Criminal Law - Defense Attorney in Chino, CA

Government

Chino, CA

Criminal Law - Defense Attorney in Chino, CA

Attorney

No

Job Title: Deputy Public Defender I

Job Responsibilities:
- Represent indigent defendants and provide skilled legal counsel and courtroom advocacy at all critical phases of state-level criminal and civil commitment litigation.
- Conduct legal research, prepare and argue motions, writs, briefs, and opinions.
- Interview and counsel clients, participate in developing effective investigation plans for clients.
- Negotiate with opposing counsel and prepare and conduct trials.
- Investigate, prepare for trial, and conduct trial defense of adults, including preparing trial strategy and jury instructions.
- Investigate, prepare for, and conduct defense of juveniles in jurisdictional and dispositional hearings.
- Appear with and for defendants at court hearings; decide and make appropriate legal motions and pleas and take other legal action on behalf of clients.
- Argue the merits of probation for defendants; prepare appeals, writs, and other legal correspondence.
- Negotiate with prosecuting authorities regarding the disposition or modification of charges.
- Order investigations and subpoenas; interview defendants and witnesses.
- Assist, advise, and train lower-level attorneys.
- Provide vacation and temporary relief as required.

Education and Experience Information:
- Active membership and in good standing with the State Bar of California is required.
- Candidates who have passed the State or California Bar Exam and are pending licensure, or who have taken the State of California Bar Exam and are awaiting results, or who are registered for the next California State Bar Examination, will be considered. California State Bar Membership must be attained in order to be hired.
- Ideal candidates will have performed community service and volunteered time working with indigent defendants and family members. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Salary Information:
- - Hourly
- $3, - $3, Biweekly
- $7, - $8, Monthly
- $94, - $103, Annually
- Planned step increases with a 3% annual across-the-board salary increase expected in February 2026, contingent upon assessed values for the previous fiscal year.
- Candidates assigned to the Victorville or Joshua Tree offices may be eligible to receive an additional incentive of $77 per pay period (an extra $2,002 annually).

Additional Information:
- The position is full-time and assignments may be made at any location throughout the county depending on the needs of the department.
- A background investigation, including fingerprinting, is required prior to appointment.
- Those hired must maintain active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California to remain employed in this classification.
- Deputy Public Defender I positions are eligible for promotion to Deputy Public Defender II, III, or IV upon meeting minimum requirements and receiving a satisfactory work performance evaluation.
- San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer.
- Veterans’ Preference points may be awarded to eligible veterans and their spouses or widows who are not current county employees.