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Office of Assigned Counsel (OAC)
San Diego County · San Diego County
Accepting ApplicationsAlternate Public Defender
200+Attorneys
15,000+Annual Caseload
$80–$130/hrRate Range
N/ABudget
About
The San Diego Office of Assigned Counsel operates as an alternate public defender system with a four-division model covering misdemeanors, felonies, major crimes, and appeals. With over 200 panel attorneys and full support staff including paralegals, the OAC is one of the most structured conflict defense programs in California.
Rate Schedule
| Case Type | Rate Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| misdemeanor | Per Hour | $80/hr |
| felony | Per Hour | $95/hr |
| serious felony | Per Hour | $110/hr |
| homicide | Per Hour | $130/hr |
Resources Available
Investigator
In-house and contracted investigators for panel cases
Social Worker
Social work support available for mitigation and sentencing
Expert Witness
Expert witness funding through OAC administration
Interpreter
Court-provided interpreters at all San Diego courthouses
Paralegal
Paralegal support staff available for complex cases
Requirements
- Bar Admission: California
- Minimum Experience: 1+ year criminal defense
- Malpractice InsuranceRequired
- Background CheckRequired
Highlights
- 4-division model: misdemeanor, felony, major crimes, appeals
- 200+ panel attorneys
- Full support staff including paralegals
- $80-$130/hr by case class
- 15,000+ cases annually
Application Process
- Method: Application through San Diego County OAC office
- Timeline: Panel review conducted quarterly
Quick Info
- County
- San Diego
- Admin Body
- San Diego County
- Panel Type
- Alternate Public Defender
- Website
- www.sandiegocounty.gov
- Accepts New Attorneys
- No