NOTE: The filing deadline has been extended to accept applications and may close at any time but not before November 8,2022. If you have previously applied, you do not need to reapply. 

Specific Information Regarding this Recruitment Process

Department: Public Defender's Office
Job class: 8177- Attorney
Role type: Temporary Exempt What does this mean?
Hours: Full-time

This is a full-time grant position, which has been funded for two years, and is subject to approval extension for a third year (through 3/1/25). 

The Public Defender’s office provides legal representation to persons charged with a crime in San Francisco who do not have the financial means to retain their own counsel. Each year, the office serves approximately 20,000 people. Over 70% of our clients are Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC).

The Freedom Project (TFP) within the Office of the Public Defender is dedicated to decarceration, successful reentry, and post-conviction systemic change. In under two years, TFP has helped free 65 people from California prisons, mostly representing folks at resentencing in the trial court. TFP also handles murder resentencing cases (PC 1172.6), parole hearings when resentencing applications do not go as hoped, and petitions to document youth factors for future parole hearings. Last year, TFP helped draft and pass legislation that significantly strengthened “second look” resentencing law (PC 1172.1).

The Freedom Project attorney responsibilities include but not limited to: primarily handle habeas petitions under Penal Code section 1473.7, addressing immigration consequences, innocence claims, and Racial Justice Act violations; this work may cross over with TFP’s resentencing work under PC 1172.1, 1172.6, and 1172.75 and parole hearing advocacy. This position requires comprehensive understanding of criminal law and felony practice and its intersection with immigration law, solid legal writing skills, and an advanced ability to absorb and assimilate large amounts of material. The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal and communication skills for interacting in-person and otherwise with a wide variety of individuals, including those incarcerated for years or decades and their loved ones, and show a deep empathy for their experiences even while objectively analyzing the possibility of a successful legal claim. A demonstrated commitment to using law to increase freedom for marginalized individuals and communities is required. The best candidate will show a sincere openness to having their written work edited to maximize effectiveness. Working well independently as well as with a small team is essential. Lived experience in the criminal punishment system a plus.  

EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The 8177 duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job, 8177- Attorney, in the office and are not intended to be an inclusive list

1. Fiercely and creatively represents individuals accused of crimes at all stages of criminal proceedings, including but not limited to, arraignments, pretrial motions and preliminary hearings, court and jury trials, sentencing hearings and/or various post-conviction proceedings. 
2. Identifies and understands complex legal concepts and issues, keeps up with rapidly-evolving decisional and statutory law, applies critical thinking skills to gathering and analyzing evidence and information, and formulates client-centered arguments and solutions.
3. Utilizes outstanding organizational skills to independently prioritize and manage multiple ongoing cases, clients, and loved ones, and maintains an ability to work effectively under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
4. Maintains effective client relationships to ensure that clients’ needs are thoroughly identified and handled in a manner consistent with the principles and practices of the Public Defender’s Office.
5. Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication and advocacy skills, and the ability and interest in working on behalf of a diverse client population and collaboratively with Public Defender staff, including investigators, paralegals, social workers, and administrative teams.
6. Performs other related duties as required.

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

License and Certification:

Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California.

HOW TO APPLY:

In addition to the application process, please provide all the following materials by 11:59pm on October 12, 2022 via email to [email protected]

Subject: 8177- Attorney - Interested in the Position

a.     A contact list (emails & phone nubmers) of 4 professional references (3 supervisors and 1 colleague).

b.     An updated resume

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.