Deputy Public Defender I -IV - Public Defender's Office

Introduction

This recruitment is being conducted to fill multiple Deputy Public Defender positions in the San Joaquin County Public Defender's Office and to establish an eligible list which may be used to fill future vacancies.

Applicants that have recently taken the Bar exam and are awaiting results are encouraged to apply for the entry-level class, Deputy Public Defender I. Please note, appointments will not be made until applicants can provide proof of membership in the California State Bar.

The San Joaquin County Public Defender's Office is dedicated to serving the diverse needs of our community and its justice system by furnishing clients whose cases have been entrusted to the office, with competent, effective, loyal, ethical, zealous, compassionate and efficient advocacy.

Deputy Public Defenders provide professional legal services in the preparation and defense of a variety of criminal and some civil matters. You may apply for Deputy Public Defender I, Deputy Public Defender II, Deputy Public Defender III, Deputy Public Defender IV, or all.

Salary Information:

Deputy Public Defender I - $7,374.91- $8,964.25 Monthly

Deputy Public Defender II - $8,968.54-$10,901.31 Monthly

Deputy Public Defender III - $11,227.72-$13,647.37 Monthly

Deputy Public Defender IV - $12,997.04-$15,797.99 Monthly

To review the complete job descriptions and minimum qualifications for each position, please click on the following links:

Deputy Public Defender I

Deputy Public Defender II

Deputy Public Defender III

Deputy Public Defender IV

Pre-Employment Background: Potential new hires into this classification are required to successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation as a condition of employment. Final appointment cannot be made unless the eligible has successfully completed the background process.

The following incentives and bonuses may be available for eligible new hires. Incentives and bonuses are subject to approval by Human Resources:

• Vacation Accrual Rate: San Joaquin County vacation accrual rate consistent with the candidate's total years of public service.

• Sick Leave: Candidates leaving other employment may receive credit for actual non-reimbursable sick leave hours (up to 160 hours) from their last agency. Hours shall be subject to San Joaquin County's minimum sick leave cash out provisions.

• New Hire Retention Bonus:

$2,000 upon completion of first year equivalent employment (2,080 hours)

$1,000 upon completion of third year equivalent employment (6,240 hours)

$3,000 upon completion of sixth year equivalent employment (12,480 hours)

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline.

NOTE: All correspondence relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application at time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondence via US Mail.

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Prepares cases and represents clients in criminal and civil matters in both court and jury trials and hearings; examines and cross examines witnesses; presents oral arguments; prepares and represents clients on appeals.
  
• Researches, analyzes and interprets existing laws and ordinances, court decisions, pending legislation and other legal authorities.
  
• Prepares and reviews briefs, memoranda, opinions, and civil and criminal pleadings.
  
• Interviews clients, complainants, witnesses and law enforcement officials in regard to criminal and civil proceedings; authorizes and prepares complaints, petitions and responses in civil matters.
  
• Participates in mediation hearings to resolve legal problems without further court action.
  
• Confers with prosecution attorneys, probation authorities, and court officials to discuss pleas, modification of charges, presentation and review of evidence, and other legal matters.
  
• Advises judicial officials on legal issues and proceedings by submitting arguments to courts on questions of law; participates in programs to educate the general public on functions and role of the Public Defender's Office; advises and directs clients on questions of law in criminal and civil litigation's.
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

For minimum qualifications at all levels, please refer to the links in the introduction.

KNOWLEDGE

Principles of criminal and civil law and their application, trial and hearing procedures; rules of evidence; State and local laws and ordinances; legal research methods; preparation of briefs and opinions.

ABILITY

Analyze legal principles and precedents and to apply them to complex factual legal problems; present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; draft opinions, pleadings and briefs; independently present cases in court before judicial officials; communicate and cooperate with fellow staff members, agency representatives, judicial officers and the general public; and exercise independent judgment, initiative and discretion, especially in plea negotiations of criminal violations and in the application of limited defense resources.

Equal Opportunity Employer

San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. For more information go to Equal Employment Opportunity Division (sjgov.org).

Accommodations for those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

BENEFITS

Health Insurance : San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans: a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is available for all plans.

Dental Insurance : The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan. There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

Vision Insurance : The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Benefits.

Life Insurance : The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows:

1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000
3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000
5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000
10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000

Employees may purchase additional term life insurance to a maximum of $200,000 at the group rate.

125 Flexible Benefits Plan : This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).

Retirement Plan : Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Act of 1937. Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information. NOTE: If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937, or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.

Deferred Compensation : The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $18,000 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $24,000. The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available.

Vacation : Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.

Holiday : Depending on date of hire into the unit, employees earn either 10 or 14 holidays per year.

Administrative Leave : Each fiscal year, department heads grant 10 days of administrative leave to eligible salaried employees - not carried beyond the end of the fiscal year.

Sick Leave : 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation. Sick leave incentive : An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one-half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue. The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.

Bereavement Leave : 3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for the death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

Merit Salary Increase : New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range. After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.

Bilingual Pay : Employees in the Attorney unit who are designated by the appointing authority and approved by the County Administrator and who have passed a bilingual proficiency examination administered by the Human Resources Division and have otherwise qualified for bilingual compensation shall receive additional compensation of $0.41 per hour.

Job Sharing : Any regular, permanent full-time employee may agree to job-share a position, subject to approval by a Department Head and the Director of Human Resources.

Educational Reimbursement Program : Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year. Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.

Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton : The County contributes up to $17 per pay period for employees assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.

School Activities : Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.

Selection Procedures


Click on a link below to apply for this position:
Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online View and print the Supplemental Questionnaire. This recruitment requires completion of a supplemental questionnaire. You may view and print the supplemental questionnaire here. View and print the official application form as an Acrobat pdf file. A San Joaquin County application form is required for this recruitment. You may print this Acrobat PDF document and then fill it in. Contact us via conventional means. You may contact us by phone at (209) 468-3370, or by email, or apply for a job in person at the San Joaquin County Human Resources Division.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• San Joaquin County

• 209-953-7325

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