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 Deputy Public Defender I, II, III

Orange County Public Defender's Office
Location: Orange County
Compensation: Attorney I --- $8,058.27 up to $9,741.33/Mo; Attorney II -- $9,424.13 up to $10,504.00/Mo; Attorney III -- $10,784.80 up to $14,936.13/Mo

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.

Open: July 21, 2025

Closes: Continuous/Open Until Filled

Head Alternate Defender

Mendocino County Alternate Defender Office
Location: Ukiah
Compensation: $145,870.40 - $177,278.40 Annually

Under general direction of the Public Defender, the Alternate Defender is responsible for the overall day-to-day administration and management of all functions within the Alternate Defender's office; performs the most significant and complex legal work handled by the office; work consists of varied and highly complex professional and administrative duties.

Closes: July 29, 2025, 11:59 p.m.

 Deputy Public Defender I/II/III

Riverside County Public Defender's Office
Location: Riverside
Compensation: $89,999.94 - $176,051.20 Annually

The County of Riverside's Law Offices of the Public Defender is 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.

Closing Date: May 30, 2025 (but will remain open until filled)

Deputy Public Defender I/II/III

Riverside County Public Defender's Office
Location: Coachella Valley Only
Compensation: $89,999.94 - $176,051.20 Annually

The County of Riverside's Law Offices of the Public Defender is seeking to fill a vacancy in their Coachella Valley 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.

Closing Date: May 30, 2025 (but will remain open until filled)

Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office Positions

The Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office is hiring for multiple attorney and post-bar legal clerk positions, details in links.

Location: Modesto

Compensation: see information in recruitment links

Deputy Public Defender (Attorney IV-V) | Job Details tab | Career Pages

Deputy Public Defender I-V (PART-TIME ONLY) | Job Details tab | Career Pages

Misdemeanor Deputy Public Defender (Attorney I/II/III) | Job Details tab | Career Pages

Post Bar Legal Clerk (Paralegal II) | Job Details tab | Career Pages

Closing Date: Continuous/Open Until Filled

 Deputy Public Defender I/II/III

Shasta County Public Defender's Office
Location: Shasta County

Compensation
Deputy PD I: $7,224 - $9,220, Monthly
Deputy PD II: $8,161 - $10,417, Monthly
DPD III: $9,541 - $12,177, Monthly 

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere.  With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

The Shasta County Public Defender provides efficient and effective legal defense services to indigent individuals charged with crimes in felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile matters.  In addition, the Office of the Shasta County Public Defender provides legal representation to indigent individuals facing conservatorship, guardianship, parental terminations, probate, and Welfare & Institutions Code Section 5150 proceedings.

DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER I: This level is assigned to attorneys who have little to no previous criminal defense experience. Under close supervision, attorneys at this level are generally assigned a variety of less difficult assignments.

DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER II: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of experience in the practice of criminal law. Under close supervision, attorneys at this level perform work of average difficulty in all phases of criminal law and are expected to exercise a high degree of independent judgment in handling assigned cases.

DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER III: Incumbents at this level perform specialized legal work in criminal matters, which are varied, complex, and sensitive in nature. Attorneys at this level are responsible for handling the most serious and sensitive cases including sexual assault, child molestation, and homicide. Attorneys will be required to handle their assignments independently, with minimal supervision.

Closing: Continuous/Open Until Filled

Deputy Public Defender I-IV - San Joaquin County Public Defender's Office 

Location: Stockton, California

Compensation

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.

Defense Attorney I/II/III/IV, Immigration Defense Attorney I/II/III/IV, Fresno County

Location: Fresno County, California

Compensation

Defense Attorney I:: $75,218 - $96,044 Annually
Defense Attorney II: $87,802 - $112,034 Annually
Defense Attorney III: $105,326 - $134,446 Annually
Defense Attorney IV: $123,292 - $157,326 Annually  

The Fresno County Public Defender's Office invites applications for the position of Defense Attorney I/II/III/IV, including opportunities focusing on the intersection of criminal and immigration issues as an Immigration Defense Attorney I/II/III/IV.

The Public Defender's Office is dedicated to the full and fair representation of all persons in the community who cannot afford legal counsel and are in danger of being deprived of a liberty interest due to a criminal accusation or other statutorily defined state action.  It is the goal of the Public Defender's Office to protect every client's constitutional rights, to defend against discriminatory treatment and disproportionate punishment, and to ensure that no one who is innocent is ever wrongfully convicted.  The Public Defender's Office provides all mandated legal services in an efficient and cost-effective manner while holding themselves to the highest professional and ethical standards.

Closes: Continuous/Open until Filled

Deputy Public Defender, I/II Humboldt County

Humboldt County Public Defender's Office

Location: Eureka, CA

Compensation: $64,147.20 - $98,009.60 Annually

Are you interested in making a difference? If so, please consider joining our dedicated team at the County of Humboldt Public Defender's Office!
What You'll Do: This position is responsible for a variety of duties, including:

• Prepares the defense for court-appointed cases in a variety of misdemeanor cases.
• Conducts pretrial case preparation, legal research;
• coordinates investigative activities with Public Defender Investigator.

Represents clients at arraignments, pretrials, jury trials.

Opens: May 9, 2025

Closes: Continuous/Open Until Filled

Deputy Public Defender II -- Marin County

Office: Marin County Public Defender
Location: San Rafael, CA
$133,348.80 - $162,198.40 Annually

The Deputy Public Defender II performs legal defense work for clients needing publicly assisted representation in criminal, juvenile, or civil cases accepted by the Public Defender. Incumbents at this level exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative in all areas of defense work and are responsible for performing legal research, drafting legal documents, and thoroughly preparing assigned cases and clients for trial. Deputy Public Defenders at this level appear in court daily in both felony and misdemeanor cases in all court levels. The incumbent may provide direction to lower level attorneys as needed. The general duties and minimum requirements of this position are further described in the class specifications. There are currently two (2) full-time regular hire vacancies and one (1) full-time regular hire fixed term vacancy.

Posted: 2/27/2025
Continuous

 Youth Holistic Defense Advocate -- Santa Barbara County Public Defender

The Public Defender’s Office is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time Youth Holistic Defense Advocate vacancy in Santa Maria for the Youth Defender Unit. The County classification title is Behavioral Wellness Practitioner Intern.The Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office provides legal representation from a holistic and client-centered perspective to adults and youth living in poverty who are accused of crimes and who have been traditionally marginalized. We use the tools of litigation, negotiation, and services-based solutions to address our clients’ legal needs.

Our Youth Defender Unit, located in Santa Maria, provides vigorous advocacy to system-involved youth from all parts of our diverse County from their first court appearance until their case is concluded and/or supervision ends.

Posted 2/11/25, Continuous