Closing Date: 1st December, 2025
Description:
Position Information:The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office is seeking experienced and passionate attorneys to join their team!
Starting salary up to $99.14/hourly ($206,917/annually) and a competitive total compensation package!*
The District Attorney's Office is recruiting to fill two Deputy District Attorney positions. One position is an ongoing position, and the other one is a time-limited position that is currently funded through June 30th, 2029, at either the Deputy District Attorney I, II, III, or IV level depending on qualifications. If you are interested in applying at the other levels, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitments being conducted for those levels.
The Positions
As a Deputy District Attorney III, you will prosecute all misdemeanor cases and a wide variety of felony cases. This position conducts preliminary hearings and both misdemeanor and felony jury trials. The Deputy District Attorney III reviews misdemeanor and felony matters for filing, prosecutes misdemeanor and felony cases in court, and handles all manner of courtroom calendars including arraignments, bail hearings, law and motion, and felony sentencing.
The Ideal Candidates
In addition to holding a Juris Doctorate degree and membership in the California State Bar, the successful candidates will have two or more years of experience as a licensed attorney with significant trial experience, including prior felony jury trial experience. They will be selflessly committed to handling challenging work for the betterment of the community and dedicated to ensuring equal justice and equal access to the criminal justice system for all citizens of Sonoma County regardless of race, gender, sexual identity, ethnic origin, or nationality. The ideal candidates will also possess:
- Demonstrated experience with filing misdemeanor and felony cases, misdemeanor and felony calendar management, preliminary hearings, and misdemeanor and felony trials
- Significant knowledge of and experience with California criminal law and procedure, including recently enacted statutes and case law
- Prior attendance at California District Attorneys Association or National District Attorneys Association seminars in Trial Practice, Felony Sentencing, and other areas relating to criminal prosecution is highly desired
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and effectively with co-workers, law enforcement officers, defense attorneys, judges and court staff, and all members of the public
- A strong communicator with the ability to empathetically communicate with victims of crimes and other members of the public
- A strong interest in criminal justice and a desire to assist crime victims and strive to provide the community with a safe place to live by holding the guilty accountable, protecting the innocent, and preserving dignity of victims and their families
- The ability to thrive working in a fast-paced environment with short timelines
Please note: As a part of the minimum qualifications for the position, current, active membership in the State Bar of California is required. To meet this qualification, you must be sworn in as a current, active member of the State Bar of California at the time of application submission.
The District Attorney's Office
Under the leadership of the District Attorney, Carla Rodriguez, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office is the largest legal office in the County and has a staff of 138 employees including attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and clerical support. Each year the office is referred approximately 4,800 felony cases and over 10,800 misdemeanor cases which include the full range of offenses.
What we offer:
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- Hybrid Telework- A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
- Salary Advancement- A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Career Advancement- With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Deputy District Attorney IV (190,783 - $231,899/annually)
- Paid Time Off- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Staff Development/Wellness- Annual benefit allowances of up to $1,250 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Annual Professional Development Benefit - $452
- Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
- Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
- Paid Parental Leave- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
- Additional Benefits: Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
- Student Loan Debt Relief– County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
The District Attorney's Office is currently recruiting to fill two Deputy District Attorney positions at either the I, II, III, or IV levels. One position is an ongoing position, and one position is time-limited and currently funded through June 30, 2029. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Sonoma County Prosecutors' Association Memorandum of Understanding (https://sonomacounty.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution/scpa), (SCPA MOU) (https://sonomacounty.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution/scpa) and our Employee Benefits (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/HR/Benefits) directory.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.
Minimum Qualifications:
Experience: Legal experience subsequent to membership in the State Bar of California, which directly related to the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, two years of legal experience practicing criminal law as a licensed attorney, including one year of experience comparable to the level of Deputy District Attorney II in Sonoma County; or two years of legal experience as a licensed attorney with related experience to specialty assignments such as Environmental and Consumer Law or Juvenile Law; or equivalent experience with another prosecuting agency, would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.
Professional License: Current active membership in the State Bar of California.
Special Qualifications: A statement from the District Attorney indicating successful completion of a felony training assignment will qualify incumbents to prosecute felony cases.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of: the duties, powers, limitations, and authorities of the Office of the District Attorney; the principles of criminal law, principles of trial procedure, and rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedure; the statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.
Ability to: research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; consistently prepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly, logically and persuasively in written and oral form in all legal matters; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff members, departmental representatives, county officials, the courts, law enforcement agency officials, and the general public; understand and accept differences in human behavior, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.
Minimum Qualifications:
Experience: Legal experience subsequent to membership in the State Bar of California, which directly related to the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, two years of legal experience practicing criminal law as a licensed attorney, including one year of experience comparable to the level of Deputy District Attorney II in Sonoma County; or two years of legal experience as a licensed attorney with related experience to specialty assignments such as Environmental and Consumer Law or Juvenile Law; or equivalent experience with another prosecuting agency, would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.
Professional License: Current active membership in the State Bar of California.
Special Qualifications: A statement from the District Attorney indicating successful completion of a felony training assignment will qualify incumbents to prosecute felony cases.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of: the duties, powers, limitations, and authorities of the Office of the District Attorney; the principles of criminal law, principles of trial procedure, and rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedure; the statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.
Ability to: research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; consistently prepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly, logically and persuasively in written and oral form in all legal matters; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff members, departmental representatives, county officials, the courts, law enforcement agency officials, and the general public; understand and accept differences in human behavior, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application informa
Similar Jobs
