**Job Title: Senior Law Clerk, Spring**
**Job Responsibilities:**
The Senior Law Clerk (SLC) position is an internship program offered by the department of the Public Defender within the organization. It is a 16-week program designed to offer recent law school graduates a unique opportunity to advance into permanent employment as a Deputy Public Defender (DPD) I. The program runs twice a year, in the Fall and Spring, and provides participants with the opportunity to gain practical legal experience under the mentorship and supervision of senior-level DPDs.
Key responsibilities include:
- Conducting legal research, 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 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.
**Education and Experience Information:**
To be eligible for the Senior Law Clerk position, candidates must meet one of the following educational and experience requirements:
**Option 1:**
- Have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an approved or accredited law school.
- Be registered to take the first available bar following your law school graduation date.
- Be eligible for certification through the California State 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 PTLS program at the time of appointment.
For candidates to show they meet the requirements, they will need to provide:
- A copy of their diploma or official or unofficial transcripts that clearly show current enrollment 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 for the Bar Exam.
**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 include light physical effort, which may involve occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.
**Salary Information:**
The salary for the Senior Law Clerk position is hourly.
**Additional Information:**
The assessment process for this position 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 online employment application form, supplemental questionnaire, and other required supporting documents submitted at the time of filing or within ten business days from submitting the online application. Candidates who achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the T&E evaluation will be placed on the eligible register for this exam for a period of six months following the date of promulgation.
The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the organization. Applications must be filed online only, and all information included in the application materials is subject to verification. The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer and is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address inequalities and disparities amongst races.
Candidates are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, with proof of vaccination required during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.
