**Job Title**
Senior Law Clerk, Spring
**Job Responsibilities**
The Senior Law Clerk (SLC) position is a 16-week internship program within the Public Defender's Office, designed to provide participants with practical legal experience and the opportunity to advance into a permanent role as a Deputy Public Defender I. The program is conducted twice a year, in the Fall and Spring. During the internship, participants are expected to:
- Conduct legal research and study, interpret, and apply laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in preparing cases, opinions, pleadings, and briefs.
- Organize extensive legal discovery, reports, documents, and potential case exhibits.
- Conduct pretrial reviews of case files for witness subpoenas and other evidence gathered for trials.
- Conduct preliminary interviews of potential complainants in criminal cases and report findings to determine if sufficient cause exists to support prosecution.
- Read, understand, and analyze legal documents such as pleadings, affidavits, court orders, transcripts, statutory codes, and appellate decisions.
- Prepare a variety of legal documents, including memoranda summarizing court decisions, administrative board decisions, State statutes, ordinances, and opinions.
- Communicate 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.
- Interview clients to obtain factual, biographical, and financial information.
- Schedule witnesses for court appearances and interviews and prepare witnesses and clients in courtroom procedures and protocol.
**Education and Experience Information**
**Requirements**
To participate in this examination, candidates must meet one of the following options:
**Option 1:**
- Hold a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an approved or accredited law school.
- Be registered to take the first available bar following law school graduation.
- 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.
**Additional Requirements**
- 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: 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**
Candidates must provide the following documentation to demonstrate eligibility:
- A copy of their 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.
- Proof of registration and approval for the Bar Exam.
- Eligibility for California State Bar certification (PTLS), which requires having sat for or registered to sit for the first eligible bar exam.
**Salary Information**
- Hourly
**Additional Notes**
- The internship program is conducted 100% in-person.
- 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.
- The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer and promotes Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts.
- COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment, with exemptions available for qualifying medical or religious reasons.
**Application and Assessment Process**
- Applications must be filed online only.
- The assessment process consists of an evaluation of Training and Experience (T&E) weighted 100%, based on the candidate's education and training.
- If candidates meet the requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the T&E evaluation, they will be placed on the eligible register for this exam for six months following the date of promulgation.
- The resulting eligible register will be used to fill vacancies within the Public Defender's Office.
Candidates are encouraged to apply if they are enthusiastic about joining a team dedicated to revolutionizing the criminal justice system and advocating for indigent clientele with compassion and dedication.
