DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER III-EMERGENCY APPOINTMEN/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Position/Program Information

Los Angeles County

INDEPENDENT DEFENSE COUNSEL OFFICE

THIS IS A REPOSTING TO REOPEN THE FILING PERIOD.

EXAM NUMBER:

L9251S-EA

RECRUITMENT TYPE:

Open Competitive - Emergency

About Us
The Independent Defense Counsel Office (IDCO) was established under the auspices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. The IDCO operates as an autonomous and ethically walled-off separate public law office from the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office consistent with existing case law and California State Bar guidelines.

We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County’s homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County’s jails and into treatment services and works to reduce the collateral social and economic impacts of contact with the criminal legal system, such as losing employment, social services, and housing. The collective services provided and supported by our workforce have a direct positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.

When to Apply
Applications will be accepted from Monday, April 21, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (PT) and will continue accepting applications until the vacancy is filled. The application filing window may close without prior notice.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

Who can Apply

The IDCO is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Deputy Public Defender (DPD) III vacancy related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of the initial work period, hires will be assessed on their work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to DPD III.

About the Position
The IDCO administers the contract for the private attorney bar panel who provides legal representation to justice-involved individuals in adult criminal and delinquency proceedings throughout the trial courts of Los Angeles County pursuant to California Penal Code Section 987.2, subdivision (e).

The mission of the IDCO is to vigorously protect and defend the rights, liberties, and dignity of indigent clients for which the Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender are unable to do so due to conflict of interest.

Essential Job Functions

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

• Ensuring that the defense of clients assigned to the Independent Defense Counsel Office is conducted in accordance with holistic standards, case appointment protocols, program policies and procedures, and best practices.
• Providing operational oversight of contract panel attorney services in each region, which
  includes ensuring regular attorney availability for case appointments.
• Review case assignments to ensure that clients are represented by attorneys with the appropriate classifications and/or expertise.
• Engaging with clients, the Judiciary, and other justice stakeholders to address issues related to panel attorney representation and quality assurance.
• Reviewing billing claims submitted by panel attorneys to ensure compliance with guidelines established by the Superior Court for Los Angeles County and the rates established by the Board of Supervisors.
• Assisting in providing technical guidance, including providing information on available resources, restorative programming (e.g., housing and mental health services), and attorney training opportunities.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You MUST meet the requirement(s) listed below to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment:

• One year of experience as a DPD II* within the Los Angeles County Public Defender AND
• Be admitted to the California Bar and be licensed to practice law in all courts in California.

*Applicants must meet experience requirements by either currently holding or having held the DPD II payroll title in the past.

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 CLASS II - LIGHT
This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that 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
Before the end of your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION

• APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.
• 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 Governmentjobs.com and logging into your account.
• Many important notifications such as application rejections and initial appointment letters 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, Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov , JSasaki@pubdef.lacounty.gov, and noreply@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered or blocked as spam/junk/clutter mail.
• Applicants can opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications. You can always access some of these notifications by logging into your profile inbox at Governmentjobs.com which saves a copy of all emailed notices. It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence.
• Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the first day of filing as 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 Governmentjobs.com , 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.
• The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Fill out your application and Supplemental Questionnaire completely. 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.
• Applicants must submit all applicable documents at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the date the application is filed via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov . Include the examination number and title (DPD III, L9251S-EA) in your email's subject line. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application.

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

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries 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's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

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 offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records that 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.

Questions? Contact us:
Exam Number: L9251S-EA
Department Contact Name: Jason Sasaki
Department Contact Phone: (213) 224-9937
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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