Defense Investigator Trainee, I, II, III

CAREER DESCRIPTION

DEFENSE INVESTIGATOR TRAINEE, I, II, III

(Public Defender)

THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment is open to the public and will accept only on-line applications from Friday, September 12, 2025 through Monday, September 29, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (PST) with the required supplemental responses. Qualified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply immediately. This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future vacancies in the Public Defender's Office.

SALARY HOURLY:

Trainee Level $32.65 - $43.86
I Level $38.36 - $51.64
II Level $50.25 - $63.94
III Level $54.41 - $69.37

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and
successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

BILINGUAL PAY
An additional $0.70 per hour is paid for this position to bilingual employees (fluently speak, read, and write) in Spanish or Vietnamese (in addition to English). Employees must pass the bilingual exam and be certified to be eligible for supplemental pay.

THE OFFICES OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
Orange County Public Defender's Office is a law firm of highly dedicated and skilled attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and support staff who work to advance a more humane and compassionate justice system by protecting the constitutional rights and freedoms of the diverse communities of Orange County through inspired, client-centered advocacy in the courtroom and the community. In addition to clients in criminal cases, counsel is appointed to represent children in Juvenile Court Delinquency cases, parents in Dependency cases, and a variety of persons in Mental Health cases.

Please click HERE for more information about the Offices of Public Defender.

THE OPPORTUNITY

ARE YOU:

• Sensitive to the legal needs of the indigent?
• Self-motivated?
• An effective communicator?
• A team player?

If so, the Office of the Public Defender would like you to be an essential part of a dedicated and devoted team that enforces and protects the constitutional rights, privileges and freedoms of individuals.

Investigators assist criminal defense attorneys by investigating criminal, juvenile, and mental health cases heard in the courts of Orange County. Duties will include interviewing clients, witnesses, victims, informants, and medical and mental health professionals; serving subpoenas; examining crime scenes; preparing detailed reports of investigative findings; appearing in court to testify on particulars of investigation; traveling out of town, out of state, and to out of country locations; and arranging and coordinating transportation and accommodations for non-local trial witnesses. This is an in-person assignment, and the duties cannot be performed remotely/virtually.

GENERAL DUTIES:
Defense Investigator Trainee: Under close supervision, learns to conduct routine defense investigations in the Justice Centers and Juvenile Courts, and routine mental health conservatorship cases.

Defense Investigator I: Independently conducts routine investigations for preliminary hearings and for trials in the Justice Centers, Juvenile and Mental Health Courts.

Defense Investigator II: Independently investigates difficult cases set for preliminary hearings and for trials in the Justice Centers, Juvenile and Mental Health Courts.

Defense Investigator III: Independently investigates serious felony cases such as: capital homicides, rapes, aggravated assaults, etc. Cases may include multiple charges and involve a high degree of public awareness and concern.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE : (ALL LEVELS)
License Required: Possession of a valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment.
Languages: Bilingual communication (speak, read and write fluently, in addition to English) in Spanish or Vietnamese is a desirable skill.

DEFENSE INVESTIGATOR TRAINEE Experience/Education ** :

• One year of experience which would have applied the knowledge and abilities listed below such as, but not limited to, interviewing difficult witnesses of varied backgrounds, and/or investigation experience

General Knowledge of:

• The techniques of interviewing people for the purpose of obtaining and recording complicated information in a face-to-face situation
• Human motivation and behavior sufficient to gain rapport with frequently hostile and reticent witnesses and interviewees

Some Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of investigation including the rules of evidence and the laws of arrest

Ability to:

• Gather, assemble, analyze and evaluate facts; draw logical conclusions and make sound recommendations
• Communicate and interact with persons of different backgrounds; occasionally function in stressful situations
• Detect inconsistencies in the information that is elicited from witnesses and others interviewed
• Prepare and present written and oral information in a clear and accurate manner
• Operate simple investigation equipment such as recording devices and cameras

Click here to view the class spec/job description for Defense Investigator Trainee.

