Law Offices of the Los Angeles County
PUBLIC DEFENDER
EXAM NUMBER
L2901L
REBULLETIN INFORMATION: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REBULLETIN TO REOPEN THE FILING PERIOD AND CONVERT TO A REGISTER.
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY
WHEN TO APPLY
Applications will be accepted beginning Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Until the needs of the service are met, and is subject to closure without prior notice.
WHO CAN APPLY
This is an OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY open to candidates within and outside of the County of Los Angeles who meet the requirements outlined in this job posting.
WHO WE ARE
The Law Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, providing a beacon for evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system.
Our Offices are headed by innovative and progressive leaders collaboratively working towards our agency’s mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele. The Office is seeking passionate professionals to join its team of investigators dedicated to advancing the Investigations Division in support of the Public Defender’s mission and values.
Essential Job Functions
As an Investigator II, Public Defender, you will perform work that will include but not be limited to the duties outlined below:
Independently conduct criminal defense investigations in the field to support the defense in a wide variety of criminal cases- Thoroughly examine crime scenes and evidence, locate and identify material evidence, and record findings
- Obtain information concerning the whereabouts of witnesses by interviewing employers, public agencies, families, neighbors, etc.
- Interview and obtain information from witnesses and determine whether there is sufficient basis for the witness to be subpoenaed for court testimony
- Consult with attorney, supervisor, and/or members of the defense team
- Provide trial support to facilitate trial adjudication and testify in court as the investigator of record
- Prepare detailed reports of completed investigation findings in a timely and organized manner
- Maintain case file information on all investigations and other information relevant to the defense
Requirements
To participate in this job recruitment, you will need to have:
1.) One year of full-time equivalent criminal justice investigative experience at the level of Los Angeles County's class of Investigator I, Public Defender
-OR-
2.) Three (3) years of law enforcement experience as a full-time equivalent police officer as defined in Section 830.1 of the State of California Penal Code.
Investigative experience at the level of Investigator I, Public Defender involves conducting investigations to support the defense in misdemeanor and the less difficult felony cases, including examining crime scenes, locating/identifying evidence and witnesses, conducting surveillances, testifying in court to support trials, and preparing reports of completed investigations.
Out-of-Class Experience
If you wish to qualify using experience gained in a position equivalent to our Office's Investigator I, Public Defender without having held the official title but performed the full-time duties in an acting capacity, you must provide official documentation as proof of the out-of-class assignment, such as additional responsibility bonus, out-of-class bonus, or temporary assignment bonus, by either uploading and attaching the document(s) to the application at the time of filing or submitting via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov within 10 business days of the last day of the application filing period.
If you have served in the military and were honorably discharged, you may qualify for Veteran's Credit. To receive this credit, please include with your application a copy of your form DD214 for our review or submit it via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov within 10 business days of last day of the application filing period.
License
A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.
Physical Expectations
This position requires frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. Additional physical requirements are detailed at the following link: Investigator II, Public Defender classification specifications.
Additional Information
Our Assessment Process
If you meet the requirements outlined above, you will be invited to participate in a two-part assessment process, which will consist of:
- Part I: Multiple Choice and/or Simulation Assessments, and an Evaluation of Training & Experience, weighted 65%, measuring the following areas:
- Deductive Reasoning
- Professional/Technical Expertise (Knowledge of interviewing techniques; legal principles, rules of evidence, laws of arrest, search and seizure, and courtroom procedure; legal documents; California penal codes; fact finding; cultural sensitivity; and using technology)
Candidates must meet the Minimum Requirements and achieve a combined passing score of 70% or higher on Part I, in order to be invited to Part II of this examination.
- Part II: A Technical Writing Assessment, weighted 35%, that will measure:
- Professional/Technical Expertise (Knowledge of principles, methods, and techniques of investigation; collection and preservation of evidence and chain of custody; criminology; written communication; and fact finding)
Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the list of eligible candidates accordingly. If you meet the Requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on each part of the examination, your name will be placed on the Eligible Register, grouped in order of Band result, for a period of 12 months from the date added. A Notice of Exam Results will be sent to all candidates via email only. Persons who pass the examination and are placed in the Eligible Register may not compete in this examination more than once every twelve (12) months from the date added to the Eligible Register.
Once this examination is complete, you will not be able to review the online multiple- choice test per Civil Service Rule 7.19.
Transfer of Test Components
- Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination.
- This examination contains components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred.
Test Preparation
Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help you prepare for the
online multiple-choice portion of the test by visiting The Los Angeles County Test Preparation System or Talent Central Practice Tests. While test study guides will help in preparing for the test, we advise you to review ALL related materials that you deem necessary.
Testing Accommodation
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in this assessment, let us know by contacting us via email at Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov. You will need to complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation form and provide supporting documentation justifying the requested accommodation(s). The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond to your request.
Vacancy Information
The resulting Eligible Register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the Law Offices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Appointees to this position must be willing to work in any Los Angeles County location and may be subject to transfer at any time.
Questions? Contact us:
Exam Number: L2901L
Department Contact Name: Hector Moreno
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacountygov
ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929
Application and Filing Information
- APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. We must receive your application before 5:00 p.m. (PST) by the last day of filing. Applications will not be accepted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person.
- When you create a governmentjobs.com profile, you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
- Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button for this posting. Please review your application for accuracy before submitting. You can also track the status of your application by visiting www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty.
- Many important notifications including application rejections, online test invitation letters, and notice of exam results will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. It is your responsibility to provide a valid email address and review all notifications sent to you. Please add Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov, hmoreno@pubdef.lacounty.gov, noreply@governmentjobs.com, swang@hr.lacounty.gov, gtung@hr.lacounty.gov, talentcentral@shl.com, noreply@proctoru.com, and donot-reply@amcatmail.com to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered or blocked as spam/junk/clutter mail.
- Applicants may also sign in to their www.governmentjobs.com account and select "Inbox" to view most email correspondence.
- Applicants have the ability to opt-out of emails from Los Angeles County. However, if you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.
- The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Requirements. Fill out your application and Supplemental Questionnaire completely. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week and description of work performed. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
- Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION.
- Applicants must submit all applicable documents at the time of filing or within 10 business days via email to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application. Include the examination number and title on your email's subject line.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
All County workforce members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Successful candidates for this position will be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.
Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Applicants can find out more information about select in-person library services and locations by visiting the Los Angeles County Library website.
No Sharing of User ID and Password
All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password.
Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
Equal Employment Opportunity
It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.
Additional employment information can be viewed at the following link: County of Los Angeles Employment Information (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader).