Deputy City Attorney I/II

City of Oxnard; Oxnard (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Oxnard is seeking a Municipal Attorney at the Deputy City Attorney I-II level to provide a broad range of municipal legal services, including prosecution of code violations, advising departments, and representing the City in administrative hearings and civil matters in Ventura Superior Court. Ideal candidates have excellent legal writing, research, analysis and communication skills.

Deputy I is entry level; Deputy II handles more complex tasks with limited supervision.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Possession of a valid and unrestricted Class C driver's license.
• Must be able to speak and understand English to effectively communicate with colleagues, customers, and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Represent the City in judicial and administrative hearings, including citations, writs, and settlements.
• Perform legal research and draft professional opinions for City departments, City Council, and boards.
• Prosecute misdemeanor violations of City ordinances and handle civil litigation matters.
• Assist with nuisance and code enforcement, rent stabilization, and tenant protections.
• Draft and review legal documents including ordinances, contracts, deeds, and leases.
• Attend City Council and commissions meetings and advise on legal matters.

Skills

Legal writing

Legal research

Legal analysis

Communication skills

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Bar admission – State Bar of California

Job description

The City of Oxnard's City Attorney's Office has an opening for a Municipal Attorney at the Deputy City Attorney (I-II) level. Litigation experience is preferred but not required. The position entails a wide variety of municipal legal services, including the prosecution of municipal code violations, representing the City at administrative hearings and civil matters in Ventura Superior Court, advising the City departments, researching and drafting policies and ordinances, and reviewing and revising contracts. The ideal candidate should have excellent legal writing, research, analysis, and communication skills. See below for additional information on the position.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Deputy City Attorney I is the entry-level class in the professional legal series. Attorneys in this class are generally assigned to more routine professional legal tasks under the direct supervision of a Deputy IV or Assistant City Attorney.

The Deputy City Attorney II is the apprentice-level class in the professional legal series. Attorneys in this class are generally assigned routine professional legal tasks of increasing complexity under the supervision of a Deputy IV or Assistant City Attorney. Level II requires that the incumbent perform the more difficult and complex professional legal tasks involving a wide variety of municipal legal subjects with only occasional instruction or assistance.

Supervision Received/Exercised

General direction is provided by the City Attorney. Technical or functional supervision may be received from higher-level Attorneys. Technical or functional supervision may be provided to legal clerical staff.

Work Schedule

The normal work week is Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and alternating Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position may be required to be available to work additional hours as needed to respond to workload needs. This position is not eligible for overtime pay. The standard work environment varies depending on assignment, but is typically primarily in an office setting with some off-site meetings and in-field/outside meetings. The City does not offer hybrid or remote work.

NOTE:

The salary range for the Deputy City Attorney I is $114,674 to $149,077 annually.

The salary range for the Deputy City Attorney II is $138,461 to $180,000 annually.

Essential Functions

• Represents the City in judicial and administrative hearings, including citation appeals, administrative writs, traditional writs, law and motion proceedings, mediation and settlement conferences, and other similar procedures.
• Performs legal research and prepares professional opinions on various legal issues for the City, departments, divisions, the City Council, and various boards and organizations.
• Initiates and prosecutes misdemeanor violations of City ordinances and criminal appeals; and represents the City in civil litigation, including requesting and responding to discovery, motion practice, and taking and defending depositions.
• Assist with general nuisance and property nuisance issues (Code Compliance issues), rent stabilization, and tenant protections.
• Performs legal research and prepares professional opinions on various legal issues for the City, departments, divisions, the City Council, and various boards and organizations.
• Prepares, drafts, and reviews legal opinions, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, contracts, bid documents, requests for proposals or qualifications, deeds, leases and other legal documents.
• Attends City Council, City Commission, and committee meetings as required; acts in an advisory capacity on legal matters as requested.
• Works closely with City administrators, elected officials, and agency and department staff to ensure compliance with laws and City policies.
• Reviews and writes agenda reports for City legislative bodies.
• Exercises sound judgment and clearly explains legal advice to attorneys and lay people to defend legal analyses.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Deputy City Attorney I & Deputy City Attorney II: a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.

Experience:

• Deputy City Attorney I: No experience required
• Deputy City Attorney II: Two (2) years of municipal law or general civil litigation experience required.

• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Possession of a valid and unrestricted Class C driver's license.
• Must be able to speak and understand English to effectively communicate with fellow employees, customers, and vendors.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of - civil and criminal law, local laws, ordinances and regulations, as well as sources of legal reference; working knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of legal research and investigation; judicial procedures and the rules of evidence; the pleading and practice of effective presentation of court cases.
• Ability to - analyze legal documents and instruments; appraise and organize facts, and to effectively present evidence and other material in written or oral form; establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, City officials, fellow employees, and the public.

General Information

Selected candidate(s) must pass a thorough reference check and background investigation. Some positions that work with or have access to the Police Department may require a polygraph exam. Select positions may require candidates to undergo a pre-employment medical and/or psychological evaluation.

Regular full-time and part-time positions in this classification within the City Attorney's Office are unrepresented and follow Resolution 16,006.

For most positions, the City of Oxnard relies on office automation (Microsoft Office/Google) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.

Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all positions.

Employees are required to participate in the City's direct deposit plan and are paid on a bi-weekly basis.

This position is considered at-will.

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100, all public employees are required to serve as disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them.

If a candidate accepts a conditional job offer with the City of Oxnard, any and all pending applications for active recruitments with the City of Oxnard will be withdrawn and no longer considered.

This position is not governed by the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Oxnard is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, medical condition, disability or sexual orientation.

Reasonable Accommodation

The City of Oxnard makes reasonable accommodation for people/individuals with disabilities. If you believe you require special arrangements to participate in the testing process, you must inform the Human Resources Department in writing within three business days of your scheduled interview or exam date. Applicants who request such accommodation must document their request with an explanation of the type and extent of accommodation required.

Legal Requirement

On the first day of employment, new employees must provide proof of citizenship or documentation of legal right to work in the United States in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended. The City participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, please contact DHS. 888-897-7781 dhs.gov/e-verify

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Jackie Ramos at [e-mail].

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.