Public Defender Attorney I/II/III na County of Napa, CA

About the Department

Internationally known for its fine wines exciting restaurants and world-class resorts, is home to 140,000 residents who share a strong sense of community and a legacy of preserving and protecting our rich agricultural heritage. Located in the heart of California's preeminent wine region, the Napa Valley is also part of the dynamic San Francisco Bay Metropolitan Area. With its sunny Mediterranean climate and proximity to the mountains and ocean, the Valley offers residents easy access to virtually unlimited shopping, dining, cultural and recreational opportunities. The Napa Valley's strategic location, natural and cultural resources, history of responsible land use planning and attractive quality of life provide the ideal mix of small town living and big city amenities.

Position Duties

As an organization, the County is dedicated to improving the lives of our citizens and reflecting the best of the community's values: Respect, Accountability, Dedication, Integrity and Innovation. Learn more HERE.
 

Minimum Qualifications

This recruitment is being conducted to fill one (1) full-time vacancy for the position of Attorney, which may be filled at the I, II, or III level depending on qualifications, 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.

Salary & Benefits:

• Attorney I: $55.73 (Step 1) - $66.73 (Step 5)
• Attorney II: $67.56 (Step 1) - $81.07 (Step 5)
• Attorney III: $80.70 (Step 1) - $96.96 (Step 5)
• View Summary of Benefits HERE. 

• 3.5% COLA increase effective 7/01/2026

About the Position:
The Office of the Public Defender provides legal representation for 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 Public Defender Attorney will perform civil and criminal legal work involved in the prosecution of criminal cases, litigate paternity and child support cases, and provide legal defense of indigents and other eligibles.  The difference in levels depends on the amount and type of experience. Those beginning at the Attorney I level will perform the less difficult cases and assignments while learning their respective duties and responsibilities. As experience, knowledge, skills and abilities are acquired and utilized, the degree and complexity of assignments will correspondingly increase to the Attorney II level. The Attorney III level will handle the more difficult and complex assignments. 

Examples of duties may include:

• Interview applicants for public defense and determine eligibility.
• Advise clients on legal rights.
• Appear with and for defendants at all court hearings.
• Decide on and make appropriate legal motions and pleas, and other legal action on behalf of client.
• Represent alleged mentally ill, drug addicted, and other applicants for public defense before and during hearing for commitment.
• Order investigations and subpoenas.
• May defend indigent defendants in civil litigations to the extent required by law.
• Dictate correspondence and prepare reports.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Additionally, an attorney may be responsible for "specialty areas"; such as, paternity and child support, consumer fraud, planning and zoning violations, environmental cases, and violations of the Fair Political Practices Act. These are areas which can be consolidated for countywide prosecution, and which demand a uniform and consistent approach.

Position Requirements: 
To qualify for the Attorney I/II/III classification(s), an individual must possess any combination of experience and education that would likely produce the required knowledge and abilities. A desirable combination is:

• Experience: 
  • Attorney I: None required.
  • Attorney II: Three years of general legal experience, or two years of criminal law, or one year in a District Attorney's Office or Public Defender's Office as an Attorney I equivalent in Napa County.
  • Attorney III: Four years of general legal experience or three years of criminal law, or one year in a District Attorney's or Public Defender's Office as an Attorney II equivalent in Napa County.
• Education: Graduation from an accredited law school. 
• License or Certificate:* Active membership in the California State Bar Association; possession of a valid California Driver's License.

*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.

The Recruitment & Selection Process: 

Online Application Deadline	By 5:00 pm PST on Friday, October 10, 2025
Application Screening	By Friday, October 10, 2025
Supplemental Question Scoring	Tentatively the week of October 13, 2025 Supplemental questions will be scored by subject matter experts. Only 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 the week of October 27, 2025
Establish Eligibility List	Tentatively the week of October 27, 2025   Only the most qualified candidates from the oral examination (panel exam) will be placed on the eligibility list and may be considered to fill positions for up to one year.

Other Qualifications

View the full job description, including the example of duties, for the following classifications below:

• Attorney I
• Attorney II
• Attorney III

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.
 
Napa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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