Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.

DESCRIPTION

THE POSITION

Assistant Public Defender is the unrestricted litigation and/or primary administrative class. Under general direction of the Public Defender, Chief Assistant Public Defender or Senior Assistant Public Defender, an Assistant Public Defender acts as a supervising attorney for other Assistant Public Defenders, and/or for Associate and Deputy Public Defenders, and may review and evaluate their work and performance as required; an Assistant Public Defender performs specialized legal tasks in connection with controversial and complex legal cases, does related legal work as required, and may conduct and supervise attorney training.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Assistant Public Defender (#3126)

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:

• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of the philosophy and practice of public defense, laws, ethics and polices of the Public Defender's Office and scope and character of California Statutory and constitutional law;
• Demonstrated expertise in the preparation and arguing of difficult and complex cases where the Death Penalty will be sought;
• Dedicated team member that works cooperatively with others and strives to accomplish established work goals;
• Outstanding organizational skills with the demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple on-going cases for staff and self;
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to communicate with diverse individuals and proven experience in delivering legal arguments that are effective in both written and oral form;
• Proven ability to defend complex felony cases including homicides during pre-trial and jury trial level, utilizing advanced litigation techniques; effectively make appropriate trial objections and motions; and knowledge in addressing difficult sentencing issues;
• The ability to remain flexible, open, and positive while handling needs of clients and demands of the Court; and
• A proven supervisory experience with the responsibility for training, guiding and evaluating the work of Assistant Public Defenders, Deputy Public Defenders and Associate Public Defenders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Current active membership and good standing with the State Bar of California.

2. Valid California motor vehicle operator's license.

EXPERIENCE:

Either

The equivalent of three years of full-time experience in the class of Deputy Public Defender in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney's Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or

The equivalent of seven years of increasingly responsible experience as a trial attorney in the field of criminal law, with a caseload and duties comparable to attorneys working in a metropolitan public defender agency; the equivalent of at least one year in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a public defender office or law firm with similar cases and responsibilities.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Philosophy and practice of public defense in the United States.
• Law, ethics, and policies governing the Public Defender's office.
• Principles of training and supervision.
• Legal principles and procedures followed in the processing of criminal cases.
• Scope and character of California statutory and constitutional law.
• Principles of public administration and personnel management.
• Legal source materials.

Abilities:

• Assist in the training and supervision of personnel in the Public Defender's Office.
• Legal preparation in difficult and complex matters.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Gather, analyze and apply legal data and evidence.
• Present legal arguments effectively in oral and written form.
• Inspire confidence in clients and work effectively with colleagues and representatives of other agencies.
• Decision making.
• Interpersonal sensitivity.
• Flexibility.
• Performance in a stressful environment.
• Defend felony cases at the pretrial and jury trial level, including advanced litigation techniques and preservation of the trial record by making timely and appropriate trial objections and motions, and demonstrated knowledge of and facility in addressing difficult sentencing issues.
• Assist in the planning, organization, and supervision of the Public Defender's Office.
• Represent the department in disciplinary proceedings.
• Understand the problems of court administration and work with the courts so clients do not suffer through poor administration in represented cases.
• Supervise and/or conduct the evaluation of the performance of professional staff, including Assistant Public Defenders, Deputy Public Defenders, and Associate Public Defenders.
• Assume management of the Office of the Public Defender in emergency situations.
• Represent the Public Defender's Department in meetings with other County departments and agencies, outside agencies, and the County Board of Supervisors.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

The examination will consist of the following steps

1. A review of applicants' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. A review of candidates' Supplemental Questionnaires to determine the best qualified. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the final step in the examination process.
3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the "What You Need to Know" section of our website, https://hrs.alamedacountyca.gov/

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.

The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN:

Deadline for Filing:

5:00:00 PM, Friday, August 21, 2026

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

Thursday, August 27, 2026
Screening for the Best-Qualified:

Week of September 28, 2026
Civil Service Oral Examination:

Week of October 12, 2026

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:
Departmental Hiring Interviews: November 2026

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

BENEFITS

The County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical - HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental - HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1st United Services Credit Union

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

**Employees in management-designated classifications may be entitled to management paid leave. Refer to the applicable MOU or Salary Ordinance for more information.