Law Student - Government in Sylmar, CA

Government

Sylmar, CA

Law Student - Government in Sylmar, CA

Law Student

No

Job Title: Senior Law Clerk, Spring

Job Responsibilities:
The Senior Law Clerk (SLC) position within the Public Defender's Office of the organization is designed as a 16-week internship program, offering participants the opportunity to advance into a permanent role as a Deputy Public Defender (DPD) I. This program is offered twice annually, during the Fall and Spring sessions. Throughout the 16-week rotation, participants will have the chance to conduct preliminary hearings, engage in case work within specialized areas such as Post-Conviction, Law Enforcement Accountability, and Immigration, and assist in preparing a diverse range of criminal cases. Under the mentorship and supervision of senior-level DPDs, SLCs may participate in hearings and jury trials. They will also conduct legal research, review legal documents, and organize extensive reports and exhibits for trials.

The essential job functions include:
- Researching, studying, interpreting, and applying laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in preparing 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 findings 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 various legal documents, including memoranda summarizing court decisions, administrative board decisions, State statutes, ordinances, and opinions.
- Communicating with witnesses, experts, clients, and other interested parties to perform duties and provide 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.

Education and Experience Information:
To be eligible for the SLC position, candidates must meet one of the following options:

Option 1:
- Have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an approved or accredited law school.
- Be registered to take the first available bar following their law school graduation date.
- Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program at the time of appointment.

Option 2:
- Be currently enrolled in law school.
- Have successfully completed the second year or equivalent of law school.
- Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program at the time of appointment.

Candidates must provide documentation, such as a copy of their diploma, official or unofficial transcripts, and proof of registration for the Bar Exam, to demonstrate they meet the requirements. Additional information on the PTLS program is available through the State Bar of California.

Salary Information:
The salary for the Senior Law Clerk position is hourly.

Additional Information:
The assessment process for this position consists of an evaluation of Training and Experience (T&E), which is weighted at 100%. This evaluation is based on the candidate's education and training as 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 business days of submitting the online application.

Eligibility Information:
Candidates who meet the outlined requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the T&E evaluation will be placed on the eligible register for this exam for six months following the date of promulgation. Notifications will be sent to candidates via email only.

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.
- Important notifications, including application rejections, online test invitation letters, and notice of exam results, will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application.
- It is the applicant's responsibility to provide a valid email address and review all notifications sent to them.
- Applicants can track the status of their application by visiting the portal.
- The acceptance of an application depends on whether the applicant has clearly shown that they meet the requirements.
- All information included in the application materials is subject to verification at any point during the examination and hiring process.

Special Information:
- The organization is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts.
- The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer and complies with all federal and state disability laws, making reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.
- All County workforce members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

For further inquiries regarding the examination process, applicants may contact the department's Exams Unit via email.