Public Defender Service Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary The County of San Diego Public Defender is currently accepting applications for the position of CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST Interviews will take place beginning the week of September 21, 2026. Job offers will take place beginning the week of September 28, 2026. The Public Defender has an excellent opportunity for psychologists within its Holistic Services Unit (HSU) with clients experiencing mental health disorders, including those with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

The psychologist will work collaboratively with attorneys, investigators, social workers, and substance use assessors to provide clinical evaluations, ongoing treatment recommendations, consultation, and attorney training. As a psychologist you will be conducting forensic, psychological, and competency evaluations, developing treatment recommendations, participating in multidisciplinary case strategy meetings, and consulting on expert witness preparation, cross-examination strategy, and competency motions. You will also have the opportunity to conduct internal trainings on relevant behavioral health topics.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with justice involved culturally diverse individuals in a fast-paced, dynamic environment such as jails, juvenile detention facilities, acute psychiatric facilities, or residential treatment facilities. Ideal candidates should also have excellent report-writing and assessment skills and a willingness to work alongside lawyers and the judicial system. Click here to review the complete job description for a Clinical Psychologist.

***Effective September 9, 2022, this hard to recruit position qualifies for the Employee Referral Reward Program. If a current County of San Diego employee referred you to apply for this position, please indicate the employee's name on your job application in the space provided. *** Interviews and Hiring Process: Job offers for selected candidates will be made shortly after the interviews.

Candidates should be prepared to immediately complete background paperwork, upon receipt of a job offer. The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below. Please note that dates are approximate and are dependent upon the successful completion of each step of the process.

Job Offer and Background Process begins: Shortly after the interviews. Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results. Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies. Minimum Qualifications Graduation from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency with a Ph.D

or Psy.D. in clinical, forensic, community or educational psychology, AND two (2) years of full-time experience in a mental health setting; AND, Candidates must be licensed or license eligible by the State of California as a Psychologist (California Administrative Code, Title 9, Section 624). Employees whose education and experience are sufficient to gain admission to the licensing examination shall have two (2.5) years from the date of employment in California to become licensed or employment shall be terminated

Such employees shall take the licensing examination at the earliest possible date after the date of his/her appointment. Blind Applicant Screening The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate's personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision.

Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview.

Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire. Evaluation Process: Qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based on scores received during the evaluation of information contained in the supplemental questionnaire.

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application form will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying. Accommodation: Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

Condition of Employment: As part of the County of San Diego's pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Strategic Plan: The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of: a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all.

Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce.

Click here for more information on our Strategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov). As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce

We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans. Veteran's Preference Policy The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego.

Military Skills Translator Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience. This tool can help. Disaster Service Workers Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers.

The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law. The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.