Position/Program Information
Law Office of the Los Angeles County PUBLIC DEFENDER EXAM NUMBER: L2901M-EA
RECRUITMENT TYP E : OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY - Emergency
WHO WE ARE The Law Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is the finest client-centeredcriminal defense firm in the nation, providing a beacon for evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system.
Our Offices are headed by innovative and progressive leaders collaboratively working towards our agency’s mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele. The Office is
seeking passionate professionals to join its team of investigators dedicated to advancing the Investigations Division in
support of the Public Defender’s mission and values. WHEN TO APPLY Applications will be accepted beginning
Monday, March 4, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice
. The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.
The Law Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Investigator II, Public Defender vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.
ABOUT THE POSITION Positions allocable to this class work in the Public Defender's Office under the technical and administrative direction of an Investigator III, Public Defender. Incumbents are assigned to conduct difficult investigations by applying investigation procedures where they act independently analyzing evidence using a broad range of investigative techniques to develop evidence in support of the defense. Incumbents must possess skills in applying a thorough knowledge of investigative procedures, court, and legal proceedings, interviewing, and obtaining information from various sources, both public and private. They must also possess a thorough knowledge of the California Penal Code, California Vehicle Code, and the rules of evidence.
Essential Job Functions
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO: - Independently conduct criminal defense investigations in the field to support the defense in a wide variety of criminal cases
- Thoroughly examine crime scenes and evidence, locate and identify material evidence, and record findings
- Obtain information concerning the whereabouts of witnesses by interviewing employers, public agencies, families, neighbors, etc.
- Interview and obtain information from witnesses and determine whether there is sufficient basis for the witness to be subpoenaed for court testimony
- Consult with attorney, supervisor, and/or members of the defense team
- Provide trial support to facilitate trial adjudication and testify in court as the investigator of record
- Prepare detailed reports of completed investigation findings in a timely and organized manner
- Maintain case file information on all investigations and other information relevant to the defense
Requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS You MUST meet ONE of the requirements listed below to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment:
One year of full-time equivalent criminal justice investigative experience at the level of Los Angeles County's class of Investigator I, Public Defender
* -OR- Three (3) years of law enforcement experience as a full-time equivalent police officer as defined in
Section 830.1 of the State of California Penal Code.
*Investigative experience at the level of Investigator I, Public Defender involves conducting investigations (e.g., criminal investigations, administrative-financial crimes, medical or insurance fraud, digital forensic investigations, and private investigations) , including examining crime scenes, locating and/or identifying evidence and witnesses, conducting surveillances, testifying in court to support trials, and preparing reports of completed investigations.
PHYSICAL CLASS IV - ARDUOUS This position requires frequent heavy lifting of over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. Additional physical requirements are detailed at the following link : Investigator II, Public Defender Classification Specifications.
LICENSE A valid California Class C* Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.
* Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain and present a copy of his/her driving record form the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant's driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must not be currently suspended, restricted, or revoked.
EXAM CONTENT Before the end of your initial work assignment, the department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.
VACANCY INFORMATION Applicants under this Emergency Appointment recruitment effort will be appointed to fill vacancies within the Law Offices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Appointees to this position
MUST BE WILLING to work any shift and in any Los Angeles County location and may be subject to transfer at any time.
Additional Information
APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION - APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.
- Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button for this posting. Please review your application for accuracy before submitting it. You can also track the status of your application by visiting www.governmentjobs.com and logging into your account.
- Many important notifications such as application rejections and appointment letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. It is your responsibility to provide a valid email address and review all notifications sent to you. Please add Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov , HMoreno@pubdef.lacounty .gov, Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov , and noreply@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered or blocked as spam/junk/clutter mail.
- Applicants can opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications. You can always access some of these notifications by logging into your profile inbox at www.governmentjobs.com which s aves a copy of all emailed notices. It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence.
- Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the first day of filing as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
- The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the minimum requirements. Fill out your application and Supplemental Questionnaire completely. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week and description of work performed. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
- Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERPlease include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIESFor candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Applicants can find out more information about select in-person library services and locations by visiting the Los Angeles County Library website.
NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORDAll applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password.
Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records that are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
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 Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
Questions? Contact us:
Exam Number: L2901M-EA
Department Contact Name: Hector Moreno
Department Contact Phone: (213) 460-8068
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929
For detailed information, please click
hereClosing Date/Time: Continuous
