Closing Date: 4th September, 2026

Description:

Description:
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office is currently recruiting post-bar law clerks for Spring and Fall of 2027, with the opportunity for applicants to ultimately become prosecutors (Attorney I) upon successfully passing the California Bar Exam in 2027.

The Position:
Under immediate supervision of a Deputy District Attorney, assists in case preparation by doing research, interviewing clients and witnesses, and making routine court appearances.

The ideal candidates are in their final year of law school and planning to take the California Bar Examination in 2027. The ideal candidate will also have legal experience in a prosecutor's office and be looking for a career as a prosecutor with the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Ventura County District Attorney's Office
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office is the public prosecutor for the county's nearly 840,000 residents. Our office employs approximately 310 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and professional staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.

The Ventura County District Attorney recognizes the importance of Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (“DEBI”) in the office's culture and climate, hiring, training and education, opportunities for advancement, and the relationship with the communities it serves. The District Attorney has created this committee to promote these stated values for the benefit of the Office and to achieve the Office's mission.

Mission Statement
We are committed to public safety, the pursuit of truth and justice, to ensuring victims are protected, and our communities are served with fairness and integrity.

Note: Upon graduation from law school and admission to the California Bar, an individual appointed to extra-help law clerk by virtue of this recruitment may, dependent upon both time and his/her performance as a law clerk, other qualifying legal-related experience, and the needs of the District Attorney's Office, be appointed to the higher level, permanent or extra help classification of Attorney.

Payroll Title/Status: Law Clerk/Extra Help

Tentative Schedule:

Opening Date: August 17, 2026
Closing Date: September 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM (Depending on the number of qualified applicants, this date may change.)
First Application Review: Week of September 7, 2026

Examples of Duties:
Depending upon assignment, typical duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Interviews witnesses and evaluates evidence.
Negotiates disposition and modification of cases according to office policy.
May make routine court appearances and presentations.
Prepares and files complaints, pleadings, memoranda, briefs, appeals, and other legal documents.
Conducts trial prosecution by preparing strategies, ordering investigations and subpoenas, resolving legal issues through research, participating in jury selection, and presenting evidence and arguments.
Identifies and resolves legal issues through legal research.
Works closely with assigned Counsel on pertinent legal issues and challenges and assists in preparing legal positions for defense or argument in court.
Researches and writes responses to writ applications after review and files them with the court.
Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications:
These are entrance requirements to the exam process, possession of which assures neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

Education, Training and Experience: Any combination of education, training and/or experience that demonstrates possession of the required knowledge skills and abilities. Possession of the requisite KSAs can typically be demonstrated by successful completion of a paralegal certificate program or completion of two (2) years of law school.

Highly Desired

Completing Final Year of Law School and Planning to Take the California Bar Exam in 2027.
Legal Experience in A Prosecutor's Office.
Demonstrated Commitment to Serving the Diverse Ventura County Community.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (ks As):
Knowledge Of:

Rules of Evidence, Legal Principles, Criminal Law, and Trial Procedures;
State and Federal Law Pertaining to Specific Trial Assignments;
Legal Research;
Ethical Responsibilities Enunciated by The American Bar Association and California Bar Association.

Ability To:

Perform Legal Research;
Investigate and Analyze Evidence and Legal Problems;
Prepare Cases; Prepare Reports and Legal Documents;
Communicate Effectively Orally and In Writing;
Deal Effectively with Victims, Members of The Legal Profession, Public Officials, and The General Public.