Job Board

County of Ventura Public Defender's Office

The County of Ventura Public Defender's Office is recruiting for a Public Defender Trial Attorney I/II, Fixed Term. Under the administrative direction of the Public Defender and Assistant Public Defender, the Trial Attorney performs professional legal services as assigned by the Public Defender. Major areas of assignment may include, but are not limited to, misdemeanors, felonies, mental health, and juvenile. Attorneys in this position are responsible for an ongoing caseload and other assignments that require constant interaction with clients, the public, other agencies, and members of the legal profession.

There are currently two Fixed-Term vacancies with an anticipated end date of June 30, 2027. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill existing and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies in the Public Defender's Office. See the full posting for qualifications and application instructions.

Law Office of David P. Shapiro

The Law Office of David P. Shapiro, a San Diego-based boutique criminal defense firm, is seeking an experienced criminal defense attorney to join its team. The Associate Attorney will step in immediately, carrying their own caseload, appearing in court, and owning matters end-to-end, including arraignments, readiness conferences, motions, preliminary hearings, and trial proceedings. The firm welcomes current public defenders, prosecutors, and solo practitioners who are ready for a change but want to continue practicing criminal law.

Candidates must have at least four years of criminal law experience (private-practice criminal defense, public defender, or prosecutorial), active California Bar membership in good standing with no pending disciplinary matters, significant courtroom experience, and demonstrated ownership of a caseload. Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is preferred but not required, and a willingness to learn and use agentic AI tools is a plus. This is a full-time, on-site position; remote and hybrid arrangements are not available.

California Appellate Project

California Appellate Project ("CAP") is accepting applications for employment as a Staff Attorney on CAP's Unrepresented Condemned Inmate Project ("UCIP"). The UCIP Staff Attorney will oversee a caseload of unrepresented incarcerated capitally sentenced people and provide vigorous advocacy on their behalf. CAP is a nonprofit legal resource center funded by the Judicial Council of California to implement the constitutional right to counsel for indigent death row inmates challenging their convictions and sentences on direct appeal and through habeas corpus proceedings.

Candidates must be admitted to the California Bar, with proven litigation skills and superior legal analysis and writing skills; at least two years of law practice is required, with substantial experience in capital trial, appellate, and/or habeas corpus representation preferred. The role requires willingness to travel to correctional facilities statewide to meet with clients and obtain clearance to visit a prison. CAP's office is in downtown San Francisco, close to public transportation, and a hybrid schedule is available.

County of Del Norte

Del Norte County is seeking an experienced criminal defense attorney to serve as the County's first Public Defender, a Board appointed position responsible for overseeing and developing the County's indigent defense program. This recruitment will establish a list of candidates to fill the vacancy, as well as an eligibility list that may be used for future vacancies or temporary help for up to one year. Only online applications are accepted, and applicants are responsible for reviewing the full job description and requirements. Resumes are encouraged but will not be accepted in lieu of required application materials. Candidates who meet all minimum qualifications may be invited to an oral interview.

Partners for Justice

Partners for Justice (PFJ) is seeking a West Region Program Manager / Senior Program Manager to oversee a selection of public defender partnerships in the West Region, beginning with Los Angeles County. PFJ's flagship program embeds trained Client Advocates in host public defender offices to expand their ability to provide clients with wraparound support and navigate the civil penalties of arrest. The Program Manager will help recruit, train, coach, and supervise Advocates, serve as the primary point of contact for partner offices and Advocate supervisors, and build a network of local legal aid, community-based, and government partners. This role will also support Advocates in the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Holistic Early Assessment & Linkages (HEAL) program, which helps clients facing felony charges access mental health diversion and accelerate release from custody.

Candidates should have a JD or MSW and at least two years of experience providing services to low-income people, preferably in public defense or legal aid, along with proven experience mentoring or supervising teams of five or more. Candidates must be current California residents or willing to relocate upon hire. People who share lived experiences with PFJ's clients are encouraged to apply.

