Deputy Public Defender Attorney I, II, III
Orange County
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Job summary
Orange County's Office of the Public Defender seeks Deputy Public Defenders at Attorney I, II, and III levels to provide high-quality legal advocacy in criminal, mental health, and dependency cases in Orange County courts. This in-person assignment requires strong courtroom skills, ethical practice, and commitment to constitutional rights.
Positions span entry to experienced attorneys, with a negotiable salary within the stated ranges and a comprehensive selection process.
Qualifications
- Active member of the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law.
- Possession of a California Class C Driver License or ability to use an alternative transportation.
- Attorney II requires twelve (12) months of criminal law experience; post-Bar civil/general practice may substitute on a 2:1 basis.
- Attorney III requires two (2) years of criminal law experience.
Responsibilities
- Provide high-quality legal advocacy for clients in the Courts of Orange County.
- Represent clients in criminal, mental health, and dependency matters.
- Work as part of a team in-person at various locations/units.
Job description
As a result of the Board approval, all OCAA-represented classifications will be receiving a negotiated salary increase (NSI) of 3.00% effective September 04, 2026.
Attorney I ............... $96,699.20 up to $116,896 Annually
Attorney II .............. $113,089.60 up to $126,048 Annually
Attorney III ............. $129,417.60 up to $179,233.60 Annually
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Deputy Public Defender Attorney I, II, and III positions. The Public Defender will fill vacancies from the eligible list established from this recruitment. Online applications will be accepted beginning on Tues day, July 14, 2026. This recruitment will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the day the needs of the department/County are met.
To be considered during the second round of consideration, please submit your application by: Thurs day, September 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (PST).
To be considered during the first round of consideration, please submit your application by: Friday, July 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (PST).
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.
As a Deputy Public Defender you will enforce and protect the Constitutional rights, privileges and freedoms of individuals by providing the highest quality legal advocacy for all clients in the Courts of Orange County, which in turn helps protect those important rights for all County residents. The assignment may be at any of our various locations or units and will include criminal, mental health, and dependency cases. This is an in-person assignment, and the duties cannot be performed remotely/virtually.
- An attorney who would like to learn to be a skilled trial lawyer?
- A caring, empathetic humanitarian who would like a job that provides you with great personal fulfillment?
- Able to effectively communicate with a judge, district attorney and a jury?
- A team player who has a zeal for the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution?
- An individual who can deliver the mission of the Offices of the Public Defender in an ethical and responsible manner?
The ideal candidate will be an attorney who is passionate about the law and has a desire to become a skilled trial litigant. The candidate will possess strong ethical standards, good organizational skills, and an unwavering commitment to provide the best legal representation for their clients.
In addition to the minimum qualifications for Deputy Public Defender Attorney I, II, III, the ideal candidate will have attorney experience in the practice of criminal law with experience in litigation and trial work.
Experience
- None required
License Required
- MUST be an active member of the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the State of California. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.
- Candidates who will sit for the July 2026 California Bar Examination or recently sat for the July 2026 California Bar Examination and are awaiting results are eligible to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the State of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.
Experience
- Twelve (12) months of experience as an attorney in the practice of criminal law. Post-Bar attorney experience in a civil or general practice law office may be substituted for the criminal experience on a two-month for one-month basis.
License Required
- MUST be an active member of the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the State of California. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.
- Members in good standing of California State Bar and have been assigned a license number, but have inactive membership status are also welcome to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the State of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.
Experience
- Two (2) years of experience as an attorney in the practice of criminal law. Post-Bar attorney experience in a civil or general practice law office may be substituted for the criminal experience on a two-month for one-month basis.
License Required
- MUST be an active member of the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the State of California. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.
- Members in good standing of California State Bar and have been assigned a license number, but have inactive membership status are also welcome to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the State of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment. Possession of a California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.
Please note: Years of experience are calculated based upon the work rate of 40 hours per week.
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check consisting of employment history, professional references, conviction history, criminal check and education verification (i.e., certificate, degree, license, and official transcript). State Bar membership must be attained, and candidates will be required to provide proof of successful admission to the State Bar of California prior to appointment/conditional job offer. Special Requirements: Appointees must pass a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County of Orange Public Defender's Office (for all levels), including a fingerprint check though Live Scan. Applicants will also be required to answer a conviction questionnaire as part of the background process. A clean driving record may be required while employed in this classification (see minimum qualifications and classification description for required license).
Note: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.).
The County of Orange is committed to providing a means for applicants who may have a disability to identify areas in which they may request a reasonable accommodation. The following is a description of the physical and mental abilities which are customarily required to perform the essential job functions of this position. Applicants are encouraged to contact the recruiter listed below for any questions or to request an accommodation during the testing/selection process. Please refer to the links above for the complete job classifications including the Physical and Mental Requirements and Environmental Conditions.
Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Public Defender Human Resources screens all application materials to identify candidates with qualities that meet minimum and/or desirable qualifications. Application materials and supplemental responses will be screened to identify qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this position based on the skills required to meet the needs of the County. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.
Structured Oral Interview | Structured Oral Examination (Weighted 100%)
Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. The evaluation is solely based on the candidate's responses to the structured questions; therefore, candidates should be thorough, detailed, and complete when responding to the structured questions. Please note that the panel will also be evaluating oral communication skills. This is a competitive process. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.
ELIGIBLE LIST
After the competitive procedures listed above have been completed, an eligible list of qualified candidates will be established. Candidates will be notified of their standing. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact
Christine Reese at (657) 251-8838.
The County of Orange provides a comprehensive, balanced, and competitive benefits package as part of the employee total compensation.
The County offers a competitive benefits package which includes a choice of several health plans, annual leave (includes paid vacation) and paid holidays. Additionally, the County provides a retirement plan. Participation in a deferred compensation plan is available.
For detailed information on benefits click here.
Current employed members of acceptedreciprocalsystems who have not retired from these systems, may be eligible for reciprocity.
For detailed information on OCERS retirement click here.
- 24 Parks and Trails: OC Parks & Trails
- 17 Beaches/Harbors: OC Beaches
- 7 Historical Sites: OC Historic Sites
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com, oc.gov, and ocpubdef.gov. If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions. For additional information regarding employment with the County of Orange, please visit OC Human Resource Services.
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
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