Attorney - Criminal (Levels I-V) *Revised

Job Description:

Attorney - Criminal (Levels I-V) *Revised

Description

The Position



This is a continuous filing exam. The next filing cut-off is at 5:00 pm on:

Fourth Friday of every month

1/23/2026, 2/27/2026, 3/27/2026, 4/24/2026, 5/22/2026, 6/26/2026, 7/24/2026, 8/28/2026, 9/25/2026, 10/23/2026, 11/25/2026, 12/24/2026

Salary Information:
Level I: $11,240.40 monthly
Level II: $12,929.92 monthly
Level III: $11,706.75 - $14,228.00 monthly
Level IV: $12,905.58 - $16,470.83 monthly
Level V: $14,238.42 - $18,172.56 monthly

This is a single classification with five (5) salary levels. Level I is the level at which initial appointments to Attorney - Criminal are typically made; and advancement from the lower to the higher level of the class is at the discretion of the appointing authority, provided the minimum qualifications are met.

NOTE: Please apply only after you have been issued a California State Bar number. If you are awaiting results of the Bar exam, or have a pending issuance of a State Bar number, please wait until after your number is issued to apply. If you submit an application without having a California State Bar number, you may be disqualified from the exam process.

Under direction, the Attorney - Criminal performs professional legal work in the Public Defender's Office or District Attorney's Office involving the defense or prosecution of criminal cases.

The duties of an Attorney - Criminal include reading and evaluating investigative reports submitted by law enforcement agencies; using good judgement in deciding whether or how best to proceed in a given matter; conducting and/or directing additional investigation as may be necessary to competently prosecute or defend contested actions in trial courts or other judicial forums; preparing and presenting evidence in those forums as well as making pertinent legal and factual arguments. Attorneys in this range must be capable, depending on their level of experience, of handling the prosecution or defense of matters requiring little or no experience up to and including the most difficult, complex, and sensitive cases requiring a high degree of legal knowledge, skill, and experience.

The class of Attorney - Criminal has five levels which are assigned at the department head's discretion in accordance with budget provisions, workload, organizational needs, and the individual attorney's expertise and skill, subject to the following basic experience requirements:

Level I: This level is assigned to attorneys who have no previous legal experience. Under close supervision, attorneys at this level are generally assigned a variety of less difficult assignments. This is the entry and trainee level for criminal attorneys.

Level II: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of experience in the practice of law. Under close supervision, attorneys at this level perform work of average difficulty in all phases of criminal law. This is the first working level.

Level III: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of Sacramento County service as an Attorney - Criminal, Level II, or three years of experience practicing law in the State of California. Attorneys at this level litigate increasingly difficult and complex criminal cases under general supervision. This is the full journey level.

Level IV: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of Sacramento County service as an Attorney - Criminal, Level III, or four years of experience practicing law in the State of California in an area of law practiced by the District Attorney's or Public Defender's Offices. Acceptable areas of practice include but are not limited to, criminal law, consumer fraud, environmental protection, asset forfeiture, or family support. Attorneys at this level litigate the most difficult and complex criminal cases with minimal direction. This is the advanced journey level.

Level V: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of Sacramento County service as an Attorney - Criminal, Level IV. Attorneys at this level litigate demanding and critical cases requiring a highly advanced degree of knowledge of legal processes, or act in a lead capacity when the staff size is so large, or the work is so complex, as to require both a first-line supervisor and a lead attorney.

Examples of Knowledge and Abilities

Incumbents in the Attorney - Criminal classification must have knowledge and abilities sufficient to enable competent prosecution or defense of criminal actions and relevant civil actions (e.g., consumer, environmental, family support, etc.) in trial courts. Essential knowledge and abilities include demonstrated proficiency in legal research and writing, knowledge of rules of criminal and civil procedure, proficiency in oral advocacy skills used in court and jury trials and hearings before other judicial and quasi-judicial officers, and knowledge of ethical standards and duties required to maintain the highest standard of professionalism.

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Membership in the California State Bar.

Document Required with the application: Your California State Bar license number and date of issue MUST be documented on your application.

NOTE: Failure to submit proof of educational requirements will result in disqualification from the examination.

Probationary Period:

The probationary period for this classification is twelve (12) months.

Application and Testing Information

APPLICATION

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit an online County of Sacramento employment application by 5:00 PM on the posted cut-off date. Click here to apply.

County of Sacramento

Department of Personnel Services

Employment Services Division

700 H Street, Room 4667

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone (916) 874-5593; 7-1-1 California Relay Service

Email [email protected]

Inter-Office Mail Code: 09-4667

www.SacCountyJobs.net

• Employment applications and all documentation requested in this announcement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the cut-off date.
• Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. You may only apply for this recruitment once. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.
• A resume may be included with your application, however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE

Applicants are required to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question. The Supplemental Questionnaire is located in the tab marked "Supplemental Questions". Please be descriptive in your response.

Note: Responses of "See Resume" or "See Application", or copy and paste of work experience are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.

• Supplemental Questionnaires must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• The supplemental questions are designed to elicit specific information regarding a candidate's experience, education, and training. Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification.
• Please provide place of employment, pertinent dates, and concise, descriptive and detailed information for each question.
• If a job included responsibilities applicable to several questions, separate the different functions of the job to answer all the questions completely.
• Resumes or referral to the application or other questionnaire responses will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question.
• If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.
• For many individuals, it is more efficient to develop responses to the supplemental questions in a word processing document and then paste them into the final document to be submitted. Changes or corrections to your Supplemental Questionnaire cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.
• If the Supplemental Questionnaire is used in the Formula Rate exam, failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score. While scoring the Supplemental Questionnaire, the candidate's application and/or attachments will not be reviewed , therefore, a candidate's responses to the questions should be accurate, thorough, detailed, and complete.

