Job Posting: Barry P. Helft Appellate Fellowship

Office of the State Public Defender

JC-526084
-
Barry P. Helft Appellate Fellowship
ATTORNEY

$7,969.00 - $12,026.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/15/2026

Job Description and Duties

The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) is currently seeking one or two candidates to join its dynamic team as Barry P. Helft Appellate Fellow Attorneys. Ideal candidates for the Fellowship position will be newly admitted to the California Bar or in their first few years of practice. If you have a commitment to working on behalf of the most marginalized Californians, excellent writing skills, and a willingness to challenge yourself with high-level capital and non-capital defense appellate work, please join us.

Barry P. Helft worked nearly 50 years in the practice of law and spent 25 of those years at OSPD. His name is attached to this fellowship as the embodiment of the vow that OSPD lawyers make to their clients to provide the best representation available. OSPD fulfills that promise by providing the mentorship and training our attorneys need to become the best appellate litigators they can be. Barry made the same promise to each lawyer he trained: Regardless of your skill level when starting at OSPD, you will be a better lawyer when you leave than you were when you started. The goal of this fellowship is to continue to fulfill the promise to the next generation of appellate defenders.

The Barry P. Helft Fellow Attorney is a limited-term appointment in OSPD's Appellate Division Fellowship Program. Fellows are employed at will, and the total term of employment is up to 24 months, subject to funding availability. Under direct supervision from an Attorney Supervisor, or a designee, fellows perform a wide variety of challenging legal work, including (1) providing high-quality and effective assistance of counsel to indigent persons who are appealing their criminal convictions in the California Courts of Appeal and/or the California Supreme Court; (2) drafting amicus briefs and/or letters filed by OSPD on matters crucial to the development of criminal law as it relates to indigent defendants; (3) assisting in developing arguments in support of systemic litigation to address inequities in the criminal justice system.

Applicants for the Attorney Fellowship class must be active members of the California Bar. Candidates in their last year of law school or who have not yet taken or passed the California State Bar exam may apply to the Graduate Legal Assistant class at JC-524236.


For more information on the Barry P. Helft Fellowship: Click Here

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

OSPD has two regional offices located in Oakland and Sacramento.

  • The Oakland office is located downtown in a modern high-rise building near the 12th Street BART station, not to mention a variety of delicious restaurants.
  • The Sacramento office is located downtown in a modern high-rise building near SacRT Light Rail stations, Downtown Commons, and plenty of shopping.
OSPD permits full-time telework in accordance with government code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California. Business travel reimbursements consider an employee's designated Headquarters Location and primary residence. The policy may be subject to change by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Due to the nature of the position, appellate attorneys are sometimes required to work nights, weekends and other non-traditional schedules. Absent unusual circumstances, certain duties must be performed in person, such as oral arguments, moot courts, and visiting detention facilities. For this position, it will be the responsibility of the attorney, in coordination with their supervisor, to ensure that any remote work they perform complies with the ethical obligations of attorneys and court requirements.

This position requires travel to clients, conferences, meetings, and training events up to 10% of the time and includes occasional overnight travel, up to a week. Travel is primarily by automobile but also includes occasional train, airplane, or public transportation.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-526084
Position #(s):
426-015-5778-901
Working Title:
Barry P. Helft Appellate Fellowship
Classification:
ATTORNEY
$7,969.00 - $10,473.00 A Individuals appointed to the Attorney classification are eligible to receive the designated Hiring Above Minimum (HAM) rate. The Attorney classification HAM rate is at $8,846.00 for Range A and $9,956.00 for Range B.
$8,969.00 - $12,026.00 B Individuals appointed to the Attorney classification are eligible to receive the designated Hiring Above Minimum (HAM) rate. The Attorney classification HAM rate is at $8,846.00 for Range A and $9,956.00 for Range B.
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
2
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
Telework
Job Type:
12 Month Limited Term - Full Time

Department Information

The OSPD is legislatively mandated to focus its resources on postconviction appellate representation in death penalty cases and improving indigent defense in California by providing assistance and training to local public defender systems.

Mission Statement
OSPD's mission is to advocate zealously for the underrepresented, particularly those facing capital sentence, while empowering the broader defense community to ensure effective and equitable representation for all.

Diversity Statement
OSPD is committed to promoting a workplace rooted in the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. We can best serve our clients and stakeholders when we have a diverse staff that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived experiences, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our colleagues.

An inclusive culture improves the quality of our work lives and makes us better advocates for our clients and better colleagues to each other. We are continually growing and are committed to equitable, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory hiring practices.

OSPD encourages applications from all qualified individuals of any race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, age, and veteran status.

OSPD is recognized by the State Bar of California as a gold tier recipient of the DEI Leadership Seal Program for its on-going commitment to advancing workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion for all staff through evidence-based actions.
Department Website: http://www.ospd.ca.gov/

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 10/15/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Office of the State Public Defender
Human Resources Office
Attn: LD Gutierrez
770 L Street, Suite 1000
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Office of the State Public Defender
Human Resources Office
LD Gutierrez
770 L Street, Suite 1000
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
  • Other - Cover Letter
  • Other - Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your legal work. 
  • Other - Legal Writing Sample - Please see "Legal Writing Sample" section for instructions. 
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
  • Knowledge of legal research methods and performing research.
  • Knowledge of legal principles and their application.
  • Knowledge of the scope and character of California statutory law and the provisions of the California Constitution.
  • Knowledge of principles of administrative, constitutional, and criminal law.
  • Knowledge of trial and hearing procedures and rules of evidence.
  • Knowledge of computer programs in an efficient and effective manner.
  • Ability to perform research and investigation.
  • Ability to analyze, appraise, and apply legal principles, and precedents to legal problems.
  • Ability to present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form.
  • Ability to prepare correspondence and legal memorandums involving the explanation of legal matters.
  • Ability to work in a team environment.
  • Ability to develop and maintain good working relations with all levels of staff.
  • Ability to maintain security and confidentiality of privileged information in compliance with applicable laws.
The Fellowship is designed for recent law school graduates and early career attorneys who are committed to public service and have excellent writing skills.

Benefits

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, and Retirement benefits. For more information on what is offered by the State of California, please visit:
  • The California Department of Human Resources CalHR website.
  • The California Public Employees' Retirement System CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: http://www.ospd.ca.gov/
Human Resources Contact:
Lady Diana Gutierrez
(916) 322-9325
LadyDiana.Gutierrez@ospd.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Jannet Esparza
(916) 322-2676
Jannet.Esparza@ospd.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Attorney Examinations

You must take and pass the Attorney examination to establish list eligibility:

Legal Writing Sample

A legal writing sample is required. A writing sample that includes substantive legal analysis and reflects your ability to write as an advocate is preferred. If you do not have such a sample, please submit one that best reflects your ability to write and engage in legal analysis. Your sample should be no longer than 10 pages single-spaced or 20 pages double-spaced with 12 pt font. Please include a cover page (which does not count toward the page limit) with your writing sample explaining the circumstances under which it was written and the extent to which it reflects independent or edited work. The writing in your sample should be your own and not be generated using artificial intelligence (AI). If any aspect of your writing sample is the result of AI (research, citations, or writing), please identify and explain the extent of AI use in your cover page.

*** Applicants who fail to submit a complete application package, including the required writing sample, will NOT be considered. ***

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job