Advance your legal career and show your passion for public service by
becoming a Deputy Public Defender with the County of Sonoma!
English/Spanish skills are highly desired!
The Deputy Public Defender I/II/III/IV positions will be filled at the appropriate level, depending on the candidate's qualifications. As attorneys gain experience and meet or exceed performance standards, they are eligible for promotion to subsequent levels in the series, up to level IV. If you are interested in being considered at the various levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate, concurrent recruitments being conducted for those levels. If you are an experienced attorney, please check out our II, III, and IV-level recruitments.
The Public Defender's Office
The Public Defender and his Office have the mandated responsibility of defending any person who is not financially able to employ counsel and who is charged with the commission of any contempt or offense triable in the superior or municipal courts. Additionally, the Public Defender represents qualified individuals in probate and welfare proceedings, and may represent any person who is not financially able to employ counsel in proceedings relating to the nature or conditions of detention prior to adjudication.
The ideal candidate will have a substantial interest in criminal defense work and possess:
• Experience working as a law clerk or other professional legal position
• Impeccable research and writing abilities
• Knowledge of post-conviction relief
• Demonstrable excellence in public speaking
• Experience in and/or with a Public Defender's office
• The highly desirable ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish and English
*Salary is negotiable within the established range and benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. For more information, including minimum qualifications, & to apply, visit, www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org or call 707-565-2331. The County of Sonoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to having a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted. Apply Now