Attorney - Criminal (Levels I-V) *Revised - County of Sacramento

 

Salary Information:
Level I: $10,594.86 monthly
Level II: $12,188.67 monthly
Level III: $11,033.33- $13,411.92 monthly
Level IV: $12,164.33- $15,526.00 monthly
Level V: $13,420.58- $17,128.56 monthly

This is a single classification with five (5) salary levels. Level I is the level at which initial appointments to Attorney - Criminal are typically made; and advancement from the lower to the higher level of the class is at the discretion of the appointing authority, provided the minimum qualifications are met.

NOTE: Please apply only after you have been issued a California State Bar number. If you are awaiting results of the Bar exam, or have a pending issuance of a State Bar number, please wait until after your number is issued to apply. If you submit an application without having a California State Bar number, you may be disqualified from the exam process.

Under direction, the Attorney - Criminal performs professional legal work in the Public Defender's Office or District Attorney's Office involving the defense or prosecution of criminal cases.

The duties of an Attorney - Criminal include reading and evaluating investigative reports submitted by law enforcement agencies; using good judgement in deciding whether or how best to proceed in a given matter; conducting and/or directing additional investigation as may be necessary to competently prosecute or defend contested actions in trial courts or other judicial forums; preparing and presenting evidence in those forums as well as making pertinent legal and factual arguments. Attorneys in this range must be capable, depending on their level of experience, of handling the prosecution or defense of matters requiring little or no experience up to and including the most difficult, complex, and sensitive cases requiring a high degree of legal knowledge, skill, and experience.

The class of Attorney - Criminal has five levels which are assigned at the department head's discretion in accordance with budget provisions, workload, organizational needs, and the individual attorney's expertise and skill, subject to the following basic experience requirements:

Level I: This level is assigned to attorneys who have no previous legal experience. Under close supervision, attorneys at this level are generally assigned a variety of less difficult assignments. This is the entry and trainee level for criminal attorneys.

Level II: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of experience in the practice of law. Under close supervision, attorneys at this level perform work of average difficulty in all phases of criminal law. This is the first working level.

Level III: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of Sacramento County service as an Attorney - Criminal, Level II, or three years of experience practicing law in the State of California. Attorneys at this level litigate increasingly difficult and complex criminal cases under general supervision. This is the full journey level.

Level IV: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of Sacramento County service as an Attorney - Criminal, Level III, or four years of experience practicing law in the State of California in an area of law practiced by the District Attorney's or Public Defender's Offices. Acceptable areas of practice include but are not limited to, criminal law, consumer fraud, environmental protection, asset forfeiture, or family support. Attorneys at this level litigate the most difficult and complex criminal cases with minimal direction. This is the advanced journey level.

Level V: This level is assigned attorneys with at least one year of Sacramento County service as an Attorney - Criminal, Level IV. Attorneys at this level litigate demanding and critical cases requiring a highly advanced degree of knowledge of legal processes, or act in a lead capacity when the staff size is so large, or the work is so complex, as to require both a first-line supervisor and a lead attorney.