Associate Deputy Public Defender

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.

The application, supplemental questionnaire, and transcripts must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.  

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Transcripts: *Official Law School transcripts must be submitted using one of the following three methods by the Last Day of Filing to be given full consideration. Failure to submit transcripts by the Last Day of Filing will result in disqualification. 

Postmarks are not accepted.

• Attached to Application - If attached to application, please attach using the *'Resume' tab, along with any other documents you wish to submit. Please upload and submit only one (1) PDF. DO NOT try to upload multiple documents.  If you have multiple documents, please save all documents in one file and attach it once under the RESUME tab.
• In-Person or by US Mail - Alameda County Human Resource Services Department, Attn: Angelica Cuevas/Associate Deputy Public Defender Transcripts, 1405 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA 94612. 
• E-mail - If emailed, please send with subject line:  'Associate Deputy Public Defender - Transcripts.' Transcripts must be sent to the Human Resources Analyst, Angelica Cuevas, at Angelica.Cuevas@acgov.org

Please note: *If unofficial transcripts are submitted in lieu of official transcripts by the Last Day of Filing, then official transcripts must be received by no later than the date of the oral exam you are scheduled for, should you be invited to participate. All official transcripts that are submitted must have an explanation of the grading system used for each law school you attended. In addition, you can upload letters of reference, a resume and/or other documents that you believe the screening panel might find helpful in evaluating your application. Attachment of the resume, letters of reference and transcripts cannot serve as a substitute for a completed application or responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire. These documents can be uploaded and attached in the "Resume" tab of the application

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 Public Defender's Office is one of the oldest public defender’s 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, 19 investigators and 40 support staff handle approximately 35,000 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: http://www.acgov.org/defender/

THE POSITION

Found only in the Public Defender's Department, Associate Deputy Public Defenders are the attorneys for individuals in certain criminal and juvenile cases, and represent litigants in certain civil proceedings, such as involuntary mental illness commitment proceedings, as accepted by the Public Defender or on appointment by the court and assignment by the Public Defender.  They perform all related legal work as required and authorized by the Public Defender.  

Associate Deputy Public Defender is the entry-level litigation attorney class.  Incumbents perform less difficult legal work than that assigned to Deputy Public Defenders.  As their skill level and experience increases, they are assigned more complex work, including the defense of the most serious misdemeanors and civil cases, as appointed to or accepted by the Public Defender.  They may be assigned selected felony jury trials as part of a closely monitored felony trial caseload.  Tenure in this class is earned after the incumbent demonstrates full competence in the defense litigation of felony trials.

THE 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 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. 

Current active membership and good standing with the California State Bar.      

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

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:  

• Philosophy and practice of public defense in the United States.
• Laws, ethics, and policies governing the Public Defender's Office.
• Principles of training and supervision.
• 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.
• Principles of public administration and personnel management.
• Legal source materials

Ability to:  

• 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 working 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.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1. A review of candidate's 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.
2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified. Only the best qualified candidates will be invited to the oral interview process. 
3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score.  The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS RECRUITMENT. 

 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

*The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.

 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN 

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes. 

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Notices will be sent from Noreply@jobaps.com . Please add @jobaps.com and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box Noreply@jobaps.com are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Tracy Gonzalez, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-272-5085; Email: Tracy.Gonzalez@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs

Disaster Service Worker

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.  Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.