INTERPRETER (SPANISH)-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Job Description:

INTERPRETER (SPANISH)-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Description

Position/Program Information

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

We welcome applications from anyone.

FILING DATES:
The application filing period will begin on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

EXAM NUMBER:

L1154D-EA

REPOSTING INFORMATION:

This announcement is being reposted to reopen the filing period.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and hardworking individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County’s homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County’s jails and into treatment services and works to reduce the collateral social and economic impacts of contact with the criminal legal system, such as losing employment, social services, and housing. The collective services provided and supported by our workforce have a direct and indirect positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.

POSITION INFORMATION:
The Interpreter position requires fluency in both English and a foreign language to perform interpretation (spoken word) and translation (written text) services to meet the legal and public needs of the clients of the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office under the general supervision of a Management Secretary V and perform related duties and routine clerical tasks as necessary.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period,you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Interpreter.

Essential Job Functions

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• Interpreting or translating idiomatic expressions and literal information to and from English to Spanish on behalf of Public Defender staff and clients in person at various locations by phone, remotely, or virtually to discuss or obtain updates or information related to their case.
• Transcribing audio or video recordings and translating non-English conversations from voicemails, electronic text messages, and emails of clients and witnesses to support the work of attorney staff on their assigned cases.
• Translating legal documents for clients; translating and interpreting written and typed case-related documents submitted by the clients to attorneys; and providing typed translations from English to the foreign language issued by the attorneys to their clients.
• Receiving telephone calls from clients and clients’ relatives and/or friends; and accurately documenting the information to convey to the assigned attorney and/or legal support staff.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Six months of experience in interpreting and translating* from English to Spanish.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

You MUST meet the above requirements in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*Experience in translating is defined as converting text from a source language into a target language. In contrast, experience in interpreting is defined as working with the spoken word, converting speech from a source language into a target language. Required experience in translating and interpreting is in law, criminal defense, or criminal justice. It requires an in-depth knowledge of the subject and its terminology in source and target languages.

PHYSICAL CLASS 2 - LIGHT:
This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Additional Information

OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS:
During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment. If permanently appointed, you will be subject to a probationary period based on the classification.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The appointees to the position MUST BE WILLING to work any shift and in any Los Angeles County location and may be subject to transfer at any time.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add the following email addresses to your list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

• [email protected]

• [email protected]

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number , so include yours when applying.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, EMAIL, AND PASSWORD :
All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend’s user ID and password may erase a candidate’s original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact Name: Sevag Apkarian

Department Contact Phone: (213) 460-8073

Department Contact Email: [email protected]

California Relay Service Phone: (800) 735-2922

Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

For detailed information, please click here

Salary:

$61,064.88 - $66,236.88 Annually