FORMULA RATE EXAMINATION (Weighted 100%)

All candidates meeting the minimum qualifications by the cut-off date will have their Supplemental Questionnaire scored in the Formula Rate Examination.

This examination will evaluate the relevance, level, recency, progression and quality of candidate's education, training and experience. The candidate's application or other materials will not be included in this examination. Therefore, the candidate's responses to the supplemental questionnaire should be thorough, detailed and complete. The score from the Formula Rate Examination will determine the ranking on the eligible/employment list for this job.

All candidates competing in the testing process will receive written notice of their examination results by email. Notices can also be accessed in their governmentjobs.com inbox. Applicants achieving a passing score will be placed on the eligible list in rank order. The rank is determined by the test score attained from the examination.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

For information regarding County jobs:

www.saccountyjobs.net

Sacramento County is about enriching communities to thrive. We strive to create inclusive workplaces that reflect the communities we serve. We value and celebrate the unique perspectives, backgrounds, abilities, and diverse dimensions of our employees and residents. Through transparency, courage, innovation, and trust we are committed to advance equity and transformational change.

We are a proud equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability for any phase of the hiring process, please contact our Disability Compliance Office at [email protected] or 916-874-7642, CA Relay 711. For more information, visit: Reasonable Accommodation Requests - Job Applicant Instructions

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

At Sacramento County, we strive to provide benefit programs designed to meet our employees’ current and future needs and help them as they balance their careers and personal life. County of Sacramento employees have a variety of benefits available. These benefits include:

• Dental Insurance
• Vision Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Life Insurance
• Critical Illness
• Retiree Health Savings Plan (RHSP)
• Deferred Compensation

More information can be found on the Benefits website

TEMPORARY POSITIONS:
Most benefits do not apply to temporary positions.

VACATION:
Generally, vacation with pay begins at 10 days annually. With increase over a period of years, the maximum annual vacation with pay is 25 days.

HOLIDAYS:
14.5 holidays per year as recognized by the Board of Supervisors.

SICK LEAVE:
Equivalent to 15 days annually, unlimited accumulation.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT:
Regular County employees may be eligible to receive Tuition Reimbursement. The costs for course tuition/registration fees and required books/supplies may be eligible for reimbursement. Tuition reimbursement amounts may vary depending upon union agreement.

RETIREMENT:
The County’s defined-benefit pension plan is provided by the County Employees’ Retirement Law of 1937 and is managed by the Sacramento County Employees' Retirement System (SCERS) Board of Retirement. For more information, visit the SCERS website, http://www.scers.org

DENTAL INSURANCE:
For more information, visit the Benefits website

LIFE INSURANCE:
The County of Sacramento provides a basic life insurance benefit to all eligible employees at no cost. Additional coverage may be purchased through payroll deduction.

For more information, visit the Benefits website

DEFERRED COMPENSATION:
A deferred compensation program is available through the County 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. For more information, visit the Benefits website

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:
The County of Sacramento provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their eligible dependents. The EAP offers confidential, professional counseling services in areas such as:

• Legal Advice/Difficult Decisions
• Marriage or Family Relationships
• Financial or Credit Worries/Elder Care
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse

More information can be found on the Benefits website

WELLNESS INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
The County will recognize and award time off to eligible employees who maintain an excellent attendance record.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT:
The County offers regular employees two separate Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA's). These accounts allow employees to set money aside, on a pre-tax basis via payroll deduction, to pay for medical, dental or dependent care expenses.

DEPENDENT CARE REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT:
Employees may set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified childcare or dependent care expenses that are necessary for the employee and/or spouse to continue working.

MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT:
The Medical Reimbursement Account allows pre-tax dollars to be set aside to pay for out-of-pocket expenses that are not paid by insurance or reimbursed by any other benefit plan.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION:
In case of injury while on the job, each employee is protected under the Workers' Compensation laws of California.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: FAQs

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE:
Military veterans who have served during wartime shall be given preference in initial appointment to County service. Such preference shall apply, provided the veteran has first achieved a minimum passing score in the examination. The passing score of a veteran shall be annotated to indicate the veteran's score shall be regarded as 5 points or higher, OR 10 points higher for disabled veterans, only for the purpose of determining the three ranks along with which the veteran's name shall be certified. No score shall actually be changed and no new rank shall be created as a result of application of veteran's preference for certification purposes.

"Disabled Veteran" means any veteran who has served during wartime and, who, as of the final filing date for an examination is declared by the United States Veterans Administration or military service department to be 10% or more disabled as a result of his/her military service. Persons claiming eligibility for disabled veteran's preference must submit to the employment office, on or before the application deadline date, a certification from the United States Veterans Administration or a military service department, dated within 1 year, which certifies the present existence of a service related disability of 10% or more, or other acceptable proof of such disability as a result of his/her military service.
Persons claiming eligibility for veterans preference must submit a copy of Form DD 214 or other acceptable proof of veteran's status on or before the final filing date for the examination. For purpose of this rule "reserve" status does not constitute active duty.

SPECIAL SKILL QUALIFICATIONS (WHEN SPECIFIED ON THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT):
Persons who have special skills required by some (but not all) positions in a class may be certified ahead of others provided that:
Such special skills are based on the duties and requirements of the positions and are in conformance with merit system and equal opportunity principles, and
The certification of eligibles who possess special skills have been approved by the Civil Service Commission.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$138,392.64 - $223,750.08 Annually