Imperial County D.A.’s Office launches first-ever ‘Summer Post-Bar’ Program

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) - Facing persistent staffing challenges unique to rural communities, the Imperial County District Attorney's Office is taking an aggressive, multi-faceted approach to recruit and retain the next generation of prosecutors.

The office has officially launched its first-ever Summer Post-Bar Law Clerk Program, welcoming five recent law school graduates alongside four newly hired paralegals to significantly boost the county's prosecution capacity.

Traditionally, law school graduates find themselves in professional limbo after taking the bar exam in July, waiting until November for their results. District Attorney George Marquez saw this gap as a prime opportunity.

"We give them a job. We get to know them, they get experience as attorneys because as certified law clerks they can make appearances on the record," Marquez explained.

The inaugural summer cohort features graduates from across the country, including:

• California Western School of Law (2)
• University of San Diego School of Law (1)
• Western State College of Law (1)
• Washington and Lee School of Law (1)

If these clerks pass their examination in November, they will immediately skip the traditional application hurdles and be offered permanent positions at the District Attorney's office.

While post-bar pipelines are staples in massive metropolitan hubs like San Diego and Riverside counties, they are historically nonexistent in smaller, rural jurisdictions. The program marks the first time Imperial County has ever utilized the strategy.

"I thought to myself, we’re not getting applicants. We need a way to get applicants here so we started working on the post-bar program," Marquez said.

To build this pipeline, Marquez has traveled directly to law schools to forge institutional partnerships. He recently met with the Assistant Dean at the University of San Diego School of Law to discuss creating a dedicated alumni scholarship to fund future interns and post-bar clerks in the Imperial Valley.

Furthermore, neighboring departments are lending a hand. The San Diego District Attorney's Office has begun actively routing its overflow applicants to Imperial County to ensure talent stays in Southern California.

The aggressive recruitment push lands at a critical time. Based on population size, Imperial County should ideally feature 25 active prosecutors. However, the county only funds 22 spots, and even those positions are rarely fully staffed.

To bridge the gap, Marquez initiated a brand-new paralegal program. Secured by grant funding through the Community Benefit Program and approved by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, the funding secures both the clerkships and the four new paralegal spots for at least the next four years.

The incoming paralegals will intercept time-consuming, administrative litigation-support functions. They will manage digital discovery, draft basic motions, and compile complex trial binders so prosecutors can focus entirely on courtroom work.

Marquez, who was raised in the Imperial Valley, believes the geographic dynamics of the region offer young lawyers an unmatched training environment.

"I see a tremendous amount of excitement in their eyes," Marquez said. "You're going to get the best experience you can get anywhere else in the state. Why? Because of the size of our county, the dynamics of our county, our proximity to not only an international border, but also bordering Arizona."

For the clerks who pass the bar and stay on, the office will launch a rigorous trial training program this December. The intensive masterclass will be run by retired Supervising Attorney General Melissa Mandel, focusing heavily on courtroom confidence and advanced evidentiary skills.

The ultimate goal is sustainability. By establishing a recurring, predictable annual pipeline, the District Attorney’s Office aims to automatically replenish departing staff each winter.

"We are building for the future," said Marquez. "All of these efforts have the same objective: To build a stronger District Attorney's Office and provide the best possible service to the people of Imperial County."