Closing Date: 29th July, 2026
Description:
Napa County 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.
Napa County as an Employer
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.
The Position:
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.
About the Position:
The Attorney III will have the experience and ability to handle complex felony cases with clients facing potentially lengthy prison exposure and cases that present challenging and complicated legal issues. The Attorney III will demonstrate proven experience as a criminal defense lawyer, a strong understanding of criminal law and legal procedure, excellent oral and written communication skills, the ability to work under pressure, and experience handling high-profile and complex criminal cases.
Job duties will include:
- Reviewing police reports and other relevant discovery,
- Conducting legal research, drafting and litigating appropriate motions,
- Directing investigation, including contacting witnesses, issuing subpoenas and collecting relevant documents,
- Communicating with clients to explain legal processes and developments,
- Advising clients of legal rights and options,
- Appearing with and for clients at all court hearings, including trials, other hearings and sentencings,
- Negotiating with the prosecution to obtain the best outcome for the client,
- Taking felony cases to trial, including serious and violent felonies, multiple strike cases and/or sex offenses,
- Perform other related duties as required.
Experience and Education:
An individual must possess any combination of experience and education that would likely produce the required knowledge and abilities. A desirable combination is:
Experience: 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.
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.
The Recruitment Process:
- Application Deadline 5:00 pm PST, Wednesday July 29, 2026
- Supplemental Question Scoring Week of August 3, 2026
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 Panel Interview.
Oral Panel Interview Tentatively scheduled for the week of August 10, 2026
Only the most qualified candidates from the Oral Panel Interview will be placed on the eligibility list and may be considered to fill positions for up to one year.
The Human Resources Department reserves the right to change the recruitment process at any time.
Example of Duties:
View the full job description, including the example of duties, Attorney III
Benefits:
Learn more about the benefits package for this position HERE.
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.
