Chief Deputy Public Defender

This examination is being given to fill one vacancy in the Public Defender's Office and to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline.

EXEMPT RECRUITMENT:  This position is exempt from the San Joaquin County Civil Service system.  Appointments to exempt positions in San Joaquin County are at-will and are not governed by Civil Service Rules.

This recruitment is limited to those who currently work in the Public Defender's Office.

Note:  Supplemental application must be submitted with employment application.

Special Requirement: Current membership in the California State Bar.

Experience: Four years of experience in the practice of criminal law, at least one year of which was in a state, city or county legal office.

A background investigation will be required for all final candidates.  Final appointment will be conditional upon passing a drug screening test and state Department of Justice Live Scan fingerprinting.

Principles and practices of management, supervision and training; principles of criminal and civil law and their application; judicial procedures; rules of evidence; State and local laws and ordinances; legal research methods; methods and practices of preparing briefs, opinions, and other legal documents.

Plan, organize, train, motivate, supervise, and evaluate the work of subordinate attorneys; analyze legal principles and precedents and apply them to complex factual legal problems; present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; draft opinions, pleadings and briefs; independently present complex cases in court before judicial officials; maintain effective working relationships with fellow staff members, agency representatives, judicial officers and the general public; exercise independent judgment, discretion and initiative in all areas of assignment, including plea negotiations and the application of limited defense resources.

Mobility-Frequent operation of a keyboard with sitting, standing, walking and driving for long periods; occasional pushing/pulling, bending/squatting and climbing ladders and stairs; Lifting-Frequently 5 pounds or less; occasionally 5 to 70 pounds; Visual-Constant good overall vision, frequent reading/close-up and color perception, depth perception and peripheral vision; occasional eye/hand coordination; Dexterity-Occasional holding, reaching, grasping, repetitive motion; frequent writing; Hearing/Talking-Constant hearing normal speech; frequent hearing/talking on the telephone, talking in person; occasional talking over an amplified system; Emotional/Psychological-Constant decision making and concentration, frequent public contact and working alone, weekends/nights; occasional /overtime, travel and exposure to emergency situations; Environmental-Occasional exposure to noise, cold/heat and outdoor conditions.

Cafeteria Plan Benefits:  San Joaquin County provides a comprehensive benefits package to employees of this bargaining unit.  The benefits include the option of three medical plans, two dental plans, a vision plan, life insurance, Flexible Benefits (125) Plan, and Deferred Compensation Plan.  A Cafeteria Plan is offered with a cafeteria allowance to the employee in the amount of $923.96/bi-weekly ($2,001.91 per month, $24,022.96 annually), which can cover or partially offset premiums or contributions.  Any amount not used for purchasing benefits is included as income.  The total cafeteria payment is included when calculating retirement contributions and benefits.  For detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Benefits.

Life Insurance:  The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows: 

1 but less than 3 years of continuous service:                   $1,000
3 but less than 5 years of continuous service:                   $3,000
5 but less than 10 years of continuous service:                 $5,000
10 years of continuous service or more:                           $10,000 

Regular employees in this unit shall be provided with a supplemental life insurance policy with a face value up to $75,000. Employees may purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $200,000 at the group rate. 

125 Flexible Benefits Plan: This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2,080 annual limit); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5,000 annual limit).

Retirement Plan: Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Act of 1937.  Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information.  NOTE:  If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.

Deferred Compensation: The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code.  You may annually contribute $17,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less.  Individuals age 50 or older may contribute up to $23,000.  For members of this unit, the County shall make a contribution equal to 2% of the employee’s base salary to the deferred compensation plan.

Vacation:  Maximum earned vacation is 15 days each year up to 10 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.

Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year.

Vacation Cash-Out:  Members shall have the option of purchasing up to eight 8-hour days vacation time once each calendar year from the member’s accumulated vacation with the approval of the County Administrator.

Administrative Leave:  Each fiscal year, department heads grant 10 days of administrative leave to eligible salaried employees.  Administrative leave may not be carried beyond to the next fiscal year.

Sick Leave: 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.  Sick leave incentive: An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one-half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue.  The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.

Bereavement Leave:  3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

Merit Salary Increase: New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range.  After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.

Educational Reimbursement Program:  The County offers an Educational Reimbursement Program which reimburses the employees up to $850 per fiscal year and up to $1,600 per fiscal year for enrollment in an approved career-related course work.  Attorney members assigned to this unit may be reimbursed up to $520 as partial payment of California Bar Association dues, not to exceed actual amount of the dues.

Parking Supplemental Downtown:  The County contributes up to $17 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.

School Activities:  Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.

Apply Online:       

www.sjgov.org/hr

By mail or in person:  

San Joaquin County Human Resources

44 N. San Joaquin Street Suite 330

Stockton, Ca 95202                                  

Office hours:               
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.

Phone:  (209) 468-3370 

Job Line:

For current employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377. 

When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be filed with the Human Resources Division before 5:00 p.m. or postmarked by the final filing date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Applications sent through county inter-office mail, which are not received by the final filing date, will not be accepted. (The County assumes no responsibility for mailed applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division).  

San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy: San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer:  San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to www.sjgov.org/eeo.