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Deputy Public Defender I/II/III/IV

Siskiyou County Public Defender’s Office
Location: Yreka

Compensation: $70,742.05-$141,379.00

Would you like to live and work in the northernmost part of California?  Does living in a county with multiple national forests, rivers, and lakes feel like a great idea? Have you dreamed of spending your workdays practicing excellent holistic defense in a small, dynamic, institutional Public Defender office within ½ an hour of Mount Shasta AND Ashland, Oregon? If so, you should look at this job listing for the Siskiyou County Public Defender’s Office.

Closes: October 5, 2025


Deputy Public Defender III

San Diego County Public Defender's Office
Location: County of San Diego

$150,051.20 - $182,416.00 Annually

Closes: September 22, 2025


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


Merced County Public Defender's Office
Location: Merced, California

Salary: $77,459.20 - $165,526.40 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 $65.36 per hour.

Opening Date: 09/08/2025 

Closing Date: Continuous/Open Until Filled


Criminal Defense Research Attorney -- Contract Position

Law Office of Rebecca S. Young
Location: San Francisco/Remote
Contract position: $85.00 - $150.00 per hour depending on experience

I am a criminal defense trial attorney handling a combination of court appointed murder cases, and privately retained clients charged with felonies and misdemeanors. I have a client-centered, trial-mind approach to client
representation.

I try approximately two serious felony trials per year, providing, high-quality representation in complex, high stakes matters. I am committed to zealous advocacy and racial justice, and to addressing systemic inequities in the criminal justice system.

Posted: September 8, 2025
Open Until Filled


Criminal Defense Paralegal -- Contract Position

Experienced paralegal needed for established criminal defense trial attorney specializing in serious felony cases, currently including six murder cases, and 8- 10 privately retained clients.

Law Office of Rebecca S. Young
Location: San Francisco/Remote
Contract position: $60.00 to $80.00 per hour depending on experience 

Posted: September 8, 2025
Open Until Filled


Attorney III, California Secretary of State

Location: Sacramento County/Remote

Compensation: Monthly Range $10,852 - $15,325

The Secretary of State’s (SOS) office is seeking to fill a permanent, full-time Attorney III in the Legal Affairs Office. You will play a vital role for our Agency by performing a broad range of sensitive and complex legal work, including representing the Agency in complex litigation.

Under the general direction of the Chief Counsel, Assistant Chief Counsel and Attorney Supervisors, duties encompass developing strategy and tactics in complex disputes and litigation, participating at hearings on behalf of the agency, conducting legal research, drafting legal opinions and briefs, participating in negotiations, and rendering legal advice to agency staff. The Legal Affairs unit within the Secretary of State’s office provides legal advice relating to all functions of the agency. This may include responding to legal issues involving elections, businesses, political campaigning, legislative advocacy, and historical treasures.

Closes: September 22, 2025


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


 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

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


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