Salary: $108,908.80 - $114,358.40 Annually
Location : County of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Regular - Full time
Job Number:
Department: District Attorney
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Closing Date: 8/26/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Summary

Future Salary Increases:

** June 2027 - 7.38% increase to base pay (3% Across-the-Board + 4.38% Market Adjustment)
About the Position

Deputy District Attorney I is the first working-level class of the Deputy District Attorney series. Under general supervision, incumbents prepare and try criminal or civil cases in the Superior Court.

For more information on this job description, please visit the Deputy District Attorney I job classification page.
Hiring Timeline & Dates

The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.

• Job Offer and Background Process begins shortly after the interviews conclude.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.
Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, AND, active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California.

In addition to the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire, applicants must submit:

(1) A photocopy of law school transcripts

(2) Resume

(3) A cover letter

(4) A minimum of one (maximum of two) letters of recommendation in PDF format.

NOTE:
Applicants who sat for the California Bar Exam in July 2026 are eligible to apply and need not submit a copy of the California Bar Card. However, those applicants must submit proof of the moral character determination at the time of application and provide proof of passing the bar examination in November 2026 and be sworn-in by the anticipated start date of December 2026.
Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego's pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.
Evaluation
Qualified applicants will be placed on a nine (9) month employment list based on scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment and supplemental applications. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.

Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

01

Please be sure to answer the following questions in a thorough and complete manner, as your responses will be used to determine your overall score. Please note that if you are invited to a selection interview(s) by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification. Do you understand this information?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you an active member in good standing with the State Bar of California?

• Yes
• No

03

Please provide your California bar number and the date you were admitted.Note: If this does not apply, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.
04

If you are not an active member of the State Bar of California, please provide the date of the first time that you sat for the California Bar Examination.Note: If this does not apply, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.
05

If you have recently sat for the CA State Bar and do not have your bar card, have you attached your moral character determination?

• Yes, I have attached proof
• No

06

ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENT IN LAW SCHOOLDo you possess a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school?

• Yes
• No

07

Is the law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA)?

• Yes
• No

08

If yes, please indicate the following information: (a) Law School, (b) Cumulative GPA, and (c) Date of Graduation.Note: If this does not apply, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.
09

Have you served as a member of your law school's Law Review or Law Journal?

• Yes
• No

10

Did you receive any academic awards, honors and/or academic scholarships while in law school?

• Yes
• No

11

Please list any academic awards, honors and/or academic scholarships that you received while in law school. Please include dates and a brief statement describing the award, honor and/or academic scholarship.Note: If this does not apply, please indicate "N/A" in the section below.
12

Please select the option(s) below that best describes your legal employment history. Select all that apply.

• I was employed within the last two years, as a Graduate Law Clerk or Temporary Expert Professional (TEP) at the San Diego County District Attorney's Office; OR, (2) at any time as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Diego County District Attorney's Office.
• I was employed within the last three years as a Deputy District Attorney outside of San Diego, a San Diego City Attorney, or a State or Federal prosecutor. (excludes unpaid attorneys and volunteers)
• I was employed within the last five years as an attorney or law clerk in a paid position for any federal court or state court. (excludes unpaid attorneys and internships)
• None of the above apply to me.

13

For each option(s) you selected in the question above, please provide (a) employer, (b) your actual job title and (c) dates of employment. If not applicable, please indicate N/A.
14

CRIMINAL WORK EXPERIENCEPlease indicate the number of misdemeanor jury trials you have tried to verdict.

• I have not tried to verdict any misdemeanor jury trials.
• I have tried to verdict less than ten (10) misdemeanor jury trials.
• I have tried to verdict ten (10), but less than twenty (20) misdemeanor jury trials.
• I have tried to verdict twenty (20) or more misdemeanor jury trials.

15

For misdemeanor jury trials listed above, please provide (a) the date, (b) the case name and number, and (c) your role (either lead counsel, appearing as co-counsel, assisting legal intern, or Graduate Law Clerk). If not applicable, please indicate N/A in the field below.
16

CRIMINAL WORK EXPERIENCEPlease indicate the number of felony jury trials you have tried to verdict.

• I have not tried to verdict any felony jury trials.
• I have tried to verdict less than ten (10) felony jury trials.
• I have tried to verdict ten (10), but less than twenty (20) felony jury trials.
• I have tried to verdict twenty (20) or more felony jury trials.

17

For felony jury trials listed above, please provide (a) the date, (b) the case name and number, and (c) your role (either lead counsel, appearing as co-counsel, assisting legal intern, or Graduate Law Clerk). If not applicable, please indicate N/A in the field below.
18

CIVIL LITIGATION EXPERIENCEPlease indicate how many civil trials or arbitrations you have completed to verdict or conclusion in the following categories:
a. Number of civil jury trials:
b. Number of civil bench trials
c. Number of arbitrations:

If you do not have this experience please respond with N/A
19

How did you first hear about this job opportunity?

• San Diego County website
• Bar Association or Legal Organization
• Governmentjobs.com
• Veteran Outreach / FFSC
• Mana de San Diego
• Family, Neighbors, Friends
• County Employee Resource Groups
• College/University Career Site
• LinkedIn
• County Social Media
• Voice and Viewpoint
• Other

20

If indicated "other" in the previous question, please indicate in the field below where you first heard about this job opportunity. If not applicable, please indicate "N/A" in the field below.
Required Question