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Deputy Public Defender I/II/III/IV/V

Kern County
Bakersfield, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 9 Jun 2026
💰 $349,604/yr($158,398/yr$349,604/yr)

About the role

Posting number: 9350

Department: PUBLIC DEFENDER

Job classification: Deputy Public Defender I

Posting type: Open

Categories: Legal, Attorney

Summary

AMENDED 07/31/24; 11/19/24; 06/09/26

Salary (paid bi-weekly): 
  • Level I: $3,046.12 - $3,640.40 
  • Level II: $3,502.65 - $4,185.99 
  • Level III: $4,047.76 - $4,837.45 
  • Level IV: $5,015.96 - $5,994.54
  • Level V: $5,625.65 - $6,723.17 
Examination: 
Appraisal (Weight 100%): of training, education, experience, interest and personal fitness for the work based on any combination of the following: Investigation, oral exam and rating of application.

Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the examination process.

Minimum Requirements/Employment Standards:

Applicant must be licensed by the California State Bar.
 
Level I: Applicant must be licensed by the California State Bar.
 
Level II: Applicants must be licensed by State Bar of California and have one (1) year of experience in the practice of law.
 
Level III: Applicants must be licensed by the California State Bar and have two (2) years of experience as a practicing attorney in criminal and/or civil law.
 
Level IV: Licensure by the California State Bar, and three (3) years of experience as a practicing attorney in criminal and/or civil law. 
 
Level V: Licensure by the California State Bar, and seven (7) years of experience as a practicing attorney in criminal and/or civil law. 
 
All applicants: must have the ability to travel to locations outside of the regular office to perform necessary legal services; have knowledge of the principles of law and their application, including criminal law; knowledge of trial procedure and the rules of evidence; knowledge of legal research methods; ability to present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically; ability to maintain effective working relationships with others; ability to evaluate people and to obtain information through interrogation.

Full Job Description For: Deputy Public Defender I/II/III/IV/V

This position works within the Kern County Public Defender's Office. For more information about the department, please view their website here.

Examples of duties

Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.

To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:  

Growth Mindset
We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.

Qualifications

Admittance to the examination will require a valid government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division pri

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Company

Kern County

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