Deputy District Attorney IV

County of Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement reciprocity

Vacation accrual credit

Job summary

County of Santa Barbara’s District Attorney's Office is seeking a Deputy District Attorney IV to handle high‑level felony prosecutions. This full‑time position is eligible for openings in Santa Maria or Lompoc, California, with a salary between $149,864 and $210,787.20 per year.

The ideal candidate will have extensive felony trial experience, strong ethical standards, and the ability to mentor junior attorneys while contributing to specialized units.

Qualifications

• Active membership in the State Bar of California.
• Three years of experience as an attorney in public law or six years in general practice.
• Combination of training, education, and experience meeting the standards above.

Responsibilities

• Interviews and advises complainants and witnesses regarding prospective criminal or civil actions.
• Studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and legal authorities for use in prosecuting cases.
• Prepares legal pleadings such as complaints, answers, demurrers, discovery, and judgment and prosecutes a variety of cases.
• Performs related work such as preparing petitions, complaints, reports, and correspondence

Education

Active State Bar of California membership and required experience

Experience in public law or general practice

Job description

Notice of change: this recruitment is open until filled.

Deputy District Attorney IV

Salary: $149,864.00 - $210,787.20 Annually

We are accepting applications to fill one full-time Deputy District Attorney IV vacancy in the County of Santa Barbara’s District Attorney's Office. The current vacancy is located in Santa Maria or Lompoc, California.

We are also establishing one employment list that will be used to fill current and future vacancies in multiple locations (Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc.) Please select all of the locations you would like to be considered for current and future vacancies.

About the Department

The Mission of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office is to pursue truth and justice by employing the highest ethical standards in vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, and preventing crime.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney has offices in three locations in the County: Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. The office embodies a team approach to fighting crime, where Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators, Victim Witness staff, and support staff work closely together at all stages of a case. The office is also dedicated to the ongoing training and skill development of Deputy District Attorneys as well as fostering the development of new technologies to fight crime and achieve justice. Specialized prosecution units exist for areas of great concern to the County: Violent Crime, Gangs, Vulnerable Victims, and White Collar Crime.

To learn more about the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, visit: https://da.countyofsb.org/. You can also watch our video at https://youtu.be/z8hEhSA4T-A?si=oO3w23lOpEsBLBni

Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s must possess strong moral standards and adhere to ethical standards of the California Bar. Specifically, attorneys should be disciplinary-free from Rules 3.8 and 5-110 Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced felony prosecutor capable of managing and trying difficult and sensitive felony cases, which may include homicide, gang violence, major sexual assault, child abuse, and other high-impact crimes. They demonstrate superior trial skills, advanced legal analysis, and the ability to make strategic and ethical decisions in high-stakes situations. In addition, the ideal candidate will have experience working closely with law enforcement agencies and will have good communication and relationship building skills. A DDA IV is respected for their professionalism, judgment, and ability to mentor and support junior attorneys. They contribute significantly to specialized prosecution units, vertical prosecution models, and office-wide initiatives.

1. Interviews and advises complainants and witnesses regarding prospective criminal or civil actions;
2. Studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and legal authorities for use in prosecuting cases;
3. Prepares legal pleadings such as complaints, answers, demurrers, discovery, and judgment and prosecutes a variety of cases;
4. Performs related work such as preparing petitions, complaints, reports, and correspondence

Active membership in the State Bar of California and;

1. Three years of experience as an attorney in the practice of public law or six years as a general practicing attorney; OR,
2. One year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class of Deputy District Attorney III with Santa Barbara County; OR,
3. Acombination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge, abilities, and license.

Additional Qualifications

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required.

Knowledge of

the organization, powers, and limitations of county governmental functions, civil and criminal codes, and the California Constitution; trial procedures and the rules of evidence.

Ability to

appraise, interpret, and apply legal principles and precedents to difficult legal problems; present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; prepare, present and conduct trials effectively; perform legal research; work effectively with others.

Selection Process

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaires to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
2. Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking. Responses to the required examination supplemental questions will be evaluated and scored. Candidates’ final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the responses to these questions. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire ranking assessment to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on an employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We do require verifications of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Conditional Job Offer

Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidate will be required to successfully complete a background investigation, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. Appointee may be subject to a post‑offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a probationary period of twelve (12) months.

Statement of Commitment

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit‑based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long‑standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

Disaster Service Workers

Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Benefits

The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits, click on Benefits Tab above or HERE.

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Deadline

Open until filled. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Erin Kuhn, Talent Acquisition Analyst II – [e-mail]