LAW CLERK-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Job Description:

LAW CLERK-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Description

Position/Program Information

Law Office of the Los Angeles County

PUBLIC DEFENDER

EXAM NUMBER:

L9240A-EA

RECRUITMENT TYP E :

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY - Emergency

WHO WE ARE
The Los Angeles County Office of the 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.

We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County’s homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County’s jails and into treatment services and works to reduce the collateral social and economic impacts of contact with the criminal legal system, such as losing employment, social services, and housing. The collective services provided and supported by our workforce have a direct positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.

WHEN TO APPLY
Applications will be accepted beginning Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for an internship that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.
The Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender is seeking qualified candidates to fill Law Clerk vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

ABOUT THE POSITION
The Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender's Law Clerk Program introduces select students to the operations of the office, the court system, and related agencies in the criminal justice system. Law Clerks are mentored by experienced criminal defense attorneys who provide them with real-life educational experience. Law clerks will play an important role in helping attorneys provide legal assistance to homeless clients seeking mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services, ensuring our unhoused clients receive the necessary legal support and access to vital treatment and services. Law clerks are given the opportunity to observe and participate in client interviews, case strategy meetings, and court proceedings. Law Clerks may complete research and writing projects including briefs, investigation requests, and motions to be filed in court. They may also accompany the attorneys to jail interviews and attend public defender training sessions.

The Law Clerk internship program in the Office of the Public Defender tracks the academic year and is offered in the summer (10 weeks) and in spring and fall (16 weeks).

OUR IDEAL TEAM MEMBER: This opportunity is for you if you wish to join a team revolutionizing the criminal justice system. We're looking for team members who hold our Office's shared values of zealously advocating in defense of our indigent clientele, and compassionately amplifying their stories.

Essential Job Functions

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• Provides support to attorneys in a wide variety of legal tasks including research, interpretation, and application of laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of cases, pleadings, briefs, and other legal documents.
• Assists in reviewing and preparing case file discovery related to clients' mental health and substance use disorders.
• Analyzes medical records, psychiatric evaluations, and other relevant documents to identify key factors contributing to mitigation.
• Interviews clients to obtain factual, biographical and financial information and assists in the scheduling of witnesses and prepares witnesses and clients in courtroom procedures and appropriate protocol.
• Collaborates with the assigned attorney in drafting legal briefs and motions presented in court for mitigation, trial preparation, or hearings.
• Performs clerical and computer data input.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS
You MUST meet ONE of the requirement(s) listed below in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment:
Option 1:

• Currently enrolled in and completion of the first year or equivalent of study* in a school accredited by American Bar Association (ABA) or a California-accredited law school (CALS).
  
  *Program of study includes full-time, part-time, or distance learning programs. Completion of first year or equivalent is the completion of the expected coursework during the first year (1L) of law school.
  

Option 2:

• Currently enrolled in an unaccredited law school registered with the State Bar of California (CALS) or currently participating in a law office study (LOS) program -AND- have passed the State Bar of California First Year Law Student's Examination (FYLSX)**

To show that you meet ONE of the options above, you will need to provide the following:

Under Option 1:
A copy of your official or unofficial transcripts or official letter from the ABA or CALS-approved, or accredited institution that clearly shows your current enrollment and grade level at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the date of filing your application. Submit your documentation to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov , and indicate the exam name and number in the subject field of your email. If you do not provide the required documentation within the specified time frame your application may be rejected.

Accreditation Information :

Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national, or international accrediting agencies that are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and the International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States-accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information is available at the Department of Human Resources - Accredited College Education Resource Guide.

Under Option 2:
A copy of your FYLSX exam results letter from The State Bar of California at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the date of applying. Submit your documentation to Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov , and indicate the exam name and number in the subject field of your email.
If you do not provide the required documentation within the specified time frame your application may be rejected.

**FYLSX or "baby bar" is designed and required for Law students after completing their first year of law study in a juris doctor degree program at a State Bar-unaccredited registered law school or through the Law Office Study Program, or those without two years of college work attending a California-accredited or an ABA-approved law school. More information is available at The State Bar of California website or the Admissions and Education Standards Rule 4.25 - 4.31.

PHYSICAL CLASS II - LIGHT
This job requires light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit, and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

LICENSE
A valid California Class "C" Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

VACANCY INFORMATION
Applicants under this Emergency Appointment recruitment effort will be appointed to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender.

Additional Information

APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION

• APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.
• Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button for this posting. Please review your application for accuracy before submitting it. You can also track the status of your application by visiting Governmentjobs.com and logging into your account.
• Many important notifications such as application notices and appointment (job offer) letters 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 , Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov , and noreply@governmentjobs.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 can opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any examination notifications. You can always access some of these notifications by logging into your profile inbox at Governmentjobs.com which s aves a copy of all emailed notices. It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence.
• Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the first day of filing as 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 Governmentjobs.com , 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.
• The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the minimum 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.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

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's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records that are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI)
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Questions? Contact us:
Exam Number: L9240A-EA
Department Contact Name: Hector Moreno
Department Contact Phone: (213) 460-8068
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929

For detailed information, please click here

Salary:

$23.74 Hourly