Those looking for San Diego government jobs (Click here) in the legal sector may want to consider a position as a judge.

Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically work in a court of law to arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice. They also have the ability to sentence defendants in criminal cases, determine the liability of defendants in civil cases, and issue marriage licenses and perform wedding ceremonies.

Applicants for judicial positions are usually required to have at least a bachelor’s degree and some work experience. However, most judges have worked as lawyers, and therefore have attended law school and earned a law degree. Employers also will want to look into your California criminal records.

There were about 26,900 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates throughout the nation during 2008, and that number is expected to decrease by 3 percent by 2018. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all of these employees worked for state and local governments.

Employment of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in San Diego County is expected to remain steady at about 140 workers through 2018. Although the occupation isn’t expected to see any real growth, there will be about three job openings per year due to employee turnover, according to the California Employment Development Department.

During 2010, the average wage for these judges throughout California was $81.89 per hour, with employees in the 25th percentile making $76.92 per hour.

The median wage throughout the nation during 2008 was $110,220 per year. The middle 50 percent of employees earned between $51,760 and $141,190 per year, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $32,290 per year and the top 10 percent earning more than $162,140 per year.

A new round of funding will help to support many important Phoenix government jobs that keep local citizens safe.

Local public safety agencies can now apply for some extra funding from the Public Safety Stabilization Program. Gov. Jan Brewer authorized the use of $10 million in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the grant program.

“The announcement of these funds gives law enforcement and fire departments a chance to make proposals for funding to enhance operations and improve crime-fighting, fire-fighting and first response capabilities,” Brewer said. “The intention of providing the funds to local public safety agencies is to ensure they have the resources needed to provide safety and security to citizens in their local communities given the nationwide downturn in revenues at all levels of government.”

Public safety agencies can use the funding for: personnel overtime and associated backfill costs; part-time personnel; and vehicle and equipment maintenance and fuel costs. However, the program does not focus heavily on vehicle purchases, and agencies must consider the ongoing costs associated with maintenance and operation.

Check out this public safety officer job description.

Counties, incorporated cities and towns, tribal nations, and independent fire districts are eligible to apply for funding. The chief executive of each jurisdiction must submit their community’s application, with each proposal being evaluated and priority given to the strongest submissions.

Priority also will be given to communities that have not already received funding from the Border Security Enhancement Program, the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Hiring Program, FEMA’s SAFER Program, or other similar funding programs from the ARRA.

An unprecedented number of Miami government jobs could soon be eliminated if the city fails to find a different way to balance its budget.

If city officials don’t find another solution in the near future, Miami could be forced to lay off 1,128 employees, or about 31 percent of the city’s workforce. Officials have been avidly looking for ways to mend a $100 million budget gap.

One tentative plan would change a civil service law and place the lowest-paid, shortest-tenured employees at the highest risk of being laid off, while allowing the highest-paid, longest-serving workers to keep their jobs.

According to an article by the Miami Herald, many alternatives have been suggested in an attempt to avoid cutting city jobs. Such things as charging outsiders to use a firing range at the College of Policing and charging anyone who wants to use the city’s fingerprinting resources could bring in about $10 million.

Miami is having such trouble balancing its budget because of declining property-tax revenues and increasing union pensions that were previously approved. Some measures have already been taken in order to find a solution, including hiring a banker, making some layoffs, and freezing salary increases and hiring.

In addition, city officials declared a state of “financial urgency” in May after failing to negotiate with the firefighters’ union, which represents more than 600 firefighters. Those employees are among the highest paid in Miami, with many bringing in more than $300,000 per year, including salary and benefits.

City officials must vote on a balanced budget no later than September 30.

While the area’s unemployment rate increased and more jobs were lost over the month and year, the education industry was the only industry to see a yearly increase in employment, while Phoenix government jobs saw the smallest yearly decline.

During January, the Phoenix area’s unemployment rate increased from 8.2 percent to 9.2 percent, following an 8.1 percent increase during December 2009. Despite the latest increase, the area’s rate is still lower than the national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent.

The Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale area had a total non-farm employment of 1,674,800 workers during January, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 1,712,900 workers during December and a 5.5 percent decrease from last year.

No industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment. However, employment in the mining and logging industry remained even over the month, with 2,900 jobs. Only one industry saw a yearly increase in employment.

The education and health services industry employed 228,100 workers during January, down from 230,700 workers during December, but a 3.6 percent increase from January 2009.

The government industry saw the smallest decline in jobs during January. The industry employed 238,200 workers during January, down from 242,100 workers during December and a 2.9 percent decrease from last year.

In addition, the construction industry took the biggest hit over the year. The industry employed 82,600 workers during January, down from 84,800 workers during December and a 25 percent decrease from January 2009.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• mining and logging by 12.1 percent
• manufacturing by 11.4 percent
• trade, transportation and utilities by 3 percent
• information by 8.4 percent
• financial activities by 5.2 percent
• professional and business services by 7.6 percent
• leisure and hospitality by 5.6 percent
• other services by 5.7 percent

If you’re looking to get into politics, you may want to consider the many Tucson government jobs available.

Tucson’s government industry employed 80,500 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 78,200 workers during August, but a 3.2 percent decrease from last year.

Tucson has what’s considered a “weak mayor” model of local government. The six-member City Council has exclusive legislative authority and shares executive authority with the mayor. The mayor is elected by voters apart from the council, while a city manager is appointed to overlook the everyday operations of the city. Bob Walkup currently serves as the mayor of Tucson.

Council members and the mayor are able to serve an unlimited number of four-year terms. Council members are nominated by their wards under a primary, with the person from each party earning the most votes competing for the final seat on the ballot.

Since 1985, mayoral and council candidates have been eligible to receive matching public funds from the city. In order to be eligible, council candidates must receive 200 donations of $10 or more, while mayoral candidates must receive 300 donations of the same amount.

Once those numbers have been met, candidates must then agree to spending limits of 33 cents per registered Tucson voter. In return, they are able to receive matching funds from the city at a 1:1 ratio of public money to private donations.

When it comes to federal politics, Tucson is divided between the 7th and 8th congressional districts of Arizona. The city center is in the 7th District, which has been represented by Democrat Raul Grijalva since 2003, while the areas to the north and east fall in the 8th District, which has been represented by Democrat Gabrielle Giffords since 2007.