| Location | Santa Barbara, CA |
| Salary | $80,169.44–$96,127.20 Per Year |
Holistic Defense Advocate
Salary
$80,169.44 - $96,127.20 Annually
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
26-7057-01 (O/PD)
Department
Public Defender
Opening Date
09/17/2026
Closing Date
10/2/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
SALARY
$80,169 - $96,127 Annually
We are currently accepting applications to fill three vacancies for the position of Holistic Defense Advocate (Social Service Worker, Senior job classification) in Santa Barbara for the Public Defender's Office. The current positions are grant funded and considered a Limited Term appointment. The duration of this appointment is limited to a period not to exceed three (3) years; but is subject to annual review by the Commission to ensure the temporary or limited term nature of such appointment remains appropriate based on business operational needs and/or resources.
We are also establishing one employment list for future vacancies in the Public Defender's Office. Please select the locations you would like to be considered for current and future vacancies. If you qualify for this position and pass the required selection steps, your name will be sent to the hiring department of the vacancy locations where you have expressed that you are willing to work.
BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. For information click here. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for: Retirement reciprocity and/or Time and Service Credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate.
The Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office provides legal representation to people accused or convicted of a crime and who cannot afford to hire a lawyer, as well as those subject to civil mental health commitments and other proceedings where their liberty is at stake. Our lawyers employ a holistic approach to criminal defense that draws from traditional and non-traditional legal representation models. Our clients have access to an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, investigators and advocates, who strive to reduce their exposure to the criminal justice system, mitigate collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, and transform lives by addressing the social ills that contribute to criminal legal system involvement. Our advocacy often extends beyond conducting courtroom hearings and trials, as we aim to seek individualized solutions to the complex problems faced by our clients.
Within the Department is the Community Defender Division (CDD). Our specialized CDD team combines the expertise of public defense social workers, housing advocates, resource specialists, and attorneys to address the entire person and the underlying factors that lead to justice system involvement. By uncovering and documenting clients' histories, challenges, and circumstances, the CDD develops comprehensive narratives that help courts understand the full context of each case. Through comprehensive support and coordination of services, the team assists clients by identifying critical mitigating factors to advocate for fair and appropriate sentencing, securing stable housing solutions, facilitating access to substance use treatment, connecting clients to medical insurance and healthcare, arranging appropriate mental health services, and coordinating with community resources for sustainable support. This integrated approach helps break the cycle of system involvement while building pathways to stability and wellbeing for our clients.
THE POSITION: Under direction, the first positionserves as a key member of the defense team, functioning as a defense-based advocate dedicated to the County's Department of State Hospitals (DSH) Mental Health Diversion Program, an interdisciplinary partnership between the Public Defender, Behavioral Wellness, and community based agencies. The role provides defense attorneys with initial client assessments, mitigation information to inform case strategy, and support to advocate for diversion outcomes. Working directly with individuals incarcerated in the county jail and state hospitals, this position conducts diversion screenings and identifies pathways to treatment specifically for individuals who are Incompetent to Stand Trial. The position collaborates closely with attorneys and paralegals to advance diversion goals, works with Wellpath to support client stabilization during incarceration, and partners with the DSH diversion team to advocate for appropriate and safe community placements. The role requires oral and written advocacy with the courts, responds effectively to crises, and performs other duties as required. Additional duties include tracking and reporting program data, accompanying clients to court when necessary, and ensuring strict adherence to confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, and all Public Defender policies. This position is countywide and serves both Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.
The second position serves on the Pre-Arraignment Early Representation program as a key member of the defense team. This position works closely with the teams assigned deputy public defender, and the Community Defender Division to support clients in custody and throughout reentry. Responsibilities include conducting jail interviews to develop release and reentry plans for arraignment proceedings; attending initial hearings to support individuals with acute needs; coordinating transportation and access to mental health, substance use, housing, and other community-based services; and maintaining ongoing communication with service providers to inform attorneys and assist clients. This role requires responding effectively to crises, utilizing Motivational Interviewing, and practicing holistic defense. Additional duties include tracking and reporting program data, accompanying clients to court when necessary, and ensuring strict adherence to confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, and all Public Defender policies. This position is based in Santa Maria.
