SENIOR LAW CLERK

Job Description:

SENIOR LAW CLERK

Description

Position/Program Information

Law Office of the Los Angeles County
PUBLIC DEFENDER

EXAM NUMBER:
L9243E

RECRUITMENT TYPE:
Open Competitive

WHEN TO APPLY:
Applications will be accepted starting Monday, October 3, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. (PDT) until the needs of the service are met. Application filing may close without prior notice.

Who We Are:
The Law Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, providing a beacon of evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system.

We value and support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within our organization.
Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, a person with a disability, a veteran, a woman, and/or a part of the LGBTQIA+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply.

The Work:
The Senior Law Clerk (SLC) position in the Public Defender's Office is a 16-week internship program with a unique opportunity to advance into permanent employment as a Deputy Public Defender (DPD) I. This internship is run twice a year, in the Fall and Spring.

During the 16-week rotation, you will go on record while conducting preliminary hearings, and have an opportunity to participate in case work in specialized areas such as Post-Conviction, Law Enforcement Accountability, and Immigration. You will assist in preparing a wide variety of criminal cases and may participate in hearings and jury trials under the mentorship and supervision of senior-level DPDs. While working in specialized units, as an SLC you will conduct legal research, review legal documents, and organize extensive reports and exhibits to be used in trials.

Our Ideal Team Member:
This opportunity is for you if you wish to join a team revolutionizing the criminal justice system. We're looking for team members who hold our Office's shared values of zealously advocating in defense of our indigent clientele, compassionately telling their stories, and dedication to working with stakeholders to achieve our clients' goals.

Essential Job Functions

Through the SLC program, recent law school graduates gain work experience in a legal environment, and participate in the practical application of law under the guidance of an attorney. This experience prepares candidates for the Deputy Public Defender position in the Law Offices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender.

Examples of duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Researching, studying, interpreting, and applying laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases, opinions, pleadings, and briefs
• Organizing extensive legal discovery, reports, documents and potential case exhibits
• Conducting pretrial reviews of case files for witness subpoenas and other evidence gathered for trials
• Conducting preliminary interviews of potential complainants in criminal cases and reporting on findings of facts to determine if sufficient cause exists to support prosecution
• Reading, understanding, and analyzing legal documents, such as pleadings, affidavits, court orders, transcripts, statutory codes, and appellate decisions
• Preparing a variety of legal documents, including memoranda summarizing court decisions, administrative board decisions, State statutes, ordinances, and opinions
• Communicating with witnesses, experts, clients, and other interested parties for the performance of duties, and providing information to judges, attorneys, and the public concerning the work of the department
• Interviewing clients to obtain factual, biographical and financial information
• Scheduling witnesses for court appearances and interviews and preparing witnesses and clients in courtroom procedures and protocol

Requirements

To participate in this examination, you will need to:
Option 1 :

• Have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an approved or accredited law school*, AND
• Be registered to take the first available bar following your law school graduation date, AND
• Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS)** program at the time of the appointment.

-OR-
Option 2:

• Be currently enrolled in law school, AND
• Have successfully completed Second Year or equivalent of law school, AND
• Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS)** program at the time of the appointment.

For Application Filing Tips and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) click here .

To show that you meet the requirements above, you will need to provide the following:

• A copy of your diploma, official or unofficial transcripts that clearly show current enrollment, indicating grade level, AND successful completion of the second year or equivalent in an approved or accredited law school or the degree and date conferred. For additional information on providing documentation and school accreditation, click here .

*Applicants will be permitted to participate in the exam. However, their names will be withheld from the list of candidates ("Eligible Register") for hiring consideration until they can produce a copy of their diploma or a copy of official or unofficial transcripts that clearly show when their JD degree was conferred and provide confirmation of their registration for the Bar Exam. When submitting proof of registration and approval, please log in to the Applicant Portal on the California Bar website and provide a screenshot of the detailed page containing your Application Information and Examination Event Information or a copy of your Admittance Ticket .

**To be eligible for California State Bar certification (PTLS), applicants must:

• Have sat for or registered to sit for the first eligible bar exam. The results of the first eligible bar must not be published at the time of appointment, AND
• Register as a law student with the California State Bar.

Additional information on the PTLS program can be found at Practical Training of Law Students -State Bar of California .

Candidates who complete the exam process, but do not provide a copy of their diploma and/or transcripts by the end of the academic year in which they are scheduled to graduate, will be disqualified from the exam process. However, they will be able to re-apply when the exam requirements are met.

PROVISIONAL LICENSEES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EXAMINATION.

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.

Physical Expectations:
This position will require light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit, and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Additional Information

Our Assessment Process will consist of:
An evaluation of Training and Experience (T&E) weighted 100%, comprised of the candidate's education and training based on information provided on the Los Angeles County Online Employment Application form, Supplemental Questionnaire, and other required supporting documents submitted at the time of filing or within ten (10) business days from submitting your online application.

Eligibility Information
If you meet the requirements outlined above and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the T&E evaluation you will be placed on the eligible register for this exam for a period of six (6) months following the date of promulgation. A Notice of Exam Results will be sent to all candidates via email only. Additionally, no person may participate in this examination more than once every six (6) months.

Vacancy Information:
The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Law Offices of the Public Defender.

Application and Filing Information

• APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applications will not be accepted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person.
• When you create a governmentjobs.com profile, 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/careers/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.
• 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 .
• Many important notifications including application rejections, online test invitation letters, 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, jsasaki@pubdef.lacounty.gov .gov , and noreply@governmentjobs.gov to your email address and list of approved senders to present email notifications from being filtered or blocked as spam/junk/clutter mail.
• Applicants may also sign in to their www.governmentjobs.com account to view the status of their application.
• Applicants can opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications for which you apply with Los Angeles County. 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.
• The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Requirements . Complete your application and Supplemental Questionnaire thoroughly. 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
• You must upload and attach all applicable documents at the time of filing or send via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov within ten (10) business days of submitting your online application. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application. Please include your name, Exam Number, and Exam Title in your email. Failure to provide the required documentation will result in the rejection of your application.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:
Fair Chance Initiative
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

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.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries
Candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, can complete their application on computers provided at public libraries, located 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 or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
All County workforce members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Successful candidates for this position will be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.

Additional "Employment Information" may be viewed at the following link: County of Los Angeles Employment Information .

Questions? Contact us:
Exam Number: L9243E
Department Contact Name: Jason Sasaki
Department Contact Phone: (213) 224 - 9937
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

For detailed information, please click here

Salary:

$31.34 Hourly