Salary : $157,368.85 – $191,284.55 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 23/08-4015-OECLD
Department: District Attorney’s Office (DAO)
Division: DA – District Attorney (4210)
Opening Date: 08/11/2023
Closing Date: 8/31/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Information
The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is seeking multiple experienced attorneys to join their Environmental & Consumer Law Division team!
Starting salary up to $91.65/hourly ($191,284/annually)*
When you join the District Attorney’s Office, you become part of a team-oriented group of attorneys dedicated to public service. You can also look forward to excellent benefits* including:
- An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance up to $1,250 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Annual Professional Development benefit of $452
- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- Significant portion of health care premiums paid by the County and access to several health plan options
- County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
- Eligibility for 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
* Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
This recruitment is being conducted to fill two full-time Deputy District Attorney III vacancies in the Environmental and Consumer Law (ECLD) Division of the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office. Serving as attorney for citizens of Sonoma County, these Deputy District Attorney III positions will be responsible for all phases of criminal and civil prosecution as a member of the ECLD Team. The position will be responsible for the investigation and prosecution of consumer protection, environmental protection, white collar crime/fraud, wage theft, election law violations, and Brown Act complaints.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Performing complex investigations often involving other governmental agencies
- Conducting extensive research using independent judgment, discretion, and initiative
- Litigating environmental law and consumer fraud cases in state courts
- Negotiating and drafting settlements and restitution plans
- Working with other law enforcement and regulatory offices
- Conducting outreach
The ECLD Deputy District Attorney III is an advanced level position and the selected candidates are expected to exercise independent judgement and initiative in handling complex civil cases from the investigation stage through deposition.
In addition to being well organized, detail-oriented, and efficient, the ideal candidates will possess:
- Experience in both criminal prosecutions and civil litigation, acquired in a District Attorney’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, US Attorney’s Office, or private law firm
- Experience handling complex legal matters and presenting such matters effectively in court
- The ability to independently manage case and work in a team environment
- The initiative and passion to be a self-starter, with the ability to apply common sense and organization to efficiently handle complex legal matters
- Experience with case analysis and handling
- Strong legal research, writing skills, and oral advocacy
- Effective negotiation and communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and PowerPoint
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 133 employees including attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and clerical support.
For recent press releases, please visit:
THE COUNTY OF SONOMA
Located less than an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, Sonoma County combines in one location the beautiful Pacific Coastline, award winning wineries, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities.
Sonoma County is the largest county in the North Bay, covering approximately 1,600 square miles, and home to over 488,000 residents. Santa Rosa, with a population of 171,000, is the County seat and center of government, commerce, and medical facilities. Santa Rosa and the County’s seven other incorporated cities each maintain a small town feel, despite ongoing growth. Excellent health care services are available at four acute care hospitals, a trauma center, and 19 specialty medical facilities. Fine educational institutions, including Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University, and local schools that rank considerably better in the Academic Performance Index than the state as a whole, further contribute to Sonoma County’s exceptional quality of life.
For local real estate or community information, please visit: ,
THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
The County of Sonoma is governed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and is comprised of 28 departments/agencies/commissions that provide a full range of services to the community. Sonoma County government has a history of providing excellent and responsive public service, while operating under sound fiscal principles. This is achieved in a climate of respect and collaboration.
The Civil Service title for this position is Deputy District Attorney III. The employment list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list. County employees who wish to be considered for future vacancies should consider applying to this recruitment.
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 information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state “See Resume” or “See Application” may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant’s application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONIt is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative in order to keep the department’s employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate’s personal, employment, educational, criminal, and credit history. The investigation may include, but is not necessarily limited to: use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records search, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.
Depending on the assignment, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment medical examination and may be required to take a polygraph examination. All candidates for law enforcement positions are required to undergo drug testing as part of the selection process. Additionally, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment psychological and physical abilities examination. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.
Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed and judgment and discretion will be used to determine the employability of the candidate. Where there is evidence of a candidate’s past use of controlled substances, many factors shall be used to determine the employability of the individual such as a pattern of use, kind of drug used, circumstances of the start of the drug use, treatment, behavior and attitude since discontinuance, etc. Please note that a history of using controlled substances does not result in automatic disqualification from the selection process. Prior to disqualifying any candidate whose profile falls within the provisions of the policy, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to present any and all evidence of mitigating facts that the candidate feels should be considered by the hiring authority. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.
HOW TO APPLYApplications are accepted online at . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: DP
HR Technician: EV
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: SCPA*
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to or, contact the Human Resources’ Risk Management-Benefits Office at or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
- Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
- California District Attorneys Association
- Careers in Government
- College or University
- Craigslist
- DiversityJobs
- Employee of Sonoma County
- Glassdoor
- Google Jobs
- GovernmentJobs.com
- Handshake
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
- Indeed
- Job Fair
- La Voz
- Latino Service Providers
- Los Cien
- Minority Organization or Group
- National District Attorneys Association
- Press Democrat
- sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
- Sonoma County Human Resources Office
- Sonoma County Job Line
- Start Here!
- Veterans Services Office
- Women’s Organization or Group
- Workplace Diversity
- Other Internet Site
- Other Publication
02
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
- I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
- I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
- I am only interested in full-time positions
03
Do you have a current active membership in the State Bar of California?
- Yes
- No
04
Please provide your current active California Bar membership number, OR provide the date you received notice of passing the California Bar examination.
05
Please check which of the following Deputy District Attorney III position requirements you meet:
- Two years of legal experience practicing criminal law as a licensed attorney, including at least one year comparable to the level of a Deputy District Attorney I with the County of Sonoma, or
- Two years of legal experience as a licensed attorney handling complex civil litigation
06
For this question and all subsequent questions, provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Please describe your experience handling civil and criminal litigation including, but not limited to, charging, motion, or appellate practice; case development; discovery issues, preparing pleadings; and negotiations and settlements. In your response, please include all the litigation responsibilities you have performed.
07
Please list all courses, clinics, and/or training programs you have successfully completed that:
- Exceed the minimal law school requirements; and
- Are relevant to criminal justice, fraud or white collar crime, consumer protection or environmental law, evidence, or civil procedure or litigation.
08
Please describe three complex civil or criminal cases you have litigated, developed in anticipation of litigation, or handled on appeal. Provide the case numbers, date, jurisdiction, a brief summary of the case, any significant issues, and any final disposition.
Required Question