Closing Date: 1st October, 2025
Description:
Description:Deputy District Attorney I Salary: $102,082.24 - $122,944.64 Annually
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office currently has multiple Deputy District Attorney I vacancies located throughout the County of Santa Barbara.
We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list to fill current and future vacancies in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Please select all of the locations you are willing to accept employment for current and future vacancies. Work locations are assigned by the District Attorney and subject to change based on workload demands.
To learn more about the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, please visit: https://da.countyofsb.org/
About the Department: The mission of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office is to pursue truth and justice by employing the highest ethical standards in vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, and preventing crime. The District Attorney has offices in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. The Office embodies a team approach to fighting crime, wherein Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators, Victim Witness staff, and support staff work closely together at all stages of a case.
The Office is also dedicated to ongoing training and skill development, as well as fostering the development of new technologies to fight crime and achieve justice. Specialized prosecution units exist for areas of great concern to the County including gangs, vulnerable victims, and white collar crime. In addition, specialty courts such as DUI Court, Drug Court, Mental Health Treatment Court, Restorative Justice Court, and Veterans' Treatment Court allow for collaboration between Deputy District Attorneys and other Court staff in an effort to improve the success rate of rehabilitation for criminal defendants in addition to reducing crime.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Under general supervision, to perform a variety of criminal and civil investigations, trial preparations, and prosecutions; perform related work as required. Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV/Senior is a flexibly staffed series.
Deputy District Attorney I is the entry level class in this professional series in which incumbents receive orientation and training and are expected to progress to the experienced Deputy District Attorney II level within a reasonable length of time. Deputy District Attorney I may be required to mentor and train Deputy District Attorney Externs and/or new Deputy District Attorneys.
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Experience working within the criminal justice system;
- Intern or extern experience in a public sector agency preferably in criminal prosecution;
- Ability to work independently, organize and prioritize work, and meet critical deadlines.
Examples of Duties:
- Interviews and advises victims and witnesses regarding prospective criminal or civil actions; studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and legal authorities for use in prosecuting cases;
- Prepares legal pleadings such as complaints, answers, motions, discovery, and judgments;
- Prosecutes a variety of cases, including felony, misdemeanor, and traffic trials and presentation of preliminary hearings;
- Performs related work such as preparing petitions, complaints, reports, and correspondence;
- Actively seeks continuing legal education and training, which may include reading, research, observing and seeking counsel from peer attorneys, and attending trainings; perform community outreach, which may include training law enforcement personnel and performing outreach at schools or community organizations that focus on public safety or justice.
Employment Standards:
Active membership in the State Bar of California and completion of the core courses required for a law degree.
Applicants who have taken the State Bar exam and are pending results may apply and participate in the selection process but must obtain an active membership in the State Bar of California at the time of appointment.
Additional Qualifications: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required.
Knowledge of: the principles of criminal and civil law and its application; legal research methods; rules of evidence; organization, powers, and limitations of county governmental functions, civil and criminal codes, and the California Constitution; trial procedures and the rules of evidence.
Ability to: perform legal research; analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence, and precedents in legal problems; present statements of law, facts, and arguments clearly, logically, and forcefully, both in written and oral form; work effectively with others.
