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.

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 Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

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

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 *Official Law School Transcripts tab along with any other documents you wish to submit. Please upload and submit only one (1) PDF. If you have multiple documents please save all documents in one file and attach it once under the OFFICIAL LAW SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS tab.
• In-Person or by US Mail - Alameda County Human Resource Services Department Attn.: Rosario Jones/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 Rosario Jones at .

THE DEPARTMENT

The Alameda County Public Defenders 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 120 attorneys 19 investigators 12 social workers 8 client advocates and 50 support staff handle approximately 30000 cases per year providing innovative holistic defense services for Alameda County 2012 the office was named the Best Law Firm in the East Bay by the Alameda County Bar Association.

The Alameda County Public Defenders Office (ACPDO) strives to provide its clients with comprehensive holistic defense services. ACPDO provides zealous client-centered legal representation and rehabilitative wrap-around services in lieu of incarceration. Holistic criminal defense is a client-centered interdisciplinary approach to legal representation that addresses the underlying social and environmental factors contributing to a persons involvement in the criminal legal system. It moves beyond traditional legal representation to offer a broader range of support aiming to improve overall outcomes for individuals and communities.

For additional info please visit: POSITION

Associate Deputy Public Defenders are the attorneys for defendants 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.

For additional information on the position please visit:Associate Deputy Public Defender (#3110).

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 Defenders 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 moments 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 Defenders 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 Defenders 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

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 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 candidates 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 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.
3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates 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.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.

The following dates aretentativeand subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.