The Office of the Public Defender is recruitingfor Deputy Public Defenders II/III/IV. These positions offer an exciting opportunity for a challenging career in criminal trial work.Incumbents represent indigent defendants and provide skilled legal counsel and courtroom advocacy at all critical phases of state level criminal and civil commitment litigation.
Public Defenders conduct legal research, prepare and argue motions, writs, briefs and opinions; interview and counsel clients; participate in developing effective investigation plans for clients; negotiate with opposing counsel; and prepare and conduct trials.
We are also currently recruiting for Deputy Public Defender I; a separate application is required for the Deputy Public Defender I level.
Spanish-English Bilingual Candidates are encouraged to apply and may receive additional compensation for bilingual skills.
Initial Appointment
Your application will be reviewed for eligibility for the Deputy Public Defender II, III, and IV levels. Job offers for the initial appointment may be made at any level based on qualifications and department needs. It is to your advantage to be explicit with your work history on your application. Be sure to indicate your level of interest on the supplemental questionnaire. The Deputy Public Defender series accelerated advancement up to the IV level per criteria specified in the Attorney MOU (see page 58 )(Download PDF reader).
*Please Note: Salary posted is the range for the II-IV levels. Please see job description and salary range for each level below:
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Assignment: Assignments may be made at any location throughout the County depending on the needs of the department.
Travel: Travel throughout the County is required. Employees will be required to make provisions for transportation. A valid California driver license and proof of automobile liability insurance must be maintained for the individual providing the transportation.
Background: Applicants must successfully pass a background investigation, including fingerprinting, prior to appointment
State Bar: Those hired must be active members in good standing with the State Bar of California. This status must be maintained in order to remain employed in this classification.
Promotion: Deputy Public Defender I positions are eligible for promotion to Deputy Public Defender II, III or IV upon meeting the minimum requirements and receiving a satisfactory work performance evaluation (see MOU for details(Download PDF reader)). Deputy Public Defender IV positions may earn up to $189,966 annually.
Sponsorship: Please note San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.
Assignment: Assignments may be made at any location throughout the County depending on the needs of the department.
Travel: Travel throughout the County is required. Employees will be required to make provisions for transportation. A valid California driver license and proof of automobile liability insurance must be maintained for the individual providing the transportation.
Background: Applicants must successfully pass a background investigation, including fingerprinting, prior to appointment
State Bar: Those hired must be active members in good standing with the State Bar of California. This status must be maintained in order to remain employed in this classification.
Promotion: Deputy Public Defender I positions are eligible for promotion to Deputy Public Defender II, III or IV upon meeting the minimum requirements and receiving a satisfactory work performance evaluation (see MOU for details(Download PDF reader)). Deputy Public Defender IV positions may earn up to $189,966 annually.
Sponsorship: Please note San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.
For more details, please review the announcement at www.sbcounty.gov/jobs. Application can be made on-line – apply ASAP. (909) 387-8304 - EEO/ADA
Minimum Requirements
License:
Active membership and in good standing with the State Bar of California. (Members in good standing of California State Bar who have been assigned a license number but have inactive membership status, as well as candidates licensed out of state pending California Bar Exam results/license, are welcome to apply. Active California Bar license will be required prior to hire.)
--AND--
Experience: Deputy Public Defender II: Six (6) months of criminal trial experience as an attorney. -OR- One (1) year of trial experience as an attorney.
Deputy Public Defender III: Eighteen (18) months ofcriminal trial experience as an attorney. -OR- Two (2) years of trial experience as an attorney.
Deputy Public Defender IV: Thirty (30) months of criminal trial experience as an attorney. -OR- Three (3) years of trial experience as an attorney.
San Bernardino County is located in the heart of Southern California, home to over 2 million residents, encompassing 20,160 square miles from the Nevada State line and the Colorado River to the LA County line. This gives San Bernardino County a diverse climate and geography, from mountains as high as 11,502 feet, to the desert as low as 181 feet, and beautiful valleys in between. Pristine lakes and rivers, snow-capped mountain resorts, flowering deserts, and many other family-oriented recreational attractions take advantage of the natural assets of the area, most within an hour's drive. Families enjoy affordable housing, excellent schools, colleges and universities, and easy access to airports, hospitals, libraries, and parks. The County provides a safe, clean and healthy environment for residents. A variety of shopping and business opportunities abound, in this, the largest County in the contiguous United States.