Case Preparation Assistant

Full Job Description

Bargaining Unit: Local 1 - Investigative Unit

Why join the Contra Costa County Public Defender's Office?
The Contra Costa County Office of the Public Defender (CCPD) is dedicated to ensuring justice for indigent persons accused of crimes in Contra Costa County. Contra Costa County is in the Bay Area, extending from the San Francisco Bay to the western edge of California’s Central Valley. One of the most populous counties in California, Contra Costa encompasses a range of urban, suburban, and rural communities. CCPD has an office in Richmond serving West County, an office in Martinez serving Central and East County and an office in Walnut Creek. In addition, we oversee an Alternate Defender office in Martinez.

At CCPD, we believe in innovative and fearless advocacy. Our core philosophy is that justice can only be served when the most vulnerable among us are treated with the same attention, dignity, and respect as the most powerful. We ensure that each client receives excellent representation and provide in-depth on-the-job training. We take a holistic approach in representing our clients, which includes support services within our office of social workers, law clerks, legal assistants, immigration experts, a forensic attorney expert, a mental health unit and a clean slate unit.

Our office fosters practices and policies that promote equity, racial justice, diversity, and inclusion.

The District Attorney's Office may also use the eligible list from this recruitment to fill future vacancies as well.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Organized. You will be handling multiple projects with various staff members and staff units
• Adaptable. You will need to adapt easily to varied and changing priorities
• Honest. You should demonstrate professional and ethical behavior in all situations
• A team player. You should be able to demonstrate cooperation and teamwork with your colleagues
• Concise. You should have strong oral and written communication skills

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Assisting attorneys in obtaining documents and information for case related litigation, including ordering certified legal documents, medical and mental health records from hospitals and correctional facilities, and in serving subpoenas for business, medical, and educational records relevant to litigation
• Organizing and indexing case-related discovery for attorneys in preparation for litigation, including receiving physical discovery from the District Attorney’s Office, downloading digital discovery, digitally indexing the discovery, preparing transcripts requests for digital media and courtroom proceedings, and redacting discovery pursuant legal requirements when necessary
• Maintaining, reviewing, and updating case related information in the department’s case management system
• Assisting in preparing and displaying exhibits, including digital media, for courtroom presentation
• Assisting attorneys with client and witness communication including preparing court reminders for clients and witnesses, and drafting correspondence to clients and others as directed by attorneys

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You are committed to the Public Defender's mission of providing excellent client centered representation
• You thrive on multi-tasking in a fast-paced work environment
• You enjoy working with passionate and zealous trial attorneys

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will manage a high-volume caseload
• You may need to adjust to the different work styles of multiple attorneys
• You may need to multi-task and complete time sensitive projects within short time frames
• You will need to learn and keep up to date with policies, procedures, and regulations that impact your work

Competencies Required:

• Delivering Results: Meeting organizational goals and customer expectations and making decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Self-Management: Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Allocating Resources: Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness
• Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives
• Thinking & Acting Systematically: Formulating objectives and priorities, and implementing plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job

To read the complete job description, please visit the website, www.cccounty.us/hr.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may remain in effect for six (6) months.

Qualifications

License Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License. Out of State valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License will be accepted during the application process.

Education: Successful completion of at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two years full-time clerical, administrative, or investigative experience in a law enforcement organization, law office, or other agency associated with the criminal justice system.

Substitution for Education: Two additional years of full-time or its equivalent qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education.

Substitution for Experience: Successful completion of an additional 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Has a strong interest in criminal defense, specifically an interest in public criminal defense
• Possesses a general understanding of criminal court procedures and processes
• A strong proficiency in using technology

Additional Information

1. Application Filing and Evaluation: Applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire at the time of application, applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.

Online Multiple-Choice Assessment: Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in an online multiple-choice assessment.

The assessment will be conducted online to measure candidates' competencies as they relate to the Case Preparation Assistant classification.

These may include but are not limited to: Attention to Detail, Professional Integrity & Ethics, and Self-Management.

Candidates must achieve a passing score on the multiple-choice test to be advanced to the Training and Experience Evaluation (Pass/Fail).

2. Training and Experience Evaluation: Consists of an evaluation of each candidate's relevant education, training and/or experience as presented on the application and supplemental questionnaire. (Weighted 100%)

Final Selection Interviews: Will be scheduled by the department once the eligible list is established.

TENTATIVE DATESOnline Multiple-Choice Test: February 25 - March 1, 2026The assessment may be administered remotely using a computer; you will need access to a reliable internet connection to participate in the assessment.

If you apply for another recruitment that uses this exam and the test is scheduled within six (6) months of the date you took the test this time, you will not have the option to re-take the exam. If more than six (6) months has passed you will need to retake the exam.


The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.
For recruitment specific questions, please contact Austin Wagers at Austin.Wagers@hrd.cccounty.us. For any technical issues, please contact the GovernmentJobs’ applicant support team for assistance at +1 855-524-5627.


CONVICTION HISTORY
After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.