Deputy County Counsel II/III/IV/V

Merced County, CA; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Merced County seeks a deputy county counsel to provide comprehensive legal support to county boards and departments. The role requires active California State Bar status, and responsibilities include advising on powers, duties, and obligations, and drafting ordinances, contracts, and other legal instruments.

Duties cover prosecuting and defending civil actions in federal and state courts, offering leadership to junior staff, and collaborating with county offices to resolve legal issues, while

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in California and active State Bar membership.
• Experience in civil, criminal, or administrative law, preferably in public agencies.
• Strong research, drafting, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as legal counsel and attends meetings of boards and commissions.
• May advise county offices and departments.
• Prepare legislative measures, ordinances, resolutions, deeds, contracts, leases, and other legal instruments.
• Prosecute and defend civil actions in federal and state court, appellate courts, and various administrative bodies.
• Confers with and advises officers of County departments and representatives of special districts on questions pertaining to their powers, duties, functions, and obligations.
• Provide lead direction and act as a legal resource to other professional staff.
• Assist the County Counsel, Assistant County Counsel, and Chief Deputy County Counsels as needed.

Skills

Legal research

Legal analysis

Oral & written advocacy

Staff leadership

Job description

The hiring department will consider recent California State Bar passers.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as legal counsel and attends meetings of boards and commissions.
• May act as legal advisor to County offices and departments.
• Prepares formal legislative measures, ordinances, resolutions, deeds, contracts, leases, and other legal instruments.
• Prosecutes and defends civil actions on behalf of the County and special districts in federal and state court, appellate courts, and various administrative bodies.
• Confers with and advises officers of County departments and representatives of special districts on questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations.
• May provide lead direction and act as a legal resource to other professional staff.
• Assists the County Counsel, Assistant County Counsel, and Chief Deputy County Counsels as needed.

Experience:

Level II

One (1) year of experience in the practice of civil, criminal, or administrative law; or an equivalent combination of legal training and experience such as judicial clerkship, externship, internship, or contracts/legal compliance management providing substantial exposure to public agency or court operations.

Level III

Two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in the practice of civil law.

Level IV

One (1) year of experience as a Deputy County Counsel III with Merced County. OR Four (4) years of experience in the practice of civil law.

Level V

Three (3) years of experience as a Deputy Counsel IV with Merced County. OR Seven (7) years of experience in the practice of civil law.

License:

Active membership in the State Bar of California at time of appointment.

• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
• Analyze data, interpret policies, procedures and regulations; develop appropriate conclusions.
• Meet deadlines under stressful conditions; complete multiple projects with conflicting deadlines.
• Resolve conflicts and respond appropriately to complaints.
• Maintain confidential information according to legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Establish, implement and achieve goals and objectives.
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
• Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination; normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Regular attendance is an essential function.

Knowledge of:

• The Government Code and other California statutes, and their application to governmental subdivisions.
• The principle of civil, constitutional, and administrative laws.
• Legal research methods.
• Principles of staff training and project coordination.

Ability to:

• Perform difficult legal research.
• Analyze and apply legal principles and precedents to specific local government problems.
• Develop legal issues and present clear and logical arguments and statements of fact and law.
• Draft ordinances, contracts, and legal instruments.
• Train subordinate staff.

Why Merced County? A message from the CEO