DEFENSE INVESTIGATOR I Experience/Education * * :

• One year of experience as a Defense Investigator Trainee with the County of Orange

OR

• Two years of experience which would have applied the knowledge and abilities listed below such as, but not limited to, investigation experience

General Knowledge of:

• The techniques of interviewing clients and witnesses for the purpose of obtaining and recording complicated information in a face-to-face situation
• Human motivation and behavior sufficient to gain rapport with frequently hostile and reticent witnesses and interviewees
• Principles of identification, search and seizure and related legal information of value to the defense attorney may be required for some assignments
• Methods and techniques of investigation including the gathering and preservation of evidence
• Rules of evidence and the laws of arrest

Some Knowledge of:

• Public and private agencies and the community resources available to meet client needs may be required for some assignments
• Dynamics of human behavior sufficient to recommend treatment for clients with a variety of social, psychological and economic problems may be required for some assignments

Ability to:

• Gather, assemble, analyze and evaluate facts and evidence following well-established procedures, draw logical conclusions and make sound recommendations
• Communicate effectively and interact with uncooperative interviewees and/or persons of different backgrounds
• Occasionally function in stressful situations
• Prepare and present written and oral information clearly and concisely
• Recognize interrelationships of isolated facts to develop leads and chain of evidence
• Identify evidence which is particularly significant to the defense of the accused
• Maintain effective liaison with law enforcement agencies
• Operate simple investigation equipment such as recording devices and cameras

Click here to view the class spec/job description for Defense Investigator I.

DEFENSE INVESTIGATOR II Experience/Education ** :

• Two years of investigative experience as a Defense Investigator I with the County of Orange

OR

• Three years of investigative experience which would have applied the knowledge and abilities listed below such as, but not limited to, police or public/private investigative experience requiring thorough knowledge of rules of evidence and of the legal system

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of investigation, including the gathering and preservation of evidence
• Techniques of interviewing

General Knowledge of:

• Rules of evidence and laws of arrest
• Human motivation and behavior sufficient to gain cooperation of frequently hostile or reticent witnesses, mental health clients and other interviewees
• Public and private agencies and community resources available to meet client needs may be required for some positions
• Dynamics of human behavior sufficient to recommend treatment for clients with a variety of social, psychological and economic problems may be required for some positions

Ability to:

• Gather, assemble, analyze and evaluate facts and evidence; draw logical conclusions and make sound recommendations
• Communicate effectively in order to obtain information through interview from frequently uncooperative interviewees
• Evaluate witnesses in terms of credibility and degree of evasiveness
• Prepare and present information clearly and concisely, orally and in writing
• Recognize interrelationships of isolated facts to develop leads and chain of evidence
• Identify evidence and its significance to the defense of the accused
• Maintain effective liaison with law enforcement agencies, and other agencies providing rehabilitative, counseling, and mental health related services

Click here to view the class spec/job description for Defense Investigator II.

DEFENSE INVESTIGATOR III Experience/Education ** :

• Two years of investigative experience as a Defense Investigator II, Public Defender with the County of Orange

OR

• Four years of criminal investigative experience required to develop the knowledge and abilities listed below such as, but not limited to, police or public/private investigative experience requiring thorough knowledge of the rules of evidence and of the legal system

OR

• Graduation from an accredited college with a Masters degree in clinical psychology

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of investigation, collection and preservation of evidence, sources of information, follow-up and case preservation
• Methods and use of scientific investigative equipment
• Rules of evidence and laws of arrest, search and seizure and courtroom procedure
• Techniques of interviewing
• Human behavior and motivation in order to reduce hostility and reticence on the part of witnesses and informants

General Knowledge of:

• Criminology and legal principles that have particular application to the defense of an individual accused of a crime
• Characteristics of emotional and mental disorders and interpretation of psychological tests may be required for some assignments

Ability to:

• Gather, assemble, analyze and evaluate facts and evidence; draw logical conclusions and make sound recommendations
• Communicate effectively in order to obtain information through interview from frequently uncooperative interviewees; evaluate witnesses in terms of credibility and evasiveness
• Recognize interrelationships of isolated facts to develop leads and chain of evidence
• Prepare and present information clearly and concisely, orally and in writing
• Operate investigation equipment such as audio and video recorders and cameras
• Establish effective rapport with employees, law enforcement personnel, attorneys and the public, and with clients in order to gain cooperation and pertinent information
• Interpret psychological evaluations by experts and advise attorneys as to evaluations and testimony may be required for some assignments

Click here to view the class spec/job description for Defense Investigator III.

** Education Substitution : Successfully completed accredited college or university education and/or training in criminology, police science or a closely related field (sociology and/or psychology) may be substituted for one year of experience at the rate of three semester units for one month of experience and one hour of related training for one hour of experience. Please see each class spec/job description for experience/educational substitution.

If you are using the directly related college level education courses and/or training to meet (or towards) the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to the application at the time you submit the application, while the recruitment is still open. Emailed or faxed copies are not acceptable. Original sealed official transcripts/certificate will be required by the date of appointment.

