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Secretary I/II

Yolo County Public Defender's Office
Location: Woodland

Compensation: Secretary I: $49,296 - $59,904 Annually /// Secretary II: $52,457.60 - $63,772.80 Annually 

The ideal candidate for this position will have had previous clerical or secretarial experience in a legal department within a local government agency or the court system. The ideal candidate would additionally be able to work in a fast paced environment, possess exceptional organization and customer service skills, be comfortable serving a diverse clientele, and be committed to the mission of the Public Defender's Office - Empower communities through fearless advocacy, because justice is a right for all, not a privilege for a few.

Closes: October 24, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Pacific


Public Defender I/II/III

Napa County Public Defender's Office
Location: Napa

Compensation:  $115,918.40 - $201,676.80 Annually

This recruitment is being conducted to fill one (1) full-time vacancy for the position of Attorney, which may be filled at the I, II, or III level depending on qualifications, for the Office of the Public Defender at Napa County. The list established by this recruitment may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and extra help vacancies for up to one year.

Closes: October 24, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Pacific


Public Defender Investigator I/II


Yolo County Public Defender's Office
Location: Woodland

Compensation: 
Public Defender Investigator I:   $90,542.40 - $110,073.60 Annually 
Public Defender Investigator II:  $102,752 - $124,904 Annually 

 
The County of Yolo is recruiting to fill one, regular, full-time position in the class of Public Defender Investigator I/II at the Public Defender's Office.  The candidate selected will be placed at the Public Defender Investigator I or II level depending on their background and experience, and at the discretion of the appointing authority. 

Closing Date: 10/24/2025 11:59 PM Pacific


Public Defender Trial Attorney I/II – Fixed Term position

County of Ventura Public Defender’s Office
Compensation: $98,596.05 - $153,736.39 Annually
Ventura, CA
 

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies within the Public Defender’s Office. At this time, we have one Regular Fixed-Term vacancy.

Opened: October 9, 2025
Closes: Monday, October 20, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Deputy Public Defender V

Solano County Public Defender's Office
Location: Fairfield

Compensation: $16,809.33 - $20,431.89 Monthly

The mission of the Solano County Public Defender is to protect and defend the rights, liberty, and dignity of our clients, to enforce the constitutional rights to due process, and to ensure the integrity of the criminal justice system for all, regardless of economic status, by providing excellent, compassionate legal representation.

Positions allocated to this class are characterized by the responsibility to lead others and perform difficult assignments involving complex factual and legal issues. Assignments may include primary operational responsibility for felony and misdemeanor cases.

Closes: 10/27/2025 5:00 PM 


Chief Information Officer II

Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Compensation: $163,997 - $255,048  

The Departmental Chief Information Officer II (DCIO II) is an unclassified (at will) position that reports directly to the Chief Deputy Public Defender. The DCIO II serves as the Chief Information Officer for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, providing strategic leadership over all information technology operations. This role directs the planning, design, development, implementation, and maintenance of the Office’s automated systems, ensuring alignment with the Department’s mission of client-centered representation and justice reform.

Nationwide applications accepted from 9/16/2025 until position is filled.
First consideration will be given to applications received by 9/26/2025


Deputy Public Defender I/II/III/IV/V - Extra-Help Deputy Public Defender I/II/III/IV/V

Merced County Public Defender
Location: Merced, CA
Compensation: $77,459.20 - $182,665.60  Annually

Job Type: Full Time


This recruitment is being established to obtain a current eligible list for both full time and Extra-Help vacancies.
Extra-Help are not entitled to county benefits and are limited to a maximum of 25 hours per week.
Extra-Help pay rate is from $37.24 to $72.11 per hour.

Continuous/Open Until Filled
Opening Date: 09/08/2025




Deputy Public Defender I-IV

Yolo County Public Defender
Location: Woodland
Compensation:
Deputy Public Defender I        $100,256.00 Annually 
Deputy Public Defender II       $101,441.60 - $123,302.40 Annually
Deputy Public Defender III      $124,883.20 - $151,819.20 Annually
Deputy Public Defender IV     $146,640.00 - $178,256.00 Annually

The County of Yolo is recruiting to fill one (1) regular, full-time position in the class of Deputy Public Defender I - IV at the Public Defender's Office. Successful candidates will be placed on an eligible list that will be utilized to fill the department's current vacancies as well as for future vacancies as they become available. The level of which a candidate is placed is dependent on their background and experience.

Opening Date: 9/22/2025
Closes: Continuous/Open Until Filed

Deputy Public Defender (Felony/Misdemeanor)

Yuba County Public Defender/Law Office of Sukhdeep Gosal PC
Location: Marysville

Compensation: Starting at $75,000 - $120,000 plus benefits

The Public Defender’s Office is committed to providing legal representation for people charged with criminal offenses who cannot afford to hire private counsel. The Public Defender’s Office provides quality legal services in a professional manner, providing constitutional balance to the legal system.

 

The Deputy Public Defender serves as a trial attorney in defending indigent clients; learns and performs a variety of professional legal work involving the defense preparation of felony criminal cases as assigned and provides assistance to department staff. Performs other related duties as required.

Applicants awaiting Bar results are encouraged to apply.

Continuous/Open Until Filled


Deputy Public Defender I -- Extra Help

Sonoma County Public Defender's Office
Location: Santa Rosa
Compensation: $65.34 - $79.42 Hourly
Continuous/Open Until Filled

 

Deputy Public Defender II -- Extra Help

Sonoma County Public Defender's Office
Location: Santa Rosa
Compensation: $71.42 - $86.81 Hourly
Continuous/Open Until Filled

Deputy Public Defender III -- Extra Help

Sonoma County Public Defender's Office
Location: Santa Rosa
Compensation: $81.60 - $99.18 Hourly
Continuous/Open Until Filled

Deputy Public Defender IV -- Extra Help

Sonoma County Public Defender's Office
Location: Santa Rosa
Compensation: $91.41 - $111.11 Hourly
Continuous/Open Until Filled

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. Deputy Public Defender IV is the highest working level in the Public Defender class series, and as such is expected to defend the full range of misdemeanor cases, felony cases, or specialized legal assignments. The Deputy Public Defender IV works under minimal direction and is expected to use independent judgment in carrying out assignments. 


Felony Attorney, Sonoma County Independent Defender's Office

 

Location: Sonoma County
Position Type: Contract Attorney/Panel
Compensation: Varies

The Sonoma County Independent Defender’s Office is seeking experienced and committed criminal defense attorneys to represent clients in felony-level cases as a member of the criminal defense conflicts panel. Attorneys on this panel provide constitutionally mandated legal representation to indigent individuals when the Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office is unable to accept a case due to a conflict of interest.

Closes: Continuous/Open Until Filled


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


Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office Positions

The Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office is hiring for multiple attorney positions.

Location: Modesto

Compensation: see information in recruitment links

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

Misdemeanor Deputy Public Defender (Attorney I/II/III) | 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

Deputy Public Defender I - $7,374.91- $8,964.25 Monthly
Deputy Public Defender II - $8,968.54-$10,901.31 Monthly
Deputy Public Defender III - $11,227.72-$13,647.37 Monthly
Deputy Public Defender IV - $12,997.04-$15,797.99 Monthly

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.

Deputy Public Defenders provide professional legal services in the preparation and defense of a variety of criminal and some civil matters. You may apply for Deputy Public Defender I, Deputy Public Defender II, Deputy Public Defender III, Deputy Public Defender IV, or all.
Closes: Continuous/Open Until Filled

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