Position/Program Information

Law Office of the Los Angeles County

PUBLIC DEFENDER

EXAM NUMBER:

L9243E

RECRUITMENT TYPE:

Open Competitive

WHEN TO APPLY:

Applications will be accepted starting Monday, October 3, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) until the needs of the service are met. Application filing may close without prior notice.

Who We Are:

The Law Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, providing a beacon of evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system.

We value and support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within our organization.

Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, a person with a disability, a veteran, a woman, and/or a part of the LGBTQIA+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply.

The Work:

The Senior Law Clerk (SLC) position in the Public Defender's Office is a 16-week internship program with a unique opportunity to advance into permanent employment as a Deputy Public Defender (DPD) I. This internship is run twice a year, in the Fall and Spring.

During the 16-week rotation, you will go on record while conducting preliminary hearings, and have an opportunity to participate in case work in specialized areas such as Post-Conviction, Law Enforcement Accountability, and Immigration. You will assist in preparing a wide variety of criminal cases and may participate in hearings and jury trials under the mentorship and supervision of senior-level DPDs. While working in specialized units, as an SLC you will conduct legal research, review legal documents, and organize extensive reports and exhibits to be used in trials.

Our Ideal Team Member:

This opportunity is for you if you wish to join a team revolutionizing the criminal justice system. We're looking for team members who hold our Office's shared values of zealously advocating in defense of our indigent clientele, compassionately telling their stories, and dedication to working with stakeholders to achieve our clients' goals.

Essential Job Functions

Through the SLC program, recent law school graduates gain work experience in a legal environment, and participate in the practical application of law under the guidance of an attorney. This experience prepares candidates for the Deputy Public Defender position in the Law Offices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender.

Examples of duties include but are not limited to the following:

* Researching, studying, interpreting, and applying laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases, opinions, pleadings, and briefs

* Organizing extensive legal discovery, reports, documents and potential case exhibits

* Conducting pretrial reviews of case files for witness subpoenas and other evidence gathered for trials

* Conducting preliminary interviews of potential complainants in criminal cases and reporting on findings of facts to determine if sufficient cause exists to support prosecution

* Reading, understanding, and analyzing legal documents, such as pleadings, affidavits, court orders, transcripts, statutory codes, and appellate decisions

* Preparing a variety of legal documents, including memoranda summarizing court decisions, administrative board decisions, State statutes, ordinances, and opinions

* Communicating with witnesses, experts, clients, and other interested parties for the performance of duties, and providing information to judges, attorneys, and the public concerning the work of the department

* Interviewing clients to obtain factual, biographical and financial information

* Scheduling witnesses for court appearances and interviews and preparing witnesses and clients in courtroom procedures and protocol

Requirements

To participate in this examination, you will need to:

Option 1:

* Have a Juris Doctor degree from an approved or accredited law school*, AND

* Be registered to take the first available bar following your law school graduation date, AND

* Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program at the time of the appointment.

* OR-

Option 2:

* Be currently enrolled in law school, AND

* Have successfully completed Second Year or equivalent of law school, AND

* Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program at the time of the appointment.

For Application Filing Tips and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) click here.

To show that you meet the requirements above, you will need to provide the following:

* A copy of your diploma, official or unofficial transcripts that clearly show current enrollment, indicating grade level, AND successful completion of the second year or equivalent in an approved or accredited law school or the degree and date conferred. For additional information on providing documentation and school accreditation, click here.

* Applicants will be permitted to participate in the exam. However, their names will be withheld from the list of candidates ("Eligible Register") for hiring consideration until they can produce a copy of their diploma or a copy of official or unofficial transcripts that clearly show when JD degree was conferred and provide confirmation of their registration for the Bar Exam. When submitting proof of registration and approval, please log in to the Applicant Community site in the California Bar website and provide a screenshot of the detailed page containing your Application Information and Examination Event Information or a copy of your Admittance Ticket.

To be eligible for California State Bar certification (PTLS), applicants must:

* Have sat for or registered to sit for the first eligible bar exam. The results of the first eligible bar must not be published at the time of appointment, AND

* Register as a law student with the California State Bar.

Additional information on the PTLS program can be found at Practical Training of Law Students -State Bar of California.

Candidates who complete the exam process, but do not provide a copy of their diploma and/or transcripts by the end of the academic year in which they are scheduled to graduate, will be disqualified from the exam process. However, they will be able to re-apply when the exam requirements are met.

PROVISIONAL LICENSEES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EXAMINATION.

License:

A valid California Class "C" Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Expectations:

This position will require light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit, and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Additional Information

Our Assessment Process will consist of:

An evaluation of Training and Experience (T&E) weighted 100%, comprised of the candidates' education and training based on information provided on the Los Angeles County Online Employment Application form, Supplemental Questionnaire, and other required supporting documents submitted at the time of filing or within ten (10) business days from submitting your online application.

Eligibility Information

If you meet the Requirements outlined above and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the T&E evaluation you will be placed on the eligible register for this exam for a period of six (6) months following the date of promulgation. A Notice of Exam Results will be sent to all candidates via email only. Additionally, no person may participate in this examination more than once every six (6) months.

Vacancy Information:

The resulting eligible register or this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Law Offices of the Public Defender.

Questions? Contact us:

Exam Number: L9243E

Department Contact Name: Amannda Osorio

Department Contact Phone: (213) 948-2711

Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov

ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov

California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922

Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

Application and Filing Information

* APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applications will not be accepted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person.

