Deputy District Attorney II

The County of Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office is accepting applications to fill a full-time Deputy District Attorney II vacancy. The current opening may be assigned in Lompoc or Santa Maria with future vacancies possible in Santa Barbara.

We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list to fill current and future vacancies in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc.Please be sure to select all of the locations you are willing to accept employment for current and future vacancies. Work locations are assigned by the District Attorney and subject to change based on workload demands.

The Position: Under general direction, a Deputy District Attorney II performs a range of legal duties, including case investigation, trial preparation, and prosecution of misdemeanor and felony cases. Attorneys are expected to manage caseloads and develop trial skills across all court levels. Deputy District Attorney IIs may also assist in mentoring law clerks, post-bar fellows, and entry-level attorneys.

About the Department: The mission of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office is to pursue truth and justice by employing the highest ethical standards in vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, and preventing crime.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney has offices in three locations in the County: Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. The Office embodies a team approach to fighting crime, wherein Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators, Victim-Witness Assistance staff, and support staff work closely together at all stages of a case. The Office is also dedicated to ongoing training and skill development, as well as fostering the development of new technologies to fight crime and achieve justice. Specialized prosecution units exist for areas of great concern to the County including gangs, vulnerable victims, and white-collar crime. In addition, specialty courts such as DUI Court, Drug Court, Mental Health Treatment Court, Restorative Justice Court, and Veterans' Treatment Court allow for collaboration between Deputy District Attorneys and other Court staff in an effort to improve the success rate of rehabilitation for criminal defendants in addition to reducing crime.

To learn more about the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, visit: https://da.countyofsb.org/. You can also watch our video at https://youtu.be/z8hEhSA4T-A?si=oO3w23lOpEsBLBni

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: The ideal Deputy District Attorney II is a developing career prosecutor who has demonstrated the ability to independently manage misdemeanor caseloads and handle early-level felony assignments. They should be comfortable conducting preliminary hearings, motion hearings, and jury trials. The ideal candidate possesses strong legal research and writing skills; communicates effectively with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement; and demonstrates sound judgment. They are organized, proactive, and willing to seek out mentorship and training. A DDA II works well in a team environment, is receptive to feedback, and shows initiative in building the courtroom and case-handling skills necessary to progress to more serious felony work.

1. Interviews and advises victims and witnesses regarding prospective criminal or civil actions; studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and legal authorities for use in prosecuting cases.
2. Prepares legal pleadings such as complaints, answers, demurrers, discovery, and judgments.
3. Prosecutes a variety of cases, including felony, misdemeanor, and traffic trials and presentation of preliminary hearings.
4. Performs related work such as preparing petitions, complaints, reports, and correspondence.
5. Actively seeks continuing legal education and training, which may include reading, research, observing and seeking counsel from peer attorneys, and attending trainings.
6. Performs community outreach, which may include training law enforcement personnel and performing outreach at schools or community organizations that focus on public safety or justice.

DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY II:
Active membership in the State Bar of California; with completion of the core courses required for a law degree;AND:

1. One year of experience as an attorney in the practice of public law or two years as a general practicing attorney;OR,
2. One year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class of Deputy District Attorney I with Santa Barbara County; OR,
3. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Additional Qualifications: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License may be required.

Knowledge of: the principles of criminal and civil law and their applications; legal research methods; rules of evidence; organization, powers, and limitations of county governmental functions, civil and criminal codes, and the California Constitution; trial procedures and the rules of evidence; administrative law.

Ability to: appraise, interpret, and apply legal principles and precedents to difficult legal problems; present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; prepare, present and conduct trials effectively; perform legal research; work effectively with others.

Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorneys must possess strong moral standards and adhere to ethical standards of the California Bar. Specifically, attorneys should be disciplinary-free from Rules 3.8 and 5-110 Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor.

SELECTION PROCESS:

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaires to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
2. Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking assessment to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Conditional Job Offer:Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. Appointee may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a probationary period of twelve (12) months.

BENEFITS:The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits, click on Benefits Tab above or HERE.

In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

Disaster Service Worker:Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.