Message from the District Attorney

Thank you for showing interest in the Kern County District Attorney's Office! It was more than thirty years ago that I began a similar journey, seeking employment and a career that would provide challenge, fulfillment, and public service in an area where I could raise a family and call home. Work in the Kern County DA's Office provides all of that and much more, and Kern County is always seeking out applicants of all levels of experience to join us in the endless pursuit of justice. Working in the Kern County District Attorney's Office is incredibly fulfilling work where your efforts have genuine, positive impacts on the communities and families that we work and live alongside. Those who are from Kern County are familiar with the many benefits of living in centrally located Kern, including quick access to California's treasures on the coast or in the mountains, and everything in between. With most staff stationed in Bakersfield, a career with the Kern County District Attorney's Office promises a high quality of life in a fast-growing, family-friendly city where home ownership remains well within reach.

The Kern County District Attorney’s Office is always on the lookout for attorneys, investigators, criminalists, and a broad variety of clerical and support positions required to manage the cases brought by the office. We also offer volunteer and paid internship opportunities for law students as well as recent law school graduates. Below are just a few of the opportunities routinely available to applicants, many of which have recruiting and hiring available now.

Salaries, benefits, and requirements for all of the below positions can be found on the page County Job Information. Note that attorney and law clerk/intern positions are best applied for initially via email directly to KCDA's hiring email address, which is noted for those positions.

Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV/V - $15,000 Recruitment Bonus Available To New Hires

The heart of any District Attorney’s Office are its prosecutors, which are Deputy District Attorneys. DDA’s are licensed attorneys who are tasked with managing cases through the criminal justice system, including by performing jury trials. As the largest law office in the county, KCDA can employ upwards of one hundred attorneys who fill DDA positions. Newly licensed lawyers often begin a career with Kern County because of the unique exposure to all kinds of cases and variety of trial opportunities. New lawyers can expect to quickly gain experience and exposure to a variety of criminal cases in misdemeanors, general felony preliminary hearings, and usually after about a year, will begin handling general felony jury trials. From there, the branches to a career with the DA’s Office are boundless, with specializations offered in units covering violent and gang crimes, domestic violence, sexual assaults, arson, homicides, DUI offenses, and other areas of specialty. KCDA also has units that target white collar crimes, including various types of fraud. DDA’s also have opportunities to learn and put to use any civil experience in the Civil Unit, which presents unfair competition, environmental enforcement and other suits brought by the District Attorney in the name of the People of California.

DDA’s are routinely rewarded with quick progression through the several DDA classifications (I/II/III/IV), with most progressing to DDA IV in their third year of employment. While newly graduated attorneys can expect to begin at the DDA I classification, applicants with more years of legal experience may qualify to be hired at a higher initial classification. Special assignment pays are also available when experienced attorneys are assigned to vertical prosecution units specializing in homicide, special victims, gang-related crimes, and felony DUI cases. Additionally, newly hired Deputy District Attorneys qualify for a $15,000 recruitment bonus that is paid with the first paycheck of employment (subject to terms and conditions). Successful applicants may be new lawyers ready to begin a career with KCDA as well as experienced attorneys who are looking to relocate to an area with a lower cost of living or to change focus to a rewarding career in public service. While successful applicants may come from many different backgrounds, all should share our commitment to integrity, justice, and fairness.

Applicants who already are licensed to practice in California can submit a resume and cover letter directly to the DA's office at DAHiring@kernda.org. From there, we can assist applicants in further managing the County applications process. Linking up with the DA’s office directly via this route will only help ensure that applications are acted on as promptly and efficiently as possible.

Law School Graduate Law Clerk: Paid or Volunteer Positions

The time after taking the bar exam and learning the results several months later is an important time to gain knowledge in a legal field and build experience, even before being licensed as an attorney. KCDA has long recognized this pivotal time for law school graduates by offering paid clerk opportunities that provide expectant attorneys a chance to hone their craft from amongst the most experienced and respected attorneys in the state. More than just watching other attorneys in action, law clerks are exposed to all facets of criminal prosecution, and under various provisions are able to argue and present motions and even jury trials in court. Many of KCDA’s highest ranking attorneys began their career as law clerks, positioning them well to be hired on as a Deputy District Attorney once their bar results returned and they became licensed attorneys.

Law School Graduate Law Clerks are hired on a temporary basis and can expect to work 40 hours a week. While many choose to begin a law clerk position after taking the bar, the program is flexible and can accommodate different schedules based on the needs of individual applicants. KCDA is mindful of the time required to prepare for the bar exam and accommodates graduates as they balance gaining real-world legal experience with the preparation required for the bar exam.

To apply for appointment as a Law School Graduate Clerk, submit a resume and cover letter to the District Attorney's Office at DAHiring@kernda.org.

Clerical, Secretarial, and Paralegal Positions

As the largest law office in the county, KCDA relies on a strong support staff to handle clerical responsibilities, which might include working as a receptionist interacting with the public, to managing and preparing daily case calendars to prepare attorneys for court. Legal Secretaries and Paralegals delve into cases with more detail, and assist with drafting and filing motions and conducting ‘discovery’ on a case (the identification and providing copies of case information to all relevant parties). A career in KCDA in a clerical support position comes with opportunities for promotion and advancement to other classifications within the office that entail even greater responsibilities and increased compensation that comes with them. KCDA is currently seeking Legal Process Technicians, Legal Secretaries, Senior Legal Secretaries, and Paralegals. In addition, the business office of KCDA relies on Fiscal Support Technicians and Accountants to manage the Department’s finances. All of these job classifications are listed on the Kern County Human Resources jobs website and can be applied for from the page County Job Information.

Certified Law Student Internships

Law students from around California are welcomed to join KCDA for internship opportunities, which permit law students meeting basic criteria to work in a District Attorney’s Office and appear in court on cases. California’s Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program permits students which are enrolled in their second, third, or fourth year of law school and who have successfully completed or are currently enrolled in Evidence and Civil Procedure courses to present evidence and argue motions under the supervision of a Deputy District Attorney. Certified Law Students are expected to work at least 16 hours per week, up to 40 hours per week, and accommodations are made for class schedules as needed. Certified law students may be tasked with presenting preliminary hearings, research, written motions work, arguing motions or appeals in court, or even handling misdemeanor jury trials. Certified law students may spend a Summer in KCDA, or if locally based, may balance the internship with existing educational responsibilities.

To apply for appointment to a Certified Law Student Internship, submit a resume and cover letter to the DA's office directly at DAHiring@kernda.org.