DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER I-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Position/Program Information

LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY - Emergency

Applications will be accepted from Monday, February 24, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) and will continue accepting applications until the vacancy is filled. The application filing window may close without prior notice.

EXAM NUMBER:

L9246K-EA

WHY WORK FOR US?
Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is the nation's finest client-centered criminal defense firm, 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. The Office is seeking a dedicated individual in support of our mission and values.

The Los Angeles (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.

The Public Defender (PD) is an essential contributor to LA County’s homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, PD works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County’s jails and into treatment services, as well as 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 PD’s workforce have a direct and indirect positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.

THE TEAM MEMBER WE ARE SEARCHING FOR:
We are seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Deputy Public Defender (DPD) I vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

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%. The candidates 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 ($8,414.46) of the DPD I salary range.

Essential Job Functions

As a DPD I, you will represent the defense of our clients in all criminal cases or juvenile court matters assigned to our Office. Your role as a DPD is vital to fulfilling the mission and vision of the Office. All DPDs are required to be available and willing to work anywhere within the County of Los Angeles.

Click here for a detailed summary and description of the DPD I job functions.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY

Be admitted with the California Bar Association to practice law in all courts of California. The following are types of acceptable documents to verify your admission to practice law:

• A legible copy (photocopy or PDF format) of your active California State Bar Card (CSBC). The watermark on the CSBC must be visible and indicate the current year (e.g., 2025).
• If you recently passed the bar and have not received your CSBC, a legible copy (photocopy or PDF format) of the letter from the State Bar of California Office of Admissions indicating that you have achieved a passing score on the California Bar Examination -AND- the records reflect 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.
• The following Letters of Admission to Practice Law in California WILL NOT be accepted:
• Records indicating you submitted or need to submit an Application for Determination of Moral Character (Determination Application) and is pending determination.
• Records indicating that you have not taken the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) -OR-
• Records indicating that you have outstanding fees

LAW GRADUATES WITH PROVISIONAL LICENSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RECRUITMENT.

Additionally, you will need to possess a valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation, when needed, to carry job-related essential functions.

You can attach your CSBC with your application or email it 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. Applications without the required documentation, may not be considered for this recruitment effort.

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.

Additional Information

EXAM CONTENT

Before the end of your initial work assignment, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. If you achieve a passing score on this evaluation, you 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 critical vacancies within the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Appointees to this position must be willing to work 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 employed persons have a Social Security number, 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, EMAIL, OR 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 existing profile information.

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 the 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. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

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 the Los Angeles County Public Defender 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.

Department Contact Name: Jason Sasaki

Department Contact Phone: (213) 224-9937

Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov

California Relay Service Phone (Voice): (800) 735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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