SENIOR LAW CLERK

Job Description

Position/Program Information

LAW OFFICES OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
ALTERNATE PUBLIC DEFENDER

EXAM NUMBER

7-9243C-R

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT We welcome applications from everyone.

WHEN TO APPLY

We will be accepting online applications from Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until Wednesday, September 9, 2026 (PT). All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

Why work for us?
With almost 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California with over 100,000 employees in 39 departments, we provide vital and diverse public services like law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, and cultural activities. The County has more than 2,100 different job types, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. Join us and discover one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the county with a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

The Office of the Alternate Public Defender (APD) is the second-largest public defender’s office in California, with 300+ attorneys and staff in more than 20 offices countywide! The Senior Law Clerk (SLC) is an outstanding 16-week paid internship performing legal research, assisting in various criminal cases, participating in hearings and trials and a pathway to advancing into permanent employment as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender (DAPD) I.

For more information about the amazing benefits offered by Los Angeles County, please visit us here: https://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/

Essential Job Functions

• Researches, studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of cases, opinions, pleadings, briefs and other legal documents.
• Organizes extensive legal discovery, reports, documents and potential exhibits.
• Conducts pretrial review of case files for witness subpoenas and other necessary evidence for trial.
• Conducts preliminary interviews of potential complainants in criminal cases and reports on findings of facts to determine if cause of sufficient evidence is present to undertake prosecution.
• Reads, understands and analyses legal documents such as pleadings, affidavits, court orders, transcripts statutory codes and appellate decisions.
• Prepares a variety of legal documents including drafts and memoranda summarizing the results of examinations of court decisions, administrative board decisions, State statutes, ordinances and opinions.
• Provides information to judges, attorneys, and the public concerning the work of the department.
• Communicates with witnesses, experts, clients and other interested parties.
• Schedules witnesses and prepares witnesses and clients in courtroom procedures and appropriate protocol.
• Interviews clients to obtain factual, biographical and financial information.
• Performs other related work as required.

For more information, please visit the classification specification, please CLICK HERE .

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:
Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS)** program at the time of the appointment -AND- either:

OPTION I:

• Have a Juris Doctor degree from an approved or accredited law school*, - AND-
• Be registered to take the first available bar following your law school graduation date -OR-

OPTION II***:

• Be currently enrolled in law school*, -AND-
• Have successfully completed Second Year or equivalent of law school*

*To receive credit for a Juris Doctor degree or current academic standing, you must provide a legible copy of your official diploma, transcripts, or letter from an accredited institution that shows the area of specialization. Documentation must be submitted at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days of submitting your application.

If you cannot attach the required documents to your application, you must email them to ecervantes@hr.lacounty.gov . Please include the exam number and exam title in your email. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted. Password-protected documents will not be accepted. Please ensure all documents are unlocked before attaching them to your application or emailing them to the exam analyst.

Applications received without proof of the required degree(s) or certificate will not be considered as meeting the stated requirements for either Option I or Option II.

For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf (Download PDF reader)

**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.

Submit proof of bar registration and approval by logging into the Bar applicant community site and providing a screenshot with your Application and Examination Event Information details or a copy of your Admittance Ticket .

***Applicants who qualify under Option 2 will be permitted to participate in the exam. However, their names will be withheld from the list of candidates for hiring consideration until they can produce a copy of their diploma or a copy of official transcripts that clearly show when JD degree was conferred.

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

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 CLASS:

Physical Class 2 - Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that 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:
This exam will consist of a structured interview test weighted at 100%, measuring:

• Professional/Technical Knowledge (General Criminal Case & Statutory Law and Constitutional Principles of California Rules of Professional Conduct as they pertain to Criminal Defense)
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making Skills
• Client Focus
• Oral Communication Skills
• Listening Skills
• Fact Finding
• Ethics & Integrity
• Cultural & Individual Sensitivity

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AND ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON THE EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be placed on the eligible list for a period of six (6) months from the date the list is created.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The resulting eligible list will be used to fill vacancies at the Alternate Public Defender's Office.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely and provide relevant information, including the employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or Class Specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and you may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

ecervantes@hr.lacounty.gov
info@governmentjobs.com
talentcentral@shl.com
donot-reply@amcatmail.com

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to governmentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

For those who do not have access to a computer or the internet, we provide access to complete an application at public libraries throughout the county.

All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's login information may erase a candidate's original application record.

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 Office of the Alternate Public Defender (APD) is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION:

If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.


Testing Accommodations Coordinator: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
Alternate Teletype Phone:(800) 897-0077
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
Department Contact Name: Elia Cervantes
Department Contact Phone: (213) 441-2090
Department Contact Email: ecervantes@hr.lacounty.gov
Exam Number: 7-9243C-R

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: 9/9/2026 5:00 PM Pacific