Watch the full webinar now: How to get a job in a DA's office

Cal Lawyer recently sat down with representatives from district attorneys' offices throughout California to find out what it takes to secure a role there, and what new recruits can expect.

Tune in and find out everything you ever wanted to know about entry points into the profession, required skills and education, typical first-year experiences, and the unique advantages of working in their respective counties.

The panel features:

Cynthia Zimmer, District Attorney of Kern County

Cynthia Zimmer was elected Kern County District Attorney on June 5, 2018 and took office in January of 2019. .Zimmer is a native of Coalinga, California. She graduated from California State University Bakersfield in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in political science. Zimmer received her law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, in 1984. She has been a prosecutor at the Kern County District Attorney's Office for 39 years. She has tried nearly every type of criminal case including narcotics, sex crimes, and homicides. She was promoted to Supervising Deputy District Attorney over 20 years ago and spent 12 years supervising the District Attorney's Gang Unit. Zimmer has personally handled numerous high-profile cases including Kerry Hastings, a serial killer; Billy Ray Johnson, the "Eastside Rapist"; and Corey Johnson, who killed three people and attempted to kill several others in the longest gang trial in Kern County history. As District Attorney, Zimmer is working to reduce violent crime in Kern County, provide better services to victims in rural areas, and keep the public informed about legislative changes that affect public safety.

Brock Zimmon, Assistant District Attorney, Orange County District Attorney's Office

Brock Zimmon is a 20-year prosecutor at the Orange County District Attorney's Office and is currently assigned as the Assistant District Attorney supervising its Professional Responsibility & Training Unit. In this capacity, he oversees the onboarding, officewide, and specific live training programs for the legal division of the OCDA. In addition, he coordinates and publishes all OCDA training publications; manages the solicitation, recruitment, and placement of all volunteer law clerks and interns; and oversees two grants aimed at improving officer and prosecutor expertise in drug impaired driving cases. In addition, Mr. Zimmon is the Chief Ethics Officer for the OCDA.

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Zimmon spent 8 years assigned as a trial attorney to the OCDA's Special Prosecutions Unit, where he handled a myriad of high profile and complex cases. During this time, he was also assigned as the OCDA's Grand Jury Liaison, where he trained and advised the Orange County Grand Jury on its criminal function and assisted Orange County prosecutors in preparing and presenting their cases to the grand jury.

Mr. Zimmon graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in History & Psychology in 2001 and Chapman University School of Law with a J.D. in 2004.

Tina Hooks, Deputy in Charge of Recruitment, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office

Tina Hooks received her B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her J.D. degree from Southwestern University School of Law where she attended as an evening student while working full-time as a paralegal in a civil litigation firm. Hooks joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office as a Deputy District Attorney where she worked in a variety of assignments and tried multiple cases including domestic violence and gang crimes.

In 2009, Hooks was assigned to the Elder Abuse Section where she handled cases involving homicides, neglect and financial abuse committed against senior citizens and dependent adults - which represents one of LA County's most vulnerable populations. Due to her level of expertise in this complex area of the law, Hooks was frequently asked to train law enforcement personnel and social workers, conduct numerous seminars and consult on a task force with the LA County Coroner's Office to identify cases of elder abuse that might have been overlooked during the initial investigation.

Hooks has been consistently recognized for her hard work for vulnerable elder and dependent adults. Specifically, in April 2012, she received a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' Commendation during Victim's Rights Week and honored at the Victim's Rights Symposium National Victim's Rights Week Recognition Ceremony. She has also received the "Deputy DA of the Month" award from ADDA in July 2009 and October 2017.

In 2017, Hooks was selected to join the Conviction Review Unit where she was responsible for reviewing claims of actual innocence based upon new evidence and presently serves as a consultant for the unit. In 2019, she was appointed to serve as the Office's first Deputy-in-Charge of the newly created Recruitment Unit to lead the Office's recruitment efforts recognizing the importance of attracting and hiring diverse talent to ensure that the prosecutors representing the office reflect the population of Los Angeles County.

Catrina Ranum, Deputy District Attorney, Sacramento County District Attorney's Office

Catrina Ranum is a deputy district attorney in Sacramento County.  Ranum received her undergraduate degree from California State University Chico in 2007, and received her Juris Doctorate degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in December 2011.  After being admitted to the California State Bar in May 2012, she began working at the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office as a Deputy District Attorney.  Since 2012, she has prosecuted various criminal cases ranging from general felonies, to child abuse, and sexual assaults.  She currently teaches Legal Writing to students at Lincoln Law School, and teaches ICI Sexual Assaults, ICI Child Abuse, and ICI Courtroom Preparation and Testimony.

Episode guide

Part 1: Panelist Introductions (00.14)
Part 2: Pathways to the DA's Office (04:37)
Part 3: Education Requirements for Working in a DA's Office (08:28)
Part 4: Internship Opportunities (11:18)
Part 5: What Can New Recruits Expect? (21:59)
Part 6: What's the Working Environment Like? (25:28)
Part 7: Why Choose a Career as a Prosecutor? (30:39)