The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) is pleased to announce the posting of the Deputy State Public Defender examination.
Representation of individuals convicted of non-capital and capital offenses in direct appeals, petitions for rehearing, and petitions for writ of mandate before the California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court, as well as petitions for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court; both non-capital and capital appeals may also include practice before the superior courts. Candidates possess sufficient experience in drafting the pleadings necessary for such proceedings to allow them to undertake significant roles in the development and presentation of complex factual and legal issues in appropriate venues, including the state superior courts, courts of appeal, the California Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. Candidates must have the skills necessary to deliver oral argument presentations to the various courts in which OSPD practices. Incumbents in this class are experienced criminal defense attorneys capable of performing a wide variety of difficult legal work with increased independence and responsibility.
Incumbents are typically appointed at Range A, B, or C based upon the appropriate alternate range criteria and upon the recommendation of the appointing power.
Teleworking is available. See California Statewide Telework Policy at https://www.dgs.ca.gov/Resources/SAM/TOC/100/181 and Telework Agreement (STD 200) link at https://telework.govops.ca.gov/.
Candidates are required to submit: 1) Standard State Application (STD 678) and 2) Training & Experience Evaluation (located at the end of the bulletin link here: https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/JOBSGEN/2DE22.PDF).
Working Conditions
OSPD permits full-time teleworking consistent with State policy. Applicants must be California residents but can live anywhere in the state, regardless of which office they report to.
All applicants must meet the experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.
Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one Pattern and are distinguished as "Either" I, "or" II, "or" III, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern I and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern II may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.
All applicants are required to have active membership in the California State Bar. (Applicants
who are not members of the California State Bar but who are eligible to take the California State
Bar examination or are in their final year of law school will be admitted to the examination but
will not be considered eligible for appointment until they are admitted to the State Bar.)
And
Two years of experience performing legal duties in any combination of: (1) practice before trial
or appellate courts, or (2) research and writing opinions for appellate courts. (Applicants who
have completed eighteen months of the required experience will be admitted to the examination
but must complete two years of such experience before they will be eligible for appointment.)
Office of the State Public Defender
Human Resources
770 L Street, Suite 1000
Sacramento, CA 95814-3362
[email protected]