Deputy County Counsel I-IV DOQ

Solano County; Fairfield (CA); On-site; USD 94,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Solano County in California seeks a qualified attorney to join the County Counsel’s Office as Deputy County Counsel I–IV. The role provides legal counsel to the County, its departments, boards and commissions on governance, contracts, regulatory compliance and litigation support.

Duties include drafting and reviewing ordinances, resolutions, policies and contracts; advising elected officials and agencies; and representing the County in hearings and litigation as needed.

Qualifications

• Active membership in the California State Bar Association is required.
• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Class C California driver's license may be required.
• An active California State Bar number will be required prior to appointment.

Responsibilities

• Advise and represent the County and its departments on a wide range of legal matters.
• Draft and review ordinances, resolutions, policies, contracts, and other legal instruments.
• Provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice and collaborate with stakeholders.
• May represent the County in litigation and administrative proceedings.

Job description

The County Counsel's Office

provides both discretionary and mandated legal services to more than 150 separate areas of County responsibility, including all its elected and appointed officials, officers, departments, boards, commissions, and committees. It also serves several special districts and agencies within the County, including the Rural North Vacaville Water District, the Solano Transportation Authority, Solano County Transit (SolTrans), the Fairfield Suisun Sewer District, the Collinsville Levee and Maintenance District, and cemetery, fire, resource conservation, and reclamation districts. The office’s duties encompass all areas of County government covering a diverse range of sectors, including labor and employment, real estate development, purchasing and contracting, public works projects, criminal justice, planning and environmental matters, water law and groundwater regulation, public finance, tax assessment and collection, child and older adult protection, public health and safety, civil litigation, and other matters of significant importance to the citizens of Solano County.

The Position

Solano County Counsel’s Office is seeking a qualified attorney to join its collaborative legal team as Deputy County Counsel I–IV. The ideal candidate will have experience in public law and will be expected to advise and represent the County, its departments, boards, and commissions on a wide range of legal matters. Attorneys in this position provide legal counsel on issues involving public agency operations, including governance, regulatory compliance, contracting, risk management, and policy implementation. Duties may include preparing legal opinions and memoranda; drafting and reviewing ordinances, resolutions, policies, contracts, and other legal instruments; advising County departments and elected officials; and serving as counsel to boards, commissions, and administrative hearing bodies. Deputy County Counsel attorneys may also represent the County in litigation and administrative proceedings and assist in developing legal strategies that support County programs and initiatives.

Attorneys work closely with County leadership and departments to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong analytical ability, sound professional judgment, and excellent written and oral communication skills. Successful applicants must communicate complex legal issues clearly, think strategically and creatively, and build collaborative working relationships with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders.

Position Requirements

Experience:

• Deputy County Counsel I ($8,452.90 to $10,274.55 month): No experience required; however, applicants must demonstrate possession of and competency in requisite knowledge and abilities.
• Deputy County Counsel II ($11,439.11 to $13,904.31 month): A minimum of six months of experience as a Deputy County Counsel I or its equivalent. One year of experience in the general practice of law may be substituted for the 6months of County Counsel experience.
• Deputy County Counsel III ($13,154.64 to $15,989.54 month): A minimum of one year of experience as a Deputy County Counsel II or its equivalent. Four years of experience in the general practice of law may be substituted for two years of County Counsel experience.
• Deputy County Counsel IV ($15,133.00 to $18,394.26 month): A minimum of one year of experience as a Deputy County Counsel III or its equivalent which demonstrates possession of and competency in requisite knowledge and abilities. Five years of experience in the general practice of law may be substituted for the three years of County Counsel experience.

Special Requirements:

Active membership in the California State Bar Association is required.*

Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Class C California driver's license may be required.

*An active California State Bar number will be required prior to appointment. Please see the Document Submittal Requirements section below.

Selection Process

08/31/2026 – 5:00pm Deadline to submit application and required documents for 1st application review. Based on the information provided in the application documents, the qualified applicants may be invited for further examination and will either be pre-scheduled by the Department of Human Resources or be invited to self‑schedule. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of an initial application screening, a mandatory information meeting, a supplemental questionnaire assessment, a written and/or practical exam, an oral board exam, or any combination listed. Responses to supplemental questions may be used as screening and testing mechanisms and will be used to assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the process; as such, responses to supplemental questions should be treated as test examination responses. Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. All potential new hires and employees considered for promotion to management, confidential positions or unrepresented positions will be subject to a background and reference check after contingent job offer is accepted. These provisions are subject to change. RETIREES - Solano County invites all to apply for positions; however pursuant to Government Code Section 21221(h) and 21224, hiring restrictions may apply to California Public Sector Pension Plan Retirees.

Questions

Any further questions can be directed to the Department of Human Resources at [phone], business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EOE/AA

Please note that all dates/times listed in the job announcement are Pacific Time.

Americans with Disabilities Act

It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job. APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES: Qualified individuals with a disability, who are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, and need an accommodation during any phase of the recruitment/testing/examination process (as detailed in the “Selection Process”), must complete the following Request for Testing Accommodation by Applicants with Disabilities Form. This form must be received in the Human Resources Department by the application review deadline. Applicants will be contacted to discuss the specifics of the request.