Closing Date: 21st May, 2024
Description:
About the Position:A Government Entity s seeking to fill a vacancy in their Riverside office at the Deputy Public Defender I, II, and III levels (level entry is based on years of experience). The incumbents will perform professional legal work in the misdemeanor unit and do other work as required. Experience working in a law office is preferred.
The Deputy Public Defender I position is the entry-level class in the Deputy Public Defender series and is subject to the rotation of assignments according to business needs. Incumbents are given supervision and guidance by higher level attorneys on initial assignments through formal and informal work reviews.
The Deputy Public Defender II is the second level class in the Deputy Public Defender series and is subject to the rotation of assignments according to business needs. Positions in this class are distinguished from positions in the lower class of Deputy Public Defender I by assignments that require more specific legal experience and are performed with less supervision and review.
The Deputy Public Defender III is the journey level in the Deputy Public Defender series and is subject to the rotation of assignments according to business needs. Positions in this class are distinguished from positions in the lower level Deputy Public Defender II classification by assignments that require demonstrated ability to effectively perform the complete range of legal work in the fields of civil and criminal defense.
Incumbents are employed in the Office of the Public Defender and are considered deputies to the Public Defender.
Meet the Team!
It is the mission of the Law Offices of the Public Defender (https://publicdef.co.riverside.ca.us/) to provide the highest quality legal representation to any person unable to afford it for criminal, juvenile, or certain civil proceedings. The Public Defender strives to preserve human dignity in all cases where citizens' liberties are at stake. The Public Defender is dedicated to the principle that no citizen shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without competent, professional, and vigorous representation so that due process is implemented fairly, equitably, and without prejudice. The Public Defender is headquartered in Riverside, with additional offices providing support to residents in Banning, Blythe, Murrieta, and Indio.
Examples of Essential Duties
Deputy Public Defender I
Deputy Public Defender II/III
Minimum Qualifications:
Deputy Public Defender I
- Interviews applicants for public defense and determines financial eligibility; advises and counsels defendants on legal rights and procedures.
- Investigates, researches, and prepares cases for the defense; presents and defends cases in the Justice, Municipal, and Superior Courts.
- Analyzes legal issues for pending cases; prepares trial briefs and checks questions of law; argues points of law and makes final arguments of summations.
- Negotiates with the prosecuting authorities regarding the disposition or modification of charges in specific cases; does legal research in the specific area of criminal law; prepares correspondence and reports.
- Reviews progress and development of cases with supervisory deputies.
Deputy Public Defender II/III
- Interviews applicants for public defense and determines eligibility; advises and counsels defendants on legal rights and procedures; appears with and for defendants at court hearings.
- Decides on and makes appropriate legal motions and pleas, and takes other legal action on behalf of clients; conducts the trial defense for clients; orders investigations and subpoenas.
- Negotiates with prosecuting authorities regarding the disposition or modification of charges in specific cases.
- When warranted, argues the merits of probation for defendants; prepares appeals, writs, and other legal documents on behalf of defendants; dictates correspondence and prepares reports.
Minimum Qualifications:
Deputy Public Defender I
License/Certificate: Active membership in the State Bar of California.
Deputy Public Defender II
License/Certificate: Active membership in the State Bar of California.
Deputy Public Defender II
Option I
Experience: One year of experience at the Deputy I level with the Public Defender's Office of Riverside County (Certification of qualifications by the Public Defender may be substituted for up to six months of the required experience).
Option II
Experience: One year of experience at the Deputy I level with another office of Riverside County or as an attorney at an equivalent level with another California county or city.
Option III
Experience: One year of experience in the practice of criminal and/or civil law; civil law experience must have included primary involvement in the following areas: Conservatorships, Probate, Guardianships or other closely related cases.
Deputy Public Defender III
Experience: One year of experience at the Deputy I level with the Public Defender's Office of Riverside County (Certification of qualifications by the Public Defender may be substituted for up to six months of the required experience).
Option II
Experience: One year of experience at the Deputy I level with another office of Riverside County or as an attorney at an equivalent level with another California county or city.
Option III
Experience: One year of experience in the practice of criminal and/or civil law; civil law experience must have included primary involvement in the following areas: Conservatorships, Probate, Guardianships or other closely related cases.
Deputy Public Defender III
Option I
Experience: One year of experience at the Deputy II level with the Public Defender's Office of Riverside County, at the Deputy II level with another office of Riverside County, or as an attorney at an equivalent level with another California county or city.
Option II
Experience: Two years of experience in the practice of criminal and/or civil law; civil law experience must have included primary involvement in the following areas: Conservatorships, Probate, Guardianships or other closely related civil cases.
All Levels
Knowledge of: Legal principles and their application; rules of evidence and the conduct of court proceedings; the laws of California.
Ability to: Analyze legal problems and apply legal principles and practices; present arguments and statements of fact and law clearly and logically in written and oral form; perform legal research; work cooperatively with others.
Other Requirements:
Experience: One year of experience at the Deputy II level with the Public Defender's Office of Riverside County, at the Deputy II level with another office of Riverside County, or as an attorney at an equivalent level with another California county or city.
Option II
Experience: Two years of experience in the practice of criminal and/or civil law; civil law experience must have included primary involvement in the following areas: Conservatorships, Probate, Guardianships or other closely related civil cases.
All Levels
Knowledge of: Legal principles and their application; rules of evidence and the conduct of court proceedings; the laws of California.
Ability to: Analyze legal problems and apply legal principles and practices; present arguments and statements of fact and law clearly and logically in written and oral form; perform legal research; work cooperatively with others.
Other Requirements:
- License/Certificate: Active membership in the State Bar of California.
- License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.
