Deputy District Attorney I/II - Salinas

Position Description · Exam #: 22/39D11/04CH · Where can you get a competitive compensation package at a place that is committed to doing the right and ethical thing while working in paradise? · That place is the County of Monterey · The County of Monterey is the employer of cho ...

Job description

Position Description

Exam #: 22/39D11/04CH

Where can you get a competitive compensation package at a place that is committed to doing the right and ethical thing while working in paradise?

That place is the County of Monterey

The County of Monterey is the employer of choice: attracting, developing, and retaining a competent, creative and highly committed workforce.

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office is seeking to hire smart, ethical, public service minded attorneys motivated to seek justice and promote public safety on behalf of the people of the County of Monterey and the State of California.

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office is now recruiting to fill entry-level Deputy District Attorney / Prosecutor I & II positions in the criminal division.

In addition to licensed attorneys, candidates who are pending bar results after taking the California Bar Examination are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualified applicants may be offered paid certified post-bar positions prior to receiving bar examination results. All candidates pending California Bar Examination results are expected to apply with the State Bar for their post-bar certification.

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office has headquarters at the Salinas Courthouse and a satellite office in Monterey. There are 53 Deputy District Attorneys. The criminal prosecutors work in the Salinas office. The consumer and environmental protection prosecutors work in the Monterey office. The office is an approved MCLE provider and conducts regular in-house training.

The Criminal Division is subdivided into Felony Units, a Misdemeanor Prosecutions Unit and a Juvenile Unit. Vertical prosecution is the standard approach.

Some of the specialized positions in the Felony Unit include:

Gangs, sexual assault, child abuse, crimes committed while in prison, auto insurance fraud, disability and healthcare insurance fraud, elder abuse, and workers' compensation insurance fraud.

This classification is part of a flexible series.

Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY /


PROSECUTOR I:
(Salary:
$6,902 – 9,365 Monthly)

This is the entry and first working level in the career series. Incumbents are required to be members of the California State Bar upon appointment but require no previous legal experience.

Incumbents hired at this level work under the direction of more experienced prosecutors and are initially assigned to a criminal trial department handling misdemeanor prosecutions.

Incumbents hired at this level of the career series may be promoted up to the Deputy District Attorney IV level subject to their meeting the performance expectations for the higher level and a recommendation for promotion by their appointing authority.

DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY /


PROSECUTOR II:
(Salary:
$8,257 – 11,215 Monthly)

This is the second level in the career series. Incumbents at this level are expected to independently manage a routine caseload.

As of July 01, 2024, the District Attorney's Office may offer up to $10,000 signing bonus to candidates hired into regular full-time positions for this classification from this recruitment hired after July 01, 2024.

Examples of Duties

Attends scheduled court hearings such as arraignments, pretrial hearings and motions, sentencing and probation revocations.
Marshals, reviews, and prepares evidence for presentation in court.

Prepares and prosecutes criminal and civil cases by presenting opening statements, interrogating and cross-examining witnesses, introducing evidence, making relevant objections, arguing points of law, and presenting closing arguments.

Research questions of law and evidence and applies statutory and decisional case law, along with such other legal treatises as may be required, in the preparation of cases for hearing in court.

Determines nature and extent of prosecutions and negotiates the appropriate disposition of criminal cases without going to trial.

To view the complete job description, please visit the Monterey County website:

Qualifications

Pursuant to Section 6060 of the Business and Professions Code, current, valid membership in the California State Bar is required by date of hire.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

In addition, a combination of experience, education and/or training which substantially demonstrates the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Deputy District Attorney i


Some Knowledge of:
The duties, responsibilities, powers and limitations of the Office of the District Attorney.
The ethical standards that apply to prosecutors and attorneys.
The methods of legal research and writing. The rules of evidence.
The principals of criminal and civil law, criminal procedure, and trial practice.
Statutory, constitutional and decisional criminal laws of the State of California.


DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY II:
A Working Knowledge Of

The duties, responsibilities, powers and limitations of the Office of the District Attorney.
The ethical standards that apply to prosecutors and attorneys.
The methods of legal research and writing. The rules of evidence.


A thorough knowledge of:
The principals of criminal and civil law, criminal procedure, and trial practice.
Statutory, constitutional and decisional criminal laws of the State of California.

DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY I AND II:
Skill And Ability To

Use a computer.
Gather and evaluate complex data and draw logical conclusions; evaluate facts and formulate an effective course of action.
Read, interpret and apply the principles contained in statutes, published court decisions and other relevant legal precedent.

Orally communicate complex information and concepts to persons of divergent socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds; present persuasive arguments as an advocate in a clear and reasoned manner; and interrogate and cross examine witnesses in a courtroom.

Write clearly and concisely.
Organize large quantities of complex material in a logical manner for presentation in court.
Effectively and logically present evidence in complicated criminal proceedings.
Recognize and evaluate approaches to situations of a potentially sensitive nature.
Establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Independently manage increasingly difficult cases under general supervision.
Think creatively; develop new methods, procedures or approaches to achieve desired results.
Train and review the work of less experienced staff

Additional Information

The required conditions of employment include but are not limited to the following:

Independently manage a heavy caseload, occasionally requiring extra hours of work.
Rotate between the Salinas and Monterey courthouses.
Successfully complete a thorough background investigation which will include a record of any criminal convictions.
Respond to law enforcement requests for assistance when on-duty.


BENEFITS:
Monterey County offers an excellent benefits package.

To view the unit "E" Benefit Summary Sheet, please visit our website at:

This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract.

The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

Notes

As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions.

Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.

If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary

Application and Selection Procedures


Apply On-Line at:
or

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours,

Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:

County of Monterey

Attn:
Stephanie Ahumada, Human Resources Analyst II

168 W. Alisal Street, 3rd Floor

Salinas, CA 93901


Phone:
Fax:

Qualifications

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made.

To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination.

The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials.

A complete application package will include:
A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
Responses to the Supplemental Questions
Resume

All application materials must be received by the priority screen date of Friday, May 27, 2022, for a guaranteed review.

Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials.

All required application materials will be competitively evaluated.

Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity.

Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.

To request reasonable accommodation, contact Stephanie Ahumada, Human Resources Analyst, at , or

01

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process.

Your responses to the questions will be reviewed and scored in a Qualifications Appraisal evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria.

Your answers should be as complete as possible, as this information will be critical in the competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process.

A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your responses to the supplemental questions as incomplete.


Note:
All application materials submitted will be reviewed along with your supplemental questions and County of Monterey application.

I have read and understand these instructions.

02

Indicate your status pertaining to the California State Bar.

I am a member of the California State Bar.
I have taken the California State Bar exam and am awaiting results.

I am currently licensed to practice law in another state or jurisdiction, and I have registered as an attorney applicant with the California State Bar.

I have not taken the California State Bar exam, and I do not plan on taking it, nor am I a member of the California State Bar.

03

If you are a member of the CA State Bar, list your CA State Bar license number and expiration date.

If you do not have a CA State Bar license, type "N/A".

04

Have you ever been the subject of any disciplinary action regarding your ability to practice law, including but not limited to any State or Federal Bar Discipline? If so, please explain.

If not, type "N/A"?

05

Have you been convicted of any crime? If so, please provide a brief description of the incident. Do not include infractions. This information will be reviewed for job relatedness.


Please list all convictions except:

those which have been sealed, expunged or statutorily eradicated, or pursuant to Labor Code 432.8, any convictions of marijuana-related offenses more than two years old.

If none, type "N/A".

06

Describe any experience or activities you have participated in which you believe will contribute to your success as a trial lawyer.

07

Please provide an example where you demonstrated sound judgement on a matter, and explain your thought process.

08

What is the primary challenge facing prosecutors today in achieving justice?

09

Your supervisor assigns you a case to try before a jury. After preparing for trial, you believe the defendant may not be guilty. What should you do?

Required Question