Description:

All application materials must be received by the priority screening date for a guaranteed review. Applications received after this date will be considered on an as needed basis until the position is filled.

The Office of the County Counsel serves as the in-house legal counsel for the A Government Entity, the Board of Supervisors (BOS), and all County officers, departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as liaison and support to the Civil Grand Jury. In addition to providing legal advice, the Office also represents the County in civil and special litigation in state and federal courts, various administrative proceedings, and coordinates the services of outside legal counsel. The County Counsel's Office consists of four divisions: General Government, Litigation, Land Use and Risk Management.

A Government Entity Office of the County Counsel seeks a highly motivated Deputy County Counsel III and/or Deputy County Counsel IV professional with a desire to defend and advise the County in a variety of complex legal matters. The Deputy County Counsel III, under direction, conducts litigation and performs varied complex civil legal work involved in the provision of legal counsel for County officials, agents, departments, and special districts; and performs responsible professional and administrative legal advisory work for various County government officials, department heads and employees. The Deputy County Counsel IV, under general direction, conducts litigation and performs even more complex legal work involved in the provision of legal counsel for County officials, agents, departments, and special districts, and in the defense of the County; and performs highly responsible professional and administrative legal work and act as a principal legal advisor to large County departments and/or special districts in specialized areas of business.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

Examples of Duties:
Deputy County Counsel III

Conducts discovery, examines and interprets evidence and prosecutes on behalf of or defends the County, its officers and employees in the more complex and important civil cases.
Confers and advises district officers, department heads and employees on complex legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, jurisdictions, functions, procedures and operations.
Prepares legal briefs; drafts contracts, deeds, leases, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal instruments.
Handles pretrial and settlement conferences; prepares briefs and pleadings in both trial court and appellate matters; dictates legal briefs and correspondence.
Attends meetings of boards and commissions as requested and gives both oral and written legal advice and counsel.
Studies and interprets laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities.

Deputy County Counsel IV

Study and interpret laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities.
Conduct discovery, examine and interpret evidence; and prosecute on behalf of or defend the County, its officers and employees in the most complex and important civil cases.
Develop and give legal advice regarding resolution of problems that may have far-reaching implications on County operations and programs.
Prepare legal briefs; drafts contracts, deeds, leases, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal instruments.
Prepare briefs and pleadings in both trial court and appellate matters; dictate legal briefs and correspondence.
Acts as legal advisor to a large County department or special district, supervising and participating in the resolution of difficult legal questions regarding powers, duties, procedures and operations.
Attend meetings of boards and commissions as requested and give both oral and written legal advice and counsel.
Handle pretrial and settlement conferences.
Perform related work as assigned.

To view the complete classification description, please visit A Government Entity website or click on the following links: Deputy County Counsel III (Download PDF reader) – Deputy County Counsel IV (Download PDF reader)

The Successful Candidate
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Deputy County Counsel III
Thorough knowledge of:

Principles of civil, constitutional and administrative law and of California and federal civil procedure and litigation, particularly as it relates to County government, and other public agency law.
Principles, methods and materials of legal research.

Working Knowledge of:

The rules of evidence, discovery practice and appellate practice.
Laws directly affecting public entities and their operation, and public officials and employees and their rights, duties and responsibilities.

Some knowledge of several of the following subject matter areas:

Federal and California labor, employment and equal employment opportunity law.
State and federal laws relating to environmental quality control, land use planning, zoning, LAFCO and redevelopment.
Public contract preparation and administration, including construction contracts.
County operations and practices, including the Sheriff's department, the County hospital, Health department, Social Services, and the Registrar of Voters (Elections Department).

Deputy County Counsel IV
Thorough knowledge of:

Principles of civil, constitutional and administrative law and of California and federal civil procedure and litigation, particularly as it relates to County government, and other public agency law.
Principles, methods and materials of legal research.
The rules of evidence, discovery practice and appellate practice.
Those areas of law directly affecting public entities and their operation, and public officials and employees and their rights, duties and responsibilities.

Deputy County Counsel III and IV
Skill and Ability to:

Draft legal instruments such as ordinances, resolutions, Board Orders and contracts.
Analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence and precedents, and present such materials clearly and concisely, either in oral or in written legal form.
Analyze and appraise a variety of legal documents and instruments and give sound legal advise or devise appropriate plan of action based thereon; defend the County in litigation.
Establish and maintain confidential relationships with County department heads and members of the Board of Supervisors.
Develop and maintain cooperative work relationships both within the County Counsel's Office and with those contacted within the course and scope of work.
Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Deputy County Counsel III
Experience:
One year of experience as a A Government Entity Deputy County Counsel II.

Or

Three years of full-time general experience equivalent to a Deputy County Counsel II in a county counsel, private practice, city attorney or other civil public law office.

Or

A combination of both.

Deputy County Counsel IV
Experience:
Two years of experience as Deputy County Counsel III with A Government Entity; or three years of increasingly responsible experience with a public agency or private law firm in the appropriate legal specialty at a level comparable to a Deputy County Counsel III in A Government Entity.

Or

Five years of increasingly responsible experience in a county counsel's office, city attorney, private law firm, or other civil public law office.

Or

A combination thereof.