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.

View our recruitment brochure(PDF) to learn more about working at the DA's Office, and view our Kern County brochure  (PDF) to learn more about working in Kern County. 

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.

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.

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.

Help make a difference! 

Volunteers are an important part of the Victim Services Unit in Kern County. Volunteers may assist Victim Advocates by providing support to victims, answering questions and by assisting with other client related services. 

 Duties:

• Screening Clients
• Special Projects
• Outreach Events
• Victim Service Assistance
• General Office Duties
• Reception Duties

 Commitment:

The Kern County Victim Services Unit values the time volunteers extend to assist the needed services to victims and families of violence crime in Kern County. Volunteers will need to commit to a minimum of six months, work at least eight (8) hours per week as well as complete and pass a background check. A mandatory Victim Services Volunteer Training Program is also required.

Volunteers Can Be:

• College Students
• Post Grad Students
• Retired Individuals
• Those interested in the Criminal Justice Process
• Those wanting to give back to Kern County

Volunteer Locations:

• Downtown Courthouse
• Kern County Family Justice Center
• South Kern County Family Justice Center (Lamont)
• Ridgecrest Courthouse
• Delano Courthouse
• Mojave Courthouse

Ready to Make a Difference? Contact Us! 

1215 Truxtun Ave

Bakersfield, CA

661-868-5960