Note: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

Please note: Years of experience are calculated based upon the work rate of 40 hours per week. In addition, the program does not allow you to revise your application and/or add attachments after submitting.

To ensure case confidentiality , please do not provide specific identifying case names and/or case numbers within the application, all supplemental responses and in all attachments to the application.

Veterans Employment Preference Policy, Effective 9/15/2020
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
The County of Orange is committed to providing a means for applicants who may have a disability to identify areas in which they may request a reasonable accommodation. The following is a description of the physical and mental abilities which are customarily required to perform the essential job functions of this position. Applicants are encouraged to contact the recruiter listed below for any questions or to request an accommodation during the testing/selection process.

Physical Characteristics : Possess vision sufficient to read standard text, fine print, various handwritings and view a computer monitor; speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably in person and over the telephone with a variety of people, including subordinates, supervisory staff, technical and management staff and the public; independent body mobility sufficient to stand, sit, walk, stoop, and bend routinely to perform daily tasks; ability to sit for prolonged periods of time; manual dexterity to use hands, arms, and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard and use other office equipment such as a stapler, telephone and photocopy machine. Ability to work in an office environment with changing priorities, deadlines and multiple assignments concurrently. Body strength sufficient to lift and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Environmental Conditions : Will be required to interact with persons of diverse backgrounds and educational levels including witnesses and persons having interest in criminal cases and varying levels of other governmental organizations which include jail facilities and/or courtroom holding tanks; interact with the public in emotional and occasionally hostile situations; work with changing deadlines and competing priorities.

BACKGROUND VERIFICATION/SANCTION SCREENING
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check consisting of employment history, professional references, conviction history, criminal check and education verification (i.e., certificate, degree, license, and official transcript).

Candidates will be required to pass the background check to the satisfaction of the hiring Agency/Department, including a fingerprint check though Live Scan. Applicants will also be required to answer a conviction questionnaire as part of the recruitment process. A clean driving record may be required while employed in this classification (see minimum qualifications and classification description for required license).

Special Qualifications: All applicants will be required to pass a criminal background investigation to the satisfaction of the Public Defender prior to promotion.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS/SELECTION PROCEDURES
Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Public Defender Human Resources screens all application materials to identify candidates with qualities who meet minimum qualifications and/or desirable qualifications. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. During the application screening step, you will need to demonstrate your qualifications on your application.

All candidates will be notified via email of their status and of further procedures applicable to their status in the recruitment competition.

Structured Oral Interview | Structured Oral Examination (Weighted 100%) - Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. The evaluation is solely based on the candidate's responses to the structured questions; therefore, candidates should be thorough, detailed, and complete when responding to the structured questions. Please note that the panel will also be evaluating oral communication skills. This is a competitive process. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

ELIGIBLE LIST
After the competitive procedures listed above have been completed, an eligible list of qualified candidates will be established. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

INTERESTED?

• Apply online as only online applications will be accepted.
• Your application should highlight all of the areas in which you have developed expertise, matching your professional experience with the specific qualifications listed above.
• In the job experience section of the application, it is imperative that you include the company name and address, position held, employment dates, full-time or part-time, duties and reason for leaving. All this information must be included for each job listed.
• Applicants are required to answer supplemental questions in addition to completing the online application. Note: We suggest you prepare the supplemental answers offline so you do not lose your Internet connection. Once you have completed the answers offline, copy and paste your answers in the appropriate boxes.

Please note: To ensure you submit your application before the 11:59 p.m. (PST) deadline, the submit button MUST be clicked before the deadline and please ensure your computer time/clock is set to the correct time.

QUESTIONS

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact

Brian Quinlan at brian.quinlan@ocpubdef.com or (657) 251-8467.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FOR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES

The County of Orange provides a comprehensive, balanced, and competitive benefits package as part of the employee total compensation.

The County offers a competitive benefits package which includes a choice of several health plans, annual leave (includes paid vacation) and paid holidays. Additionally, the County provides a retirement plan. Participation in a deferred compensation plan is available.

For detailed information on benefits click here.

RETIREMENT RECIPROCITY

Current employed members of accepted reciprocal systems who have not retired from those systems, may be eligible for reciprocity.

For detailed information on OCERS retirement click here.

ORANGE COUNTY AMENITIES :

• 24 Parks and Trails: OC Parks & Trails
• 17 Beaches/Harbors: OC Beaches
• 7 Historical Sites: OC Historic Sites

EMAIL NOTIFICATION : Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions. For additional information regarding employment with the County of Orange, please visit OC Human Resource Services.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 9/29/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• County of Orange

• 714.834.5315

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