* When you create a governmentjobs.com profile, you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

* Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button for this posting. Please review your application for accuracy before submitting it. You can also track the status of your application by visiting

* Many important notifications including application rejections, online test invitation letters, and notice of exam results will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. It is your responsibility to provide a valid email address and review all notifications sent to you. Please add Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov, AOsorio@pubdef.lacounty.gov, and noreply@governmentjobs.gov to your email address and list of approved senders to present email notifications from being filtered or blocked as spam/junk/clutter mail.

* Applicants may also sign in to their account to view the status of their application.

* Applicants can opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.

* The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Requirements. Complete your application and Supplemental Questionnaire thoroughly. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week and description of work performed. Incomplete applications will be rejected.

* Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION

* You must upload and attach all applicable documents at the time of filing or send via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov within ten (10) business days of submitting your online application. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application. Please include your name, Exam Number, and Exam Title in your email. Failure to provide the required documentation will result in the rejection of your application.

SPECIAL 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.

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 Human Resources 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.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries

Candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, can complete their application on computers provided at public libraries, located throughout Los Angeles County. Applicants can find out more information about select in-person library services and locations by visiting the Los Angeles County Library website.

No Sharing of User ID and Password

All applicants must file their application online using their OWN User ID and password.

Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

All County workforce members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Successful candidates for this position will be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.

Additional "Employment Information" may be viewed at the following link: County of Los Angeles Employment Information.

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

Your Responsibilities:

1. Completing Your Application:

a. Before submission of the application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct and complete on the application. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

b. List each payroll title separately for each job. Do not group your experience. Specify the beginning and ending dates for each job. If you are a Los Angeles County employee and have held multiple positions, do NOT list all of your time with the County under your present payroll title.

c. Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

d. To receive credit, include required documents (e.g., copy of your diploma, transcript, certificate, or license) as directed on the job posting. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. Refer to the job posting for specific deadlines for supporting documentation.

2. Requirements on Job Posting:

a. Your application will only be accepted if it clearly shows you meet the requirements. The information you give will determine your eligibility and is subject to verification at any time.

b. You must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment unless other age limits are stated on the job posting. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for any individual age 40 or older.

c. Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40- hour week, unless specified otherwise. Prorated part-time experience may be acceptable.

3. Application Deadline: All job applications must be completed and submitted before the closing time on the last day of the filing period as indicated on the job posting unless other instructions are provided. Job postings with an open continuous filing period are subject to closure without prior notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early and not wait until the last allowable date and time as you will not be able to apply once the filing period has closed.

4. Change of Name or Address: To change personal information such as your name or address, log into your profile on and make the necessary change. This can be done at any time.

5. Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy:

a. It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. b. If you are an individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) in the examination process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. The provision of accommodation(s) may be subject to verification, consistent with state and federal law. All accommodation-related information will remain confidential.

Disclaimer: The County of Los Angeles is not responsible or in any way liable for any computer hardware or software malfunction that may affect the employment application or the application selection process.

You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of this system and the Internet generally. This system and the information provided on it are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. No advice or information given by the County of Los Angeles or its respective employees shall modify the foregoing or create any warranty.

The County of Los Angeles expressly disclaims any warranty that the information on this system or on the Internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from the system is free of viruses or other harmful components. You shall have no recourse against the County of Los Angeles as the system provider for any alleged or actual infringement of any proprietary rights a user may have in anything posted or retrieved on our system.

The County of Los Angeles shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this system or with the delay or inability to use it (or any linked sites), or for any information obtained through this system, or otherwise arising out of the use of this system, the Internet generally or on any other basis.

NOTE: Your application is submitted using Secure Encryption to ensure the privacy of all information you transmit over the Internet.

By accepting the Use Disclaimer set forth herein, you agree to all of the above terms and further agree to use this Online Job Employment Application System only for the submission of bona fide employment applications to the County of Los Angeles. Any other use of this Online Job Employment Application System, including without limitation any copying, downloading, translating, decompiling, or reverse engineering of the system, data, or related software, shall be a violation of the Use Disclaimer.

Test Preparation: Study Guides and other resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at Additional resources may be listed on the job posting.

Veteran's Credit: In all open competitive examinations, a veteran's credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examinations will be added to the final passing grade of an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under any of the following conditions: During a declared war; -or- During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; -or- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; -or- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti qualifies for credit.

A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.

This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference. Applicants must submit the documentation for each open competitive exam to qualify for veteran's credit. More information available at:

Accreditation Information: Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies that are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information is available at: and E_Resource_Guide.pdf

Background Check: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional 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 will also 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.

Career Planning: Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at

Benefit Information: Depending on the position, the successful candidate will enroll in a contributory defined benefit pension plan if the candidate is a "new member" of the County's defined benefit plan (LACERA) on or after January 1, 2013 (first employed by the County on or after December 1, 2012) - unless she or he established reciprocity with another public retirement system in which she or he was a member before January 1, 2013. It should be noted that County employees do not pay into Social Security, but do pay the Medical Hospital Insurance Tax portion of Social Security at a rate of 1.45%. The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has reciprocal agreements with several public retirement systems in California.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA/Personnel Services for Disabled Persons Coordinator. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.

Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.

Los Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program: In an effort to improve compliance with court ordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations. Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information.

Social Security Act of 2004: Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System. All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA-1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the website or call toll free 1-800-772- 1213. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778 or contact a local Social Security office.

Employment Eligibility Information: Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility.

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504) and other applicable laws prohibit employment discrimination based on an applicant's protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, childbirth, and other characteristics.

COVID-19 VACCINATION: Some County workforce members may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Successful candidates for those positions/classifications may be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.

Updated February 2024