Deputy District Attorney - IV

Living in Placer County from Placer County Video Portal

Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees, including:

• Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year, 2 of which are floating holidays*
• Vacation leave: 10 days/year with ability to accrue 25 days/year
• Sick leave: 12 days/year*
• Cafeteria plan: 6% of employee’s salary will be contributed towards employee to use towards 401(k), dependent care, medical co-insurance, or cash
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available for employees and dependents
• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to employee
• CalPERS retirement plans
• Retiree medical insurance
• Deferred compensation
• Education allowance: up to $1,200 per year
• Bilingual incentive: incumbents may be eligible for bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational needs and certification of proficiency.

*Amounts will be prorated for part-time employees and employees hired after the first of the year.

The information above represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire about the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department. For a detailed listing of benefits, please click here to view Professional benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To perform professional legal work within the District Attorney's Office; to prepare and present civil and criminal cases in court; and to perform related work as assigned.

Deputy District Attorney IV is the full working level assigned to employees with at least three years of experience practicing law.  Employees at this level are generally assigned more difficult and sensitive cases, are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit and may be required to prepare legal opinions on problems that are complex and have far-reaching implications.  At this level, employees are required to use independent judgement in carrying out assignments and are expected to prosecute the full range of civil and criminal cases tried before the Court.

This class is distinguished from the Senior Deputy District Attorney in that the latter is responsible for providing lead direction to a functional or geographic area and presents the most complex and sensitive cases in court.

Receives direction from a Supervising Deputy District Attorney or other management staff and receives technical and functional supervision from a Senior Deputy District Attorney.
May exercise technical and functional supervision over legal staff.

• Work within the District Attorney's Office, performing the full range of legal activities involving the investigation or prosecution of complex criminal or civil cases; prepare and present cases in court.
• Receive complaints and review reports filed by arresting officers or complainants; interview complainants and witnesses with regard to prospective complaints; subpoena witnesses; refuse or approve and issue complaints in such matters.
• Analyze, interpret and apply laws, court decisions and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases, opinions and briefs; prepare pleadings and other papers in connection with suits, trials, hearings and other legal proceedings; examine, assemble and evaluate evidence; secure and interview witnesses; appear in court and try cases.
• Perform a wide variety of advanced legal research.
• Prepare opinions, briefs, pleadings, warrants, and other legal documents; dictate correspondence and reports.
• Work closely with affiliated law enforcement agencies from the county, State or Federal level as required by assigned case.
• Review cases for any assistance required of investigation staff; request Investigators to secure evidence or conduct further investigation; review and incorporate additional information secured by Investigators.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience: One year of responsible professional legal experience performing duties similar to a Deputy District Attorney III with Placer County or three years of professional legal experience.  Acceptable areas of practice include, but are not limited to, criminal law, consumer fraud, environmental protection, or asset forfeiture.

Training: Active membership in the California State Bar.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and practices, including civil, criminal, constitutional law and related procedures.
• Rules of Court and Evidence Code.
• Legal research methods.
• Legal principles and practices with emphasis on criminal law.
• Trial and hearing procedures, rules of evidence and the California Penal Code.
• Organization and procedures of the District Attorney's Office.
• Appellate court proceedings.
• Search and seizure laws.
• The duties, powers and limitations of the District Attorney’s Office
• Legal complexities of major felony prosecution and defense cases.

• Learn to investigate and prosecute criminal and civil law complaints.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time or in meetings; intermittently walk, stand and bend while going to/from other offices or court and while taking files to/from meetings or court; twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; hear sufficiently to communicate with clients and to understand actions in public meetings, hearings, or court proceedings; and lift light weight.
• On a continuous basis, analyze a case and determine the law's application; identify and interpret the applicable law or statute; know legal research methods; observe juries and witnesses; problem solve situations that arise in cases; remember and understand case law and statutes; and explain case status to the public as required.
• Analyze and apply legal principles, facts and precedents to legal problems.
• Learn to recommend investigative alternatives.
• Learn to prepare and present cases and effectively represent the District Attorney's Office.
• Present law, facts and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form.
• Explain legal principles and relate them to both trained legal professionals and the public.
• Perform legal research.
• Work under time constraints and exacting professional and legal standards.
• Learn to obtain information through interview and interrogation and deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Draft legal pleadings.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
• Adhere to ethical standards.
• Operate a computer terminal with sufficient proficiency to perform the duties of the job.
• Evaluate and apply legal principles of civil and criminal law.
• Investigate and prosecute criminal and civil law complaints.
• Recommend investigative alternatives.
• Present law, facts and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form.
• Obtain information through interview and interrogation and to deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Organize and prioritize work assignments.
• Prepare and present legal cases within a court of law, especially the presentation of evidence, the examination of witnesses and in arguing an effective case before a judge or jury.
• Be alert to, identify, analyze and be sensitive to the subtleties of verbal and nonverbal communication by clients, witnesses and others.
• Defend or prosecute individuals in a wide variety of adversarial proceedings including, but not limited to: preliminary hearings, violation of probation hearings, court trials, and jury trials.
• Assist less experienced attorneys in matters relative to the District Attorney function.
• Secure cooperation and teamwork among professional and/or support staff.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

REMINDER:  Placer County is currently accepting applications for Deputy District Attorney III & IV.  Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications. 

To be eligible for more than one level in the Deputy District Attorney job classification series, you must complete an application and supplemental questionnaire for each individual level.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Preciosa Ayala-Burkhardt, Administrative Technician, at 

payala@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4637.