DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY I - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT

Los Angeles County; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking passionate attorneys to fill emergency Deputy District Attorney I vacancies in response to recent natural disasters. This role involves performing legal work in the prosecution of criminal cases, including researching and preparing cases, presenting hearings, and advocating in court. The position offers a unique opportunity to make a direct impact on the community while gaining valuable experience in a supportive environment. If you are ready to take on a challenging and rewarding role that contributes to the recovery of Los Angeles County, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• Must be admitted to the California State Bar Association.
• Conduct legal research and prepare legal writings.

Responsibilities

• Researches and prepares cases for prosecution.
• Prepares and presents preliminary hearings and tries misdemeanor cases.
• Confers with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement personnel.

Skills

Criminal Law

Legal Research

Courtroom Advocacy

Case Preparation

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE


TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY
EXAM NUMBER
A9271K-FR

APPLICATION FILING PERIOD Friday, May 09, 2025, 8:00 a.m. (PT) through Friday, May 23, 2025, BEFORE 5:00 p.m. (PT)
The LA County Board of Supervisors has unanimously ratified a Proclamation of Local Emergency in response to the windstorms and wildfires (Download PDF reader), including the Palisades and Eaton Fires that have devastated communities across the County. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to assist the County in mobilizing resources and support needed to help our residents recover and rebuild. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (LADA) is seeking attorneys to fill emergency Deputy District Attorney I vacancies related to this unprecedented natural disaster.

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

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Deputy District Attorney I. DEFINITION:
Performs beginning level legal work required in the prosecution of criminal cases for the Office of the District Attorney.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class are characterized by the performance of the less complex legal task involved in prosecuting criminal cases. Incumbents are expected to have a working knowledge and understanding of criminal law and procedure in the State of California and of the California Evidence Code. Incumbents will be required to learn applicable office and personnel policies and procedures related to the handling and prosecution of criminal cases.

The Deputy District Attorney I is rotated through a variety of developmental assignments to prepare the attorney to handle cases of increasing difficulty. Incumbents in this class will be expected to try cases both before a court and jury. Deputies at this level receive close supervision from higher-level attorney personnel in the performance of their duties.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Researches and prepares cases for prosecution.

Prepares and presents preliminary hearings. Tries misdemeanor cases and argues related motions such as search and seizure. Acts as a courtroom advocate on behalf of the District Attorney.

Confers with victims, witnesses, law enforcement personnel, defense attorneys and other interested parties.

Visits the crime scene when appropriate.

Discusses trial tactics, factual, ethical, and legal issues, and potential case dispositions with supervising attorneys.

Prepares legal documents such as briefs, pleadings and misdemeanor complaints.

Conducts legal research and prepares legal writings relevant to the preparation and presentation of cases.

Obtains evidence of prior convictions when necessary and provides discovery in a timely manner.

Negotiates with defense attorneys regarding the disposition and/or modification of charges.

Assists in the preparation and prosecution of more complex criminal cases as needed.

All Applicants must be admitted to the California State Bar Association to practice law in the State of California. Types of acceptable documents include:

• A legible copy (photocopy or PDF format) of an active California State Bar Card (CSBC). The CSBC must indicate the current year (2025). If the watermark of the current year is not visible, your application will be rejected -OR-
• If you recently passed the bar and do not have a bar card, a legible copy (photocopy or PDF format) of a letter from the California State Bar Association that clearly states that you have achieved a passing score on the California State Bar Examination -AND-that you have satisfied ALLof the requirements for admission to practice law at the time of filing. All correspondence must be on the California State Bar letterhead.
• Congratulation letters that indicate you have NOTsatisfied ALLof the requirements for admission to practice law will not be accepted. Examples of these are:
• Law graduates with provisional licenses are not eligible to participate in this examination.

All supporting documentation must be submitted along with your application or via email to [e-mail] within five (5) business daysfrom the last day of the application period. Failure to submit within five (5) business days from the last day of the application period, will disqualify you from participating in this examination. We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

WITHHOLD INFORMATION:
No withholds will be allowed for this examination. Required experience must be fully met and indicated on the application by the last day of filing.

ADDITIONAL LICENSE REQUIREMENT:
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:
2– 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.

You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

QUALIFYING BACKGROUND CHECK
Before an appointment is made to this position, you will be required to complete and pass a thorough background investigation including a Live scan.
Examples of disqualifying factors are:

• Any criminal charges or convictions
• Job related misdemeanor convictions
• Certain serious traffic convictions or patterns of traffic violations such as three (3) moving violations in one year; failure to appear; at-fault accidents; applicant placed on a three (3) year probation
• Poor credit history
• Poor employment history
• Substance abuse
• Driving under the influence

EXAMINATION CONTENT :

During 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 and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING ONLINE:
Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add [e-mail] , [e-mail] , and [e-mail] your list of safe senders to ensure communication is not filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance, 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/careers/lacounty.gov 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.
VACANCY INFORMATION:
This recruitment will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:
Deputy District Attorneys are rotated through a variety of developmental assignments to prepare the attorney to handle cases of increasing difficulty; incumbents may be assigned to work in any area of Los Angeles County and on any shift(evenings, nights, and weekends).

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 applicants who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Refer to their website for more information : http://lacountylibrary.org

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.

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. We are committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Questions? Please contact us:

Department Contact Name:Exams Unit
Exam Number:A9271K-FR
Department Contact Phone:[phone]
Department Contact Email: [e-mail]
ADA Coordinator Phone:[phone]
California Relay Services Phone:[phone]