Assistant Public Defender

Deputy Public Defender Attorney I, II, IIISalary information:Attorney I: $96,699.20 up to $116,896 annuallyAttorney II: $113,089.60 up to $126,048 annuallyAttorney III: $129,417.60 up to $179,233.60 annuallySalary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Deputy Public Defender Attorney I, II, and III positions. The Public Defender will fill vacancies from the eligible list established from this recruitment. Online applications will be accepted beginning on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. This recruitment will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the day the needs of the department/County are met. Priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by Friday, July 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (PST).The 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. The principal role of the Offices of the Public Defender is to provide each client with high quality representation, thereby protecting their constitutional rights and liberties. In advancing the cause of these clients, the dedicated lawyers and support staff are on the front lines protecting the precious rights and privileges of all Orange County residents. 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.As a Deputy Public Defender, you will enforce and protect the Constitutional rights, privileges and freedoms of individuals by providing the highest quality legal advocacy for all clients in the Courts of Orange County, which in turn helps protect those important rights for all County residents. The assignment may be at any of our various locations or units and will include criminal, mental health, and dependency cases. This is an in-person assignment, and the duties cannot be performed remotely/virtually.Are you:An attorney who would like to learn to be a skilled trial lawyer?A caring, empathetic humanitarian who would like a job that provides you with great personal fulfillment?Able to effectively communicate with a judge, district attorney and a jury?A team player who has a zeal for the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution?An individual who can deliver the mission of the Offices of the Public Defender in an ethical and responsible manner?The ideal candidate will be an attorney who is passionate about the law and has a desire to become a skilled trial litigant. The candidate will possess strong ethical standards, good organizational skills, and an unwavering commitment to provide the best legal representation for their clients. In addition to the minimum qualifications for Deputy Public Defender Attorney I, II, III, the ideal candidate will have attorney experience in the practice of criminal law with experience in litigation and trial work.Minimum qualifications:Attorney I:None requiredLicense required:MUST be an active member of the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the State of California. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.ORCandidates who will sit for the July 2026 California Bar Examination or recently sat for the July 2026 California Bar Examination and are awaiting results are eligible to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the State of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.Attorney II:Twelve (12) months of experience as an attorney in the practice of criminal law. Post-Bar attorney experience in a civil or general practice law office may be substituted for the criminal experience on a two-month for one-month basis.License required:MUST be an active member of the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the State of California. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.ORMembers in good standing of California State Bar and have been assigned a license number, but have inactive membership status are also welcome to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the State of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.Attorney III:Two (2) years of experience as an attorney in the practice of criminal law. Post-Bar attorney experience in a civil or general practice law office may be substituted for the criminal experience on a two-month for one-month basis.License required:MUST be an active member of the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the State of California. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.ORMembers in good standing of California State Bar and have been assigned a license number, but have inactive membership status are also welcome to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the State of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.Please note: Years of experience are calculated based upon the work rate of 40 hours per week.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). State Bar membership must be attained, and candidates will be required to provide proof of successful admission to the State Bar of California prior to appointment/conditional job offer.Special requirements: Appointees must pass a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County of Orange Public Defender's Office (for all levels), including a fingerprint check though Live Scan. Applicants will also be required to answer a conviction questionnaire as part of the background process. A clean driving record may be required while employed in this classification (see minimum qualifications and classification description for required license). 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.).Physical and mental requirements and environmental conditions: 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. Please refer to the links above for the complete job classifications including the Physical and Mental Requirements and Environmental Conditions.Recruitment process/selection procedures:Application screening (refer/non-refer) qualities based on the skills required to meet the needs of the County.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.Eligible list: After the competitive procedures listed above have