Deputy Attorney - Alternate Public Defender

Salary : $154,585.60 - $187,886.40 Annually
Location : Placerville, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Alternate Public Defender
Opening Date: 08/06/2026
Closing Date: 8/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

THE OPPORTUNITYPerforms professional legal work in one of several specialized legal areas, including criminal prosecution, public defense, child support enforcement, civil litigation, or elder law. Provides strategic legal counsel and representation to County departments, employees, and the public on legal rights, obligations, and procedures. Handles high-stakes legal matters, including litigation, policy development, and multi-agency coordination. Assignments require advanced expertise and independent judgment and are focused within a single functional area, such as the District Attorney, Public Defender, Child Support Services, or Senior Citizens' Services.
The selected candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Perform the full range of routine to complex legal activities
• Represent the County in moderate to high-profile and multi-jurisdictional legal matters, including trials, hearings, and appeals with far-reaching implications.
• Lead negotiations, mediation, and resolution of cases with significant financial, operational, or policy impacts.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert and provide technical direction on specialized legal projects, offering mentorship and strategic oversight.
• Draft and review legal documents.

For a full description of duties and responsibilities, please review the job description
Human Resources will assess your application to determine if you are minimally qualified using the following recommendations:

Possession of a Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from an accredited law school;
AND
Active membership in the California State Bar;
AND
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional legal experience as a licensed practicing attorney, preferably with demonstrated expertise in the assigned functional area (e.g., criminal prosecution, public defense, child support enforcement, or elder law).
Licenses and Certifications:
Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, a valid California or Nevada Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record.
Click to view the minimum qualifications for Deputy Attorney and the physical, environmental, and working conditions.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Apply online by clicking the 'Apply' link at the top of this announcement. When completing your online application and responses to the required supplemental questions, click 'Accept.'
If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Kelly Gatchet in Human Resources at

Click Here to get tips for applying with the County.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
The Human Resources Department will screen all applications to identify qualified candidates. After the screening, qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the recruitment process.A training and experience evaluation will be utilized to determine an applicant's ability to continue in the recruitment process ranking for referral to specific vacancies. Based upon the information in the application and/or responses to supplemental questions, the applicant's education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.

Supplemental questions play an integral role in this recruitment process. Please take the time to provide thoughtful and thorough responses. The information you provide may be used to determine your ranking for referral to specific vacancies. All work experience that is described or included in your response(s) MUST be included in the "Work Experience" section of your application. Do not refer to a resume or other documentation.
For more information on the recruitment process,
Based on the department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe County of El Dorado is recruiting applicants for Deputy Attorney. This recruitment will establish a list for the purpose of filling current and future full time, part time, limited term and extra help vacancies for at least three (3) months. In accordance with Personnel Rules 1103.1 and 1105.1, an extra help or limited term employee may be transitioned into a regular employee if the department in which the employee works has a vacant allocated position for the same classification as held by the extra help or limited term employee and the appointing authority requests such transfer.

If you are interested in the position of Deputy Attorney, please submit your application.

We are currently recruiting for the following:

• One (1) full time vacancy in the Alternate Public Defender Office, located in Placerville, CA.

Not just rustic mining towns and historic sites - Today El Dorado County is a year-round vacation destination overflowing with outdoor adventure, inviting agritourism locations, enriching family activities, and a proud Gold Rush history.

Escape the traffic and smog because El Dorado County is just:

• 40 miles to Downtown Sacramento
• 50 miles to Sacramento International Airport
• 129 miles to San Francisco

Here are a few of the many activities and events available throughout El Dorado County:

• Hiking, Camping, Fishing, Boating, and Watersports
• Skiing and Snowboarding
• Live Music and Music Festivals
• Local Craft Breweries and Wineries
• El Dorado County Fair
• Placerville Speedway Races
• Farm to Fork Restaurants
• Small Business Shops

Employees that are buying a home in El Dorado County may qualify for down payment assistance. Click for more information.
CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO TO LEARN MORE!

The County of El Dorado is committed to providing a comprehensive, flexible benefits program to meet your needs!

For your Health and Well-Being:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible Spending Accounts - FSA & HSA
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Basic Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• County sponsored Wellness program
• Discounts on gym memberships

For your Financial Future:

• CalPERS Retirement
• Deferred Compensation (457) Plans
• Optional Life Insurance

For your Work/Life Balance:

• Paid Holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accruals
• Management, personal and bereavement leave

Below is a comprehensive benefit summary based on full-time, regular employment for the bargaining unit to which this classification is assigned.
Revised 1/2025, valid until modified by successor MOU or negotiated agreement.
To learn more about the benefits offered by the County of El Dorado please visit our website located here.
Extra help employees are not considered regular employees, therefore do not attain civil service status, and do not receive benefits or paid leaves; however, they do accrue sick leave consistent with the law.
01

To provide us with an opportunity to evaluate your background, responses to the Supplemental Questions are required in addition to your application. Supplemental questions play an important role in this recruitment process. Please take the time to provide thoughtful and thorough responses. The information you provide may be used to determine if you continue in the selection process and your ranking on the eligible list. All work experience described or included in your response(s) MUST be included in your application's "Work Experience" section. Do not refer to a resume or other documentation. Additionally, ensure that your responses are your own and not generated by artificial intelligence (AI) or other automated tools, as this may result in disqualification from the recruitment.

• I acknowledge receipt of this information

02

Please provide your California State Bar Association license number and issue date.
03

This position is to fill a Limited Term vacancy. Are you willing to accept a Limited Term position?

• Yes
• No

04

Please describe in detail the time you have spent in the full-time practice of criminal defense (e.g., Public Defender's Office or criminal defense firm or partnership.) If you have no full-time experience in this area, please type N/A.
05

If you have not worked full-time in the practice of criminal defense, describe in detail any other experience you have in criminal law (e.g., part-time work, District Attorney's Office Intern, or similar experience). If you have no experience in this area, please type N/A.
06

Please describe your legal experience in a prosecutor's office, whether as a Deputy/Assistant District Attorney or Public Defender, attorney intern, certified law student, or law clerk. For each assignment, include (1) position title, (2) agency, (3) dates (MM/YY-MM/YY), (4) average hours per week, and (5) primary criminal case types and responsibilities.
07

If your answer to the above is yes, please describe what your position was, what job duties you performed (contested hearings, research, court appearances), the length of your experience, and who your supervisor(s) were. If you have no experience, please type N/A
Required Question