ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER

Recruitment #26-3126-01 Date Opened 7/27/2026 12:00:00 AM Filing Deadline 8/21/2026 5:00:00 PM Salary $127.07 - $167.39/hour; biweekly; $264,305.60 - $348,171.20/year Employment Type Permanent Full-Time Employment HR Analyst Rosario Jones Department Public Defender Work Location Oakland Type of Recruitment New, open, assembled

INTRODUCTION

THIS

IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.

The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire:

A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.

DESCRIPTION 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. For additional info, please visit: Alameda County Public Defenders

THE POSITION

Assistant Public Defender is the unrestricted litigation and/or primary administrative class. Under general direction of the Public Defender, Chief Assistant Public Defender or Senior Assistant Public Defender, an Assistant Public Defender acts as a supervising attorney for other Assistant Public Defenders, and/or for Associate and Deputy Public Defenders, and may review and evaluate their work and performance as required; an Assistant Public Defender performs specialized legal tasks in connection with controversial and complex legal cases, does related legal work as required, and may conduct and supervise attorney training. For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Assistant Public Defender (#3126)

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, 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 polices of the Public Defender's Office and scope and character of California Statutory and constitutional law; Demonstrated expertise in the preparation and arguing of difficult and complex cases where the Death Penalty will be sought; Dedicated team member that works cooperatively with others and strives to accomplish established work goals; Outstanding organizational skills with the demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple on-going cases for staff and self; 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; Proven ability to defend complex felony cases including homicides during pre-trial and jury trial level, utilizing advanced litigation techniques; effectively make appropriate trial objections and motions; and knowledge in addressing difficult sentencing issues; The ability to remain flexible, open, and positive while handling needs of clients and demands of the Court; and A proven supervisory experience with the responsibility for training, guiding and evaluating the work of Assistant Public Defenders, Deputy Public Defenders and Associate Public Defenders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Current active membership and good standing with the State Bar of California. 2. Valid California motor vehicle operator's license.

EXPERIENCE

Either The equivalent of three years of full-time experience in the class of 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 seven years of increasingly responsible experience as a trial attorney in the field of criminal law, with a caseload and duties comparable to attorneys working in a metropolitan public defender agency; the equivalent of at least one year in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a public defender office or law firm with similar cases and responsibilities.

NOTE:

The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

Philosophy and practice of public defense in the United States. Law, ethics, and policies governing the Public Defender's office. Principles of training and supervision. Legal principles and procedures followed in the processing of criminal cases. Scope and character of California statutory and constitutional law. Principles of public administration and personnel management. Legal source materials.

Abilities:

Assist in the training and supervision of personnel in the Public Defender's Office. Legal preparation in difficult and complex matters. 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. 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. Assist in the planning, organization, and supervision of the Public Defender's Office. Represent the department in disciplinary proceedings. Understand the problems of court administration and work with the courts so clients do not suffer through poor administration in represented cases. Supervise and/or conduct the evaluation of the performance of professional staff, including Assistant Public Defenders, Deputy Public Defenders, and Associate Public Defenders. Assume management of the Office of the Public Defender in emergency situations. Represent the Public Defender's Department in meetings with other County departments and agencies, outside agencies, and the County Board of Supervisors.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

The examination will consist of the following steps A review of applicants' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process. A review of candidates' Supplemental Questionnaires to determine the best qualified. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the final step in the examination process. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.