The third position is a Legal Promotora, which adapts the Promotora de Salud model to the public defense context, serving as a cultural bridge between attorneys and indigenous migrant residents of northern Santa Barbara County, particularly Mixteco speakers, who face significant linguistic, cultural, and immigration-related barriers to legal access. This role supports community outreach through know-your-rights education, legal literacy workshops, and trusted presence in community spaces; supports clients with intake, documentation, and connection to community resources; and participates in multidisciplinary case discussions to bring cultural context to holistic defense strategy. The Legal Promotora maintains ongoing relationships with community-based organizations, provides interpreter-supported assistance for attorney-client meetings, and helps ensure culturally sensitive communication across the Public Defender's Office by coordinating staff training and maintaining cultural resource tools. The position also identifies community needs, responds to barriers in real time, and strengthens trust in communities historically disconnected from the legal system. This position is based in Santa Maria.
Employees within this class work within a system of interdisciplinary departmental teams and contract service agencies to provide assessment, prevention, intervention, treatment, and related ancillary support services via an integrated service delivery system. This includes people with behavioral health needs, as well as those facing cultural and linguistic barriers that make it difficult to navigate the criminal justice system.
Ideal Candidate will have:
Strong cultural competency and cultural humility, with the ability to work effectively with diverse communities, including Spanish-speaking and indigenous immigrant populations
Proven ability to build trust and maintain ongoing relationships with justice-impacted individuals and marginalized communities
Experience conducting community outreach, education, or advocacy in culturally diverse settings
Skill in navigating complex legal, social service, housing, and behavioral health systems
Ability to coordinate and provide transportation and assist clients in accessing essential services
Strong crisis response skills and the ability to remain calm, resourceful, and supportive during urgent situations
Effective communication skills, including the ability to bridge gaps between clients, attorneys, and service providers
Comfort working in carceral environments and supporting clients during court proceedings
Experience co-facilitating workshops, legal literacy sessions, or know-your-rights education
Ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary teams and contribute cultural context to holistic defense strategies
Strong organizational and documentation abilities, including tracking client progress and reporting outcomes
Commitment to client-centered, holistic defense and the mission of supporting justice-impacted individuals with compassion and dignity
Ability to maintain confidentiality and uphold attorney-client privilege in all interactions
Fluency in Spanish; familiarity with Mixteco communication protocols is highly desirable
Examples of Duties
Employment Standards
Additional Requirements:
Knowledge of: interviewing and life skills counseling techniques; medical, psychological, educational, and social service resources, needs, problems, attitudes, and behavior of assigned client population; function of public assistance and social services systems; the practical application of human behavior and child development/parenting or aging principles; socio-economic/psychosocial factors affecting individual behavior, independent living social functioning, and social abnormalities.
Ability to: interview a variety of people with diverse socio-economic backgrounds and temperaments and obtain specific information; assess social service needs; encourage clients in progress toward independent living and/or social functioning; learn, apply, and explain complex regulations and policies governing processes in assigned program; work independently; understand and follow direction; listen; cope with unusual life circumstances; manage a caseload and recall case details; maintain confidentiality of information; write reports and prepare routine statistical reports; organize and prioritize work assignments; make decisions and independent judgments; determine the appropriate course of action in an emergency or stressful situations; understand program objectives in relation to departmental goals and procedures; deal firmly and fairly with clients; maintain accurate records and document actions taken; identify and make referrals to local and regional providers of social, medical, and/or other specialized services; act on behalf of client to obtain needed services; access and use personal computer applications in a Windows (or equivalent contemporary operating system) environment; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
Supplemental Information
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:
Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.
