DEFENSE ATTORNEY I/II/III/IV

COUNTY OF FRESNO; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 164,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance Allowance per pay period

Criminal Law Specialist incentive

Job summary

Fresno County Public Defender's Office invites applications for Defense Attorney I–IV, including immigration defense opportunities. Annual salaries range from $78,260 to $163,722, with a scheduled 2% increase effective 6/22/26. A per-pay-period performance allowance and a $274 specialty incentive may apply.

Positions require California Bar membership and a California driver’s license. The office is dedicated to representing those who cannot afford counsel, upholding constitutional rights, and

Qualifications

• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
• Experience requirements vary by level: one to three years depending on the rank.

Responsibilities

• Defense Attorney I: perform legal research, prepare briefs, and handle misdemeanors as assigned.
• Defense Attorney II–IV: defend cases of increasing complexity, interview clients, and prepare pleadings and briefs.
• Defense Attorneys may supervise lower‑level attorneys and perform advanced legal research.

Skills

State Bar Membership CA

Driver's License

Job description

Performance Allowance – Defense Attorney II/III/IV/Senior

• Death Penalty Unit – $400.00 per pay period
• Major Crimes Unit (Homicide & Sexual Assault) – $300.00 per pay period
• Domestic Violence and Felony Unit – $150.00 per pay period

Position Description

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 ( view flyer ).

Annual Salaries

Defense Attorney I: $78,260 - $99,892 Annually

Defense Attorney II: $91,338 - $116,584 Annually

Defense Attorney III: $109,590 - $139,854 Annually

Defense Attorney IV: $128,258 - $163,722 Annually

Scheduled Salary Increase

Effective 6/22/26:

2% increase for Defense Attorney I/II/III/IV

About the Office

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.

Specialization Incentive

A Defense Attorney who completes certification through the California Bar as a Criminal Law Specialist shall receive $274 per pay period in addition to their normal pay.

Samples of Duties

Defense Attorney I

• Receives orientation to the operations, processes and procedures of the Public Defender's Office.
• Performs legal research and investigation in the preparation of cases for court.
• Prepares briefs.
• May present a full range of misdemeanor cases in court upon assignment.
• Performs other work as required.

Defense Attorney II

• Acts as defense counsel in criminal cases of average difficulty.
• Interviews and advises defendants and witnesses.
• Studies, interprets and applies laws, court decisions and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases and briefs.
• Prepares pleadings and other papers in connection with suits, trials, hearings and other legal proceedings.

Defense Attorney III

• Acts as defense counsel in major criminal cases.
• Interviews and advises clients and witnesses.
• Studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases and briefs.
• Prepares pleadings and other papers in connection with suits, trials, hearings, and other legal proceedings.
• May occasionally assign, review, and coordinate the professional legal work of lower level attorneys.

Defense Attorney IV

• Acts as defense counsel in complex and sensitive criminal cases.
• Interviews and advises clients and witnesses.
• Studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases and briefs.
• Prepares pleadings and other papers in connection with suits, trials, hearings, and other legal proceedings.
• Assigns, reviews, and coordinates the professional legal work of lower level attorneys.
• Does advanced legal research under only policy guidance.

Minimum Qualifications

Defense Attorney I

• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• License : Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Defense Attorney II

• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Experience : One year of experience in professional legal work or full-time law clerk experience. The latter must be experience which is acceptable to the Public Defender.
• License : Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Defense Attorney III

• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Experience : Two years of experience in professional legal work, including one year with primary emphasis as a trial attorney in criminal law, or full-time law clerk experience. The latter must be experience which is acceptable to the Public Defender.
• License : Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Defense Attorney IV

• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Experience : Three years of professional legal work, including two years with primary emphasis as a trial attorney in criminal law, or full-time law clerk experience. The latter must be experience which is acceptable to the Public Defender.
• License : Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Reasonable Accommodations

Positions in this classification are in Medical Group I – Light Physical Activity (Personnel Rule 8). This group includes positions which require only light physical effort and may include lifting of small, light objects and some bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching. Considerable walking or standing may be involved.

The County of Fresno is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application, examination, or selection process may contact Human Resources at [phone] at least five days prior to the scheduled date or deadline.

Eligible candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The County of Fresno is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Fresno County to provide employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, or denial of medical family care leave, or any other non-job-related factor.