Description:

Definition:
DDA I: Under general supervision, to perform the less difficult professional legal work in the District Attorney's Office; and to do related work as required.

DDA II: Under direction, to perform a variety of professional legal work in the District Attorney's Office; and to do related work as required.

DDA III and IV: Under direction, to perform a variety of professional legal work in the District Attorney's Office; to handle the more difficult and complex legal cases; to provide direction and work coordination for other legal and support staff in the District Attorney's Office; and to do related work as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics
DDA I: This is the entry level classification in the professional legal series of Deputy District Attorney. Incumbents are members of the California State Bar, but typically have little experience in the practice of law. Incumbents typically work under the close direction of more experienced attorneys and perform work which is largely confined to the investigation, preparation and presentation of less difficult criminal cases in Superior Courts.

DDA II: An experienced level classification in the professional legal series of Deputy District Attorney. Incumbents are members of the California State Bar, with two years' experience in the practice of criminal law or one year experience in criminal prosecution or defense for a governmental agency. Incumbents typically are involved in the investigation, preparation and presentation of misdemeanor criminal cases and preliminary hearings in Superior Courts.

DDA III: The journey level class in the Deputy District Attorney series, with four years' experience in the practice of criminal law, or two years' experience in criminal prosecution or defense for a governmental agency. Incumbents are expected to handle the range of cases and issues before any court. This class is distinguished from the next lower class of Deputy District Attorney II by the greater difficulty of cases assigned, and by the lesser degree of supervision. This class is further distinguished from the next higher of Deputy District Attorney IV by the fact that the latter are routinely assigned to most difficult and complex criminal cases, works independently and without supervision.

DDA IV: Advanced journey-level class in Deputy District Attorney series which works independently and without supervision in all but a few cases. The class is distinguished from the Deputy District Attorney III in that incumbents are knowledgeable in and perform the full range of legal duties of the office as required, and spend a majority of their time on the most difficult and complex criminal cases.

Reports to:
District Attorney or Chief Assistant District Attorney.

Classifications Supervised

DDA I and DDA II: None

DDA III and IV: Provides lead direction for other legal and/or support staff.

Examples of Duties:
The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed.

DDA I:

Under supervision, interviews complainants and witnesses in regard to prospective criminal complaints.
Conducts such aspects of trial attorney work as pleadings, arraignments, pre-trial agreements, assignment of projects to investigators, legal research, negotiations with defense attorneys, decisions on whether to proceed to trial.
Selection of jurors.
Prosecution
Recommendations on sentence and disposition of files.
Prepares correspondence and reports.
Presents and prosecutes criminal cases in Superior Courts of A Government Entity.

DDAII "Duties" In addition to the “Duties” of Deputy District Attorney I:

Conducts such aspects of trial attorney work as arraignments, pre-preliminary hearings, assignment of projects to investigators, legal research, negotiations with defense attorneys.
Prosecution
Recommendations on sentence and disposition of files.
Incumbents typically are involved in the investigation, preparation and presentation of juvenile criminal cases in Superior Courts.

DDAIII "Duties" In addition to the “Duties” of Deputy District Attorney I and II:

Prepares and tries difficult and complex cases before the Appellate Department, Superior Court and other courts as required.
Presents and prosecutes criminal cases in all courts.

DDAIV "Duties" In addition to the “Duties” of Deputy District Attorney I, II and III:

Prepares and tries the most difficult and complex criminal cases in all courts.
Confers with the District Attorney on policy and procedural matters.
Works in liaison with city, county, state and federal officials on law enforcement questions of evidence, law, procedure, court presentations, and other matters.
May provide functional supervision to other attorneys.

Essential Qualifications:
DDA I, II, III, and IV:

Knowledge of:

The Penal Code and other California statutes and their application to criminal law.
The principles of Criminal, Constitutional, and Administrative Law.
Judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.
Search and Seizure.
Legal research methods.

Ability to:

Analyze facts and apply legal principles and precedents to specific criminal cases.
Develop legal issues and present clear and logical arguments and statements of fact and law.
Perform legal research.
Prepare and present criminal cases at all levels of the court system.
Effectively represent the District Attorney's Office in contacts with the public, community organizations, law enforcement agencies, and other government jurisdictions.
Establish and maintain cooperative teamwork relationships with District Attorney, deputies and staff.

And For Deputy District Attorney III and IV:

Analyze facts and apply legal principles and precedents to specific criminal cases.
Develop legal issues and present clear and logical arguments and statements of fact and law.
Perform legal research.
Prepare and present criminal cases at all levels of the court system.
Effectively represent the District Attorney's Office in contacts with the public, community organizations, law enforcement agencies, and other government jurisdictions.
Establish and maintain cooperative teamwork relationships with District Attorney, deputies and staff.
Provide work direction, training and coordination for other staff including overseeing the functions of a specialized unit in the District Attorney's Office.
Principles of work direction, work coordination , and training.
Perform the more difficult and complex legal work.
Thorough knowledge of a specialized area of legal work when required by job assignment.

Training and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying; AND:

Deputy District Attorney I:
Active membership in the State Bar of California.

Deputy District Attorney II:
One (1) year of professional legal experience comparable to that of a Deputy District Attorney I with A Government Entity.

Deputy District Attorney III:
Two (2) years of professional legal experience comparable to that of a Deputy District Attorney II with A Government Entity.

Deputy District Attorney IV:
Two (2) years of professional legal experience comparable to that of a Deputy District Attorney III with A Government Entity.

Special Requirements:

Active Membership in the State Bar of California (DDA I, II, III, and IV).
Have a working knowledge of computer word processing and computer legal research.
Possess a valid California driver license.

Selection Requirement: All interested applicants must fill out an A Government Entity employment application. Applications will be evaluated by a screening committee. The best qualified candidates will be selected for an interview.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the same or similar classifications for a period of one (1) year.