Deputy Public Defender
About the Department
The Alameda County Public Defender's Office provides the highest quality of indigent criminal defense by vigorously advocating for the rights of individuals facing criminal charges in adult and juvenile court. Our mission is to zealously protect and defend the rights of clients through compassionate and inspired legal representation of the highest quality, in pursuit of a fair and unbiased system of justice for all. The Alameda County Office is one of the oldest Public Defender offices in the nation, chartered in 1927 by Earl Warren who later became Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Today, our team of more than 100 attorneys, 18 investigators and 40 support staff handle approximately 30,000 cases per year providing innovative, holistic defense services for Alameda County residents. In 2012, the office was named the "Best Law Firm" in the East Bay by the Alameda County Bar Association.
About the Role
Deputy Public Defender is the general litigation attorney class. By the assignment of the Public Defender, Deputy Public Defenders are the attorneys for defendants in criminal and juvenile cases, and represent litigants in certain civil proceedings, as appointed to or accepted by the Public Defender. Deputy Public Defenders perform all related legal work as required and authorized by the Public Defender. The Deputy Public Defender class is found only in the Public Defender's Department.
Ideal Candidate
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:
- Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of the philosophy and practice of public defense, laws, ethics and policies of the Public Defender's Office and scope and character of California Statutory and constitutional law.
- Strong ability to identify and understand complex legal problems and concepts, apply logical thinking and methods to gathering and analyzing evidence and information.
- Outstanding organizational skills with the demonstrated ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple on-going cases, as well as the ability to provide status updates on cases and hearings at a moment's notice.
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to communicate with diverse individuals and proven experience in delivering legal arguments that are effective in both written and oral form.
- Consider and anticipate multiple factors and the potential consequences when making decisions.
- Consistently maintain effectiveness when experiencing change in work responsibilities, priorities, and deadlines and take prompt action to accomplish objectives.
- Proven ability to remain flexible, open, and positive while handling needs of Clients and demands of the Court.
- Foster and maintain effective client relationships to ensure that all clients' needs are thoroughly identified, properly addressed, and handled in a fair and equitable manner consistent with the principles and practices of the Public Defender's Office.
- Ability to litigate complex and serious felonies.
Minimum Qualifications
- Current active membership and good standing with the State Bar of California.
- Valid California motor vehicle operator's license.
- Either: The equivalent of 24 months of full-time experience in the class of Associate Deputy Public Defender in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes District Attorney's Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts).
- Or: The equivalent of 24 months' full-time experience in the practice of criminal law, and demonstrated competence in the handling of all phases of felony cases, including substantial felony trial experience. Substantial felony trial experience is deemed to include the trial to verdict of at least three felonies for which the possible penalty exceeds seven years.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge of:
- Philosophy and practice of public defense in the United States.
- Laws, ethics, and policies governing the Public Defender's Office.
- Legal principles and procedures followed in the handling of criminal and juvenile cases, including rules of evidence, trial litigation, and appellate procedure.
- Scope and character of California statutory and constitutional law.
- Legal source materials.
- Principles of training and supervision.
Abilities:
- Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
- Gather, analyze, and apply legal data and evidence.
- Present legal arguments effectively in oral and written form.
- Inspire confidence in clients and work effectively with colleagues and representatives of other agencies.
- Handle legal correspondence and procedures with tact and accuracy.
- Appropriate decision making.
- Interpersonal sensitivity.
- Flexibility.
- Performance in a stressful environment.
- Defend felony cases at the pretrial and jury trial level, including advanced litigation techniques and preservation of the trial record by making timely and appropriate trial objections and motions, and demonstrated knowledge of and facility in addressing difficult sentencing issues.