensive social histories and sentencing reports. They summarize, organize, and index case documents, and prepare and organize documents and records pertaining to the operations of the court. Paralegal staff have extensive contact with clients, both in and out of custody, and also with clients' family members and witnesses in the community in order to carry out their assigned responsibilities.
Essential Job Functions
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE (BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO):- Assisting Deputy Public Defenders (DPDs) with all aspects of pre-trial litigation and trial preparation, which may consist of digital evidence (e.g., video and audio recordings of client and witness statements, recorded inmate telephone conversations, body-worn and car-mounted video cameras from police officers, cellular phone call records, site and tracking data, surveillance video, and communications from social media sites),
- Traveling to various departmental branch and area offices to retrieve legal documents, and interview clients and witnesses,
- Testifying in court, and
- Drafting various legal documents (e.g., motions, memoranda of points and authorities, affidavits, and declarations) relevant to investigative and evidentiary procedures.
Requirements
REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY
You MUST meet ONE of the requirements below in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment:
Certificate of completion of a paralegal training program* approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), the California Department of Education, or an equivalent accrediting agency** from another state - OR - Graduation from an accredited law school.
*To receive credit for a completed paralegal training program, include a copy of your certificate with your application at the time of filing, or email the certificate to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from the application filing date.
**Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national, or international accrediting agencies, which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources (OHR). Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and the International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States-accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators. Inc.
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.
LICENSE
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to perform job-related essential functions.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION
Continuing Education:
Every two years, all paralegals shall be required to certify completion of four hours of mandatory continuing legal education in legal ethics and four hours of mandatory continuing legal education in either general law or in a specialized area of laws. All continuing legal education courses shall meet the requirements of California Business and Professions Code Section 6070. Certification of these continuing education requirements shall be made with the paralegal's supervising attorney. The paralegal shall be responsible for keeping a record of the paralegal's certification.
Additional Information
OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Before the end of your initial work period, the department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment. If permanently appointed to the position, you will be subject to a probationary period based on the classification.
VACANCY INFORMATION
The selected applicants under this Emergency Appointment recruitment effort will be appointed to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. The appointees to the position MUST BE WILLING to work any shift and in any Los Angeles County location and may be subject to transfer at any time.
APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION- Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button. Only online applications will be accepted and reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you are not contacted for an interview within 60 days of submitting your application, and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.
- At log-in, you will be required to verify your email address. This enhances the security of your application and prevents incorrectly entered email addresses. You can track the status of your application in the application menu of your Governmentjobs.com account.
- Notifications such as application notices and initial appointment letters will be sent to the email address provided on the application. Add the following email addresses Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov , Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov , noreply@governmentjobs.com , and info@governmentjobs.com to your list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.
- Fill out the application completely. When prompted, provide relevant job experience which includes employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.
- We may verify information provided at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of the application or rescission of the appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification does not substitute your work experience and is not sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Federal law requires that all applicants and employees have a Social Security number. You must include yours in your application.
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.
NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD
All applicants must file their application online using their user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase existing profile information.
Questions? Contact us:
Exam Number: L9232I-EA
L9233I-EADepartment Contact Name: Hector Moreno
Department Contact Phone: (213) 460-8068
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone (Voice Carry Over [VCO]): (800) 735-2922
For detailed information, please click here -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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Los Angeles County
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With a population of more than 10 million people and 88 cities, Los Angeles County has more residents than any county in the nation.
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