Deputy District Attorney II

The County of Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office is accepting applications to fill a full-time Deputy District Attorney II vacancy. The current opening may be assigned in Lompoc or Santa Maria with future vacancies possible in Santa Barbara.

We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list to fill current and future vacancies in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Please be sure to select all of the locations you are willing to accept employment for current and future vacancies. Work locations are assigned by the District Attorney and subject to change based on workload demands.

The Position:  Under general direction, a Deputy District Attorney II performs a range of legal duties, including case investigation, trial preparation, and prosecution of misdemeanor and felony cases. Attorneys are expected to manage caseloads and develop trial skills across all court levels. Deputy District Attorney IIs may also assist in mentoring law clerks, post-bar fellows, and entry-level attorneys.

About the Department: The mission of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office is to pursue truth and justice by employing the highest ethical standards in vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, and preventing crime.
  
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney has offices in three locations in the County: Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. The Office embodies a team approach to fighting crime, wherein Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators, Victim-Witness Assistance staff, and support staff work closely together at all stages of a case. The Office is also dedicated to ongoing training and skill development, as well as fostering the development of new technologies to fight crime and achieve justice. Specialized prosecution units exist for areas of great concern to the County including gangs, vulnerable victims, and white-collar crime. In addition, specialty courts such as DUI Court, Drug Court, Mental Health Treatment Court, Restorative Justice Court, and Veterans' Treatment Court allow for collaboration between Deputy District Attorneys and other Court staff in an effort to improve the success rate of rehabilitation for criminal defendants in addition to reducing crime.

To learn more about the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, visit: https://da.countyofsb.org/. You can also watch our video at https://youtu.be/z8hEhSA4T-A?si=oO3w23lOpEsBLBni

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: The ideal Deputy District Attorney II is a developing career prosecutor who has demonstrated the ability to independently manage misdemeanor caseloads and handle early-level felony assignments. They should be comfortable conducting preliminary hearings, motion hearings, and jury trials. The ideal candidate possesses strong legal research and writing skills; communicates effectively with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement; and demonstrates sound judgment. They are organized, proactive, and willing to seek out mentorship and training. A DDA II works well in a team environment, is receptive to feedback, and shows initiative in building the courtroom and case-handling skills necessary to progress to more serious felony work.