BACKGROUND CHECK AND MEDICAL EVALUATION: Public Defenders Office will conduct a background investigation. Current or excessive use of drugs, sale of drugs, serious criminal history, or deception relating to employment history may bar employment. Other departments may require an extended background check including credit history; this is at the discretion of each department.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.
Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.
The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.
APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Friday, October 2, 2026 at 4:59 p.m. PST. postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.
Collin Graham: cgraham@countyofsb.org
Retirement Plans
Health Benefits
Paid Time Off
Miscellaneous Benefits
Compensation Summary
01
To be considered for this position your application must CLEARLY demonstrate how you meet the requirements under EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS on the Job Posting, or you will not be considered for this position. If you are unsure, go back and review your application before continuing. Which Employment Standard did you clearly demonstrate meeting on your application?
02
Please provide a complete list of the college-level courses you have completed in the following areas: • social work • psychology • sociology • child development • behavioral sciences You must include the name of the course, the name of the college where you completed the course, how many units earned and whether the units earned were semester or quarter units. You may include copies of transcripts. EXAMPLE: Introduction to Psychology PSY 1, 4 quarter units, UC Santa Barbara. Failure to provide complete details as listed above to this question may cause your application to be disqualified. If not applicable, type "N/A."
03
If you believe you meet the Employment Standards under answer the third answer option "a combination of training, education, and experience...," please describe in detail how your training, education, and experience qualifies you for the position and meets the employment standards listed in the job posting. You MUST list the coursework in question #2. In your application, you must also thoroughly describe all work experience and/or other training, or experience gained that provides the knowledge and abilities required, as listed in the job posting.
04
You may be subjected to a background investigation. Other departments may require an extended background check including credit history. This is at the discretion of each department.
05
Although this position is home-based in Santa Barbara, it requires that you are willing to work at multiple locations within the County of Santa Barbara regardless of your selection on your application. Locations would include Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. All candidates hired can be placed at any location and transferred to another location during your employment with Santa Barbara County. Please be sure to check the locations that you are willing to be home-based upon initial acceptance of the position.
06
One position is a defense based advocate assisting with the County's Department of State Hospitals (DSH) mental health diversion program. In this role you would provide diversion assessments and service planning specifically for individuals who are Incompetent to Stand Trial. You would also work directly with people incarcerated at the jail or in state hospitals.
07
One position is a defense-based advocate who is part of the Pre-Arraignment Early Representation Program. Their role is to conduct pre-arraignment interviews and develop release plans based on these findings. This role serves individuals with complex needs and requires specialized knowledge in cross-system collaboration.
08
One position is a defense-based advocate who is part of the Legal Promotora Program. Their role serves as a cultural bridge for Mixteco-speaking clients, supporting outreach, communication, and access to legal services.
09
How many years of experience do you have practicing social work in a criminal legal system?
10
Do you have experience working with justice involved clients in a Public Defenders Office?
11
I understand the Civil Service Examination for this recruitment is a Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking. I understand my responses to the following supplemental questions will be used as a weighted, scored selection device that will determine my ranking on the employment list for this position. For information on protest procedures for the Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking, please see Civil Service Rules 612 and 613: https://www.countyofsb.org/1444/Civil-Service-Rules
12
Do you have documented experience of building and developing rapport with individuals who are justice involved or impacted? (Full details of this experience / position(s) should be listed on your application).
13
How many years of experience do you have in providing intensive case management? Internship(s), volunteer experience, and/or part-time experience is applicable. (Full details of this experience / position(s) should be listed on your application).
14
How many years of experience do you have conducting assessments, providing treatment planning and discharge planning? (Full details of this experience / position(s) should be listed on your application).
15
How many years of experience do you have working with clients who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless? Internship(s), volunteer experience, and/or part-time experience is applicable. (Full details of this experience / position(s) should be listed on your application).
16
Following is a list of programs that are utilized in this position. Please indicate which programs you are proficient in. Please select all that apply.
Required Question
Employer County of Santa Barbara
Address 1226 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, California, 93101