Fresno County Public Defender's Office

The Fresno County Public Defender's Office is dedicated to the full and fair representation of all persons who cannot afford legal counsel and are in danger of losing a liberty interest. The office is actively hiring Defense Attorneys at all levels and is also accepting applications for paid post-bar positions for Fall 2026. Attorneys are assigned to a range of matters from misdemeanors through complex felonies, death penalty, and major crimes. Performance allowances are available for specialized unit assignments including Death Penalty ($400/pay period), Major Crimes, Homicide & Sexual Assault ($300/pay period), and Domestic Violence and Felony ($150/pay period). A Criminal Law Specialist certification through the California Bar earns an additional $274 per pay period.

County of El Dorado Public Defender's Office

"We're a small, dedicated team fighting for fairness in a justice system that isn't always fair. As a Deputy Attorney in the El Dorado County Public Defender's Office, you'll defend clients in misdemeanor, felony, juvenile, and conservatorship cases. You'll gain real courtroom experience and be backed by a team that always has your back." Join us, we're hiring a full-time Deputy Attorney. Get real courtroom experience. Make a real impact. Hiring incentives available.

County of El Dorado Alternate Public Defender's Office

The County of El Dorado's Alternate Public Defender's Office is committed to providing legal representation for people charged with criminal offenses who cannot afford to hire private counsel, providing quality legal services in a compassionate and professional manner and constitutional balance to the El Dorado County Legal System. Conveniently located in Placerville, the office is 45 minutes from the South Lake Tahoe Basin and 45 minutes from Sacramento. The selected candidate will perform the full range of routine to complex legal activities, represent the County in moderate to high-profile and multi-jurisdictional legal matters including trials, hearings, and appeals, lead negotiations and resolution of cases with significant impacts, and draft and review legal documents. This recruitment is to fill one full-time vacancy in the Alternate Public Defender Office. The filing date for this posting has been extended.

County of Riverside Public Defender's Office

The County of Riverside's Law Offices of the Public Defender is seeking to fill vacancies in their Riverside, Murrieta, Banning, and Indio offices at the Deputy Public Defender I level. Incumbents will perform professional legal work in the misdemeanor unit and other work as required. Experience working in a law office is preferred, and candidates who are post-bar and awaiting their results are encouraged to apply (the date the bar was administered must be provided). Active membership in the State Bar of California and a valid California Driver's License are required.

County of Sonoma

This extra-help (temporary) Deputy Public Defender position can be filled at the I, II, III, or IV level, depending on the candidate's qualifications. As attorneys gain experience and meet or exceed performance standards, they are eligible for promotion to subsequent levels in the series, up to level IV. If you are interested in being considered at the various levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate, concurrent recruitments being conducted for those levels.

Committee on Revision of the Penal Code

The Committee on Revision of the Penal Code is hiring an experienced Attorney III (minimum 6 years of experience as a lawyer; admission to the California State Bar required) to lead its legislative program. The attorney will help identify legislative authors to introduce bills implementing Committee recommendations, coordinate support, and provide technical and other assistance as needed. The role also includes assisting with other Committee work, including strategizing Committee topics, researching and writing background memos, and presenting to the Committee at public meetings.

The Committee is a California state entity created in 2020 to study and recommend changes to all aspects of California criminal law. Twenty-two bills implementing Committee recommendations have been enacted into law. The Committee consists of five members appointed by the Governor and two members from the Legislature. More information is available on the Committee's website.

Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office

The Public Defender's Office is accepting applications to fill two full-time Deputy Public Defender III vacancies in Santa Barbara, with one employment list for current and future vacancies in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. At the III level, incumbents demonstrate competency in trial work and are able to represent clients in all but the most complex and serious matters, with typical assignments including serious misdemeanor trials, major felony trials, juvenile court cases, and civil trials.

Shasta County Public Defender's Office

Recruiting for two practice areas: Adult Criminal Defense (felony and/or misdemeanor) and Youth Delinquency Defense. Level I is for attorneys with little to no previous criminal defense experience. Level II requires at least one year of experience. Level III handles the most serious and sensitive cases, including sexual assault and homicide, with minimal supervision.

Humboldt County Public Defender's Office

Prepare defenses for court-appointed cases across a variety of misdemeanor matters. Conduct pretrial case preparation and legal research; coordinate investigative activities with the Public Defender Investigator; represent clients at arraignments, pretrials, and jury trials.