Salary : $119,974.40 - $143,665.60 Annually
Location : 1125 Third Street, Napa, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Public Defender
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: 7/22/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

The Position
The Public Defender provides legal representation to adults and juveniles who are charged with criminal offenses and otherwise unable to afford counsel. The Public Defender also represents those facing involuntary medication, conservatorships, parole and PRCS violations, and MDO, NGI, and SVP commitments. The Public Defender vigorously protects the constitutional rights of the accused.

The Attorney I will perform criminal legal work in the defense of criminal cases. The Attorney I will handle a misdemeanor caseload and be expected to perform the following duties:

• Review police reports and other relevant discovery,
• Conduct legal research, draft and litigate appropriate motions,
• Direct investigation, including contacting witnesses, issuing subpoenas and collecting relevant documents,
• Communicate with clients to explain legal processes and developments,
• Advise clients of legal rights and options,
• Appear with and for clients at all court hearings,
• Negotiate with the prosecution to obtain the best outcome for the client,
• Collaborate with senior attorneys to develop defense strategies and case management,
• Perform other related duties as required.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Attorney I
To qualify for this classification, an individual must possess any combination of experience and education that would likely produce the required knowledge and abilities. A desirable combination is:

Experience: None required.
Education: Graduation from an accredited law school.
License or Certificate: * Active membership in the California State Bar Association

*Any license, certification, or registration required for this position shall be maintained (i.e. active and in good standing) at all times during employment with Napa County. For continued employment with Napa County, you must maintain such license, certification, or registration to meet the minimum qualifications of this position.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill one full-time vacancy for the Office of the Public Defender at Napa County. The list established by this recruitment may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and extra help vacancies for up to one year.
RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS:

Online Application Deadline

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 5:00pm PST

Application Screening & Supplemental Question Scoring

Tentatively scheduled for the week July 27, 2026

Supplemental questions will be scored by subject matter experts. The most qualified applicants from the scoring of the supplemental questions will be invited for an Oral Exam Panel Interview.

Oral Exam Panel Interview

Tentatively scheduled for the week of August 3, 2026
The most qualified candidates from the interview process will be placed on the eligibility list and may be considered for current and future vacancies for this position for up to one year.
The Human Resources Department reserves the right to change the recruitment process at any time.

Example of Duties

View the full job description, including the example of duties, HERE!

Benefits
Disaster Service Workers:
Napa County employees automatically become Disaster Service Workers. This means that when Napa County experiences emergencies (earthquake, wildfire, power outage, flood, etc.) you may be asked to pivot from your regular duties to provide critical services to those affected by the emergency (CA Govt Code 31012).

ADA Accommodation:
Applicants requiring accommodation during the application and/or selection process pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act should contact County of Napa Human Resources at (707) 253-4303.

PUBLIC SERVICES EMPLOYEES BENEFITS INFORMATION

SALARY -
Salaries are based on a five-step range. Appointments are usually made at the beginning step with advances occurring at six months and the completion of each year thereafter. Salary rates are reviewed annually.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS INFO -
Click here for additional benefits information for Public Services Employees:
THESE BENEFITS DO NOT APPLY TO EXTRA HELP POSITIONS

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

PHYSICAL STANDARDS -
Certain designated County positions require a candidate to pass a physical examination prior to appointment. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of this examination.

FINGERPRINTING -
All employees hired into allocated positions or extra help positions will be fingerprinted.

SELECTION PROCESS -

FOR POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT - The selection process will include an oral board interview, psychological assessment, background investigation, and a pre-employment physical exam.
01

Instructions for Supplemental Application Questions. The following questions comprise one of the steps in the selection process for this position and are intended to assist you in presenting your qualifications. Only the information you provide in your answers to these questions will be evaluated and scored to determine the best-qualified candidates to continue in the selection process for this position. Please be complete and specific in answering the questions, as your score will be based on this information. Applications submitted without responses to the supplemental questions will not be evaluated. Although your experience and education should relate to your application, your application and or resume will not be reviewed when scoring the supplemental questions. Therefore, please be as detailed as possible in your responses to the supplemental questions. I have read and understand the instructions presented above.

• Yes
• No

02

The ability to speak Spanish fluently is a highly-desired attribute but not mandatory for candidates applying for this position. If you speak Spanish, please describe your level of fluency (select all that apply.)

• Speak
• Read
• Write
• I am not bilingual (Spanish)

03

This position requires current membership in the California Bar Association. Please provide your California Bar number in the space provided. If you are awaiting the results of the Bar exam, please indicate that and the expected date in your response.
04

The Public Defenders Office is also recruiting for a Limited Term Attorney for a 2-year term. If not selected for this position, would you be interested in a Limited Term position?

• Yes
• No

05

The education requirement for Attorney I for Public Defender is graduation from an accredited law school. What academic experience do you possess which relates to your ability to serve as a Deputy Public Defender? Please include any courses, training, or seminars.
06

Please summarize your experience with legal research and writing.
07

Please describe any professional experience, clerkships, or internships that you have that relate to this position.
08

Please describe your training and experience in oral advocacy.
Required Question