• Job Description

  Req#: 4124915
  Law Office of the Los Angeles County
  PUBLIC DEFENDER
  
  
  EXAM NUMBER:
  L9232I-EA
  
  
  RECRUITMENT TYPE:
  Open Competitive - Emergency
  
  The Law Office of the Los Angeles Public Defender is the nation's finest client-centered criminal defense firm, providing a beacon for evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system.
  
  When to Apply:
  Applications will be accepted from Wednesday , August 9, 2023 , at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) until the needs of the service are met. Application filing is subject to closure without prior notice.
  
  The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.
  
  The Law Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Paralegal vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.
  
  Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.
  
  Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.
  
  Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Paralegal. About the Position:
  Paralegals provide assistance to Deputy Public Defenders engaged in criminal defense, juvenile delinquency case defense, and in the representation of clients in mental health proceedings. They research and analyze factual information and law sources such as statutes, court decisions, criminal pleadings, police reports, legal documents, and articles for use in preparing legal documents such as briefs, motions, etc. They research, document, and analyze social and criminal background information, and prepare comprehensive social histories and sentencing reports. They summarize, organize, and index case documents, and prepare and organize documents and records pertaining to the operations of the court. Paralegal staff have extensive contact with clients, both in and out of custody, and also with client's family members and witnesses in the community in order to carry out their assigned responsibilities.
  
  Examples of duties include but are not limited to the following:
  
  • Assisting Deputy Public Defenders (DPDs) with all aspects of pre-trial litigation and trial preparation, which may consist of digital evidence (e.g., video and audio recordings of client and witness statements, recorded inmate telephone conversations, body-worn and car-mounted video cameras from police officers, cellular phone call records, site and tracking data, surveillance video, and communications from social media sites).
  • Traveling to various departmental branch and area offices to retrieve legal documents, and interview clients and witnesses.
  • Testifying in court.
  • Drafting various legal documents (e.g., motions, memoranda of points and authorities, affidavits, and declarations) relevant to investigative and evidentiary procedures.
  Interested applicants must meet ONE of the following requirements:
  
  1. Certificate of Completion of a Paralegal training program* approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), the California Department of Education, or an equivalent accrediting agency** from another state. -OR-
  2. Graduation from an accredited law school.
  You MUST meet ONE of the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.
  
  *To receive credit for your Paralegal training program, you submit your certificate with your application or within seven (7) calendar days of submitting your application via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov .
  
  **Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national, or international accrediting agencies, which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources (OHR). Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and the International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States-accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators. Inc.
  
  Physical Class II - Light
  This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.
  
  License
  A valid California Class “C” Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
  
  Special Requirement Information
  Continuing Education: All paralegals shall be required to certify completion every three years of four hours of mandatory continuing legal education in legal ethics. Every two years from the date of permanent appointment, all paralegals shall be required to certify the completion of four hours of mandatory continuing education in either general law or a specialized area of law. All continuing legal education courses shall meet the requirements of California Business and Professions Code Section 6070. Certification of these continuing education requirements shall be made with the paralegal's supervising attorney. The paralegal shall be responsible for keeping a record of the paralegal's certification.
  
  Our Assessment Process
  Before the end of your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.
  
  Vacancy Information
  The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Law Office of the Public Defender.
  
  Application & Filing Information
  • APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.
  • Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button for this posting. Please review your application for accuracy before submitting it. You can also track the status of your application by visiting www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty and logging into your account.
  • Many important notifications including application rejections and notice of exam results will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. It is your responsibility to provide a valid email address and review all notifications sent to you. Please add Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov, KRamirez@pubdef.lacounty.gov, noreply@governmentjobs.com, swang@hr.lacounty.gov, and gtung@hr.lacounty.gov. to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered or blocked as spam/junk/clutter mail.
  • Applicants have the ability to opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications. You can always access some of these notifications by logging into your profile inbox at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty which saves a copy of all emailed notices. It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.
  • Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the first day of the filing period as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/carees/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
  • The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Fill out your application and Supplemental Questionnaire completely. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week and description of work performed. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
  • Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION.
  • Applicants must submit all applicable documents at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days of submitting their application via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application. Include the examination number and title in your email's subject line.
  Social Security Number
  Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
  
  Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries
  For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Applicants can find out more information about select in-person library services and locations by visiting the Los Angeles County Library website.
  
  No Sharing of User ID and Password
  All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password.
  Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
  
  Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI)
  The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
  
  Questions? Contact us:
  Exam Number: L9232I-EA
  Department Contact Name: Hector Moreno
  Department Contact Phone: (213) 460-8068
  Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
  ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
  California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
  Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929

• About the company

  Los Angeles County, one of California’s original 27 counties, was established on Feb. 18, 1850. It is one of the nation’s largest counties with 4,084 square miles, and has the largest population of any county in the nation.

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