Senior Deputy County Counsel

Mariposa County; Mariposa (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Mariposa County is seeking a Senior Deputy County Counsel to manage complex civil matters and provide guidance to the Board of Supervisors and departments. The role includes supervising junior attorneys, handling juvenile dependency matters, reviewing contracts, and representing the County in court and civil proceedings.

The position requires California bar admission, strong trial and research skills, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a public sector legal

Qualifications

• Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in the practice of law; supervisory experience desirable.
• Current membership in the State Bar of California.
• Graduation from an accredited school of law.
• Cover letter and resume required; address the prompts in the cover letter.
• Must pass Livescan/Background; possession of a valid California driver’s license; can consider out-of-state license with intent to convert.

Responsibilities

• Provides general and case-specific legal advice to the Board of Supervisors and County departments.
• Reviews contracts, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents for legal sufficiency.
• Researches and prepares legal opinions.
• Oversees litigation in Public Guardian/Public Conservator cases and represents the County in court.
• Performs general administrative duties and may supervise lower-level incumbents.

Skills

Civil, constitutional, and admin law

Legal research methods

Trial and hearing procedures

Rules of evidence

Public agency administration

Oral advocacy / presentation

Education

Graduation from an accredited school of law

Job description

Mariposa County is recruiting for a SENIOR DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL.

Mariposa will be hiring either a Deputy County Counsel i/ii or Senior Deputy County Counsel.

DEFINITION

To provide legal service to the Board of Supervisors and all departments; to handle difficult and complex cases and assignments in the County Counsel’s office; and to act for the Assistant County Counsel and County Counsel in their absence. The Senior Deputy County Counsel is the advanced journey level assigned to the complex civil legal work and provides direction and supervision to lower-level incumbents. In addition, this level exhibits a level of expertise and experience which can only be acquired from public law experience. Incumbents may be assigned training responsibilities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

The Senior Deputy County Counsel receives general direction from the Assistant County Counsel or County Counsel and is expected to carry out activities without direction except as new or unusual circumstances require. May supervise and/or provide lead direction to level-I/II incumbents.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides general and case-specific advice in juvenile dependency matters; reviews and revises petitions, reports, and orders after hearing; makes court appearances.
• Reviews contracts, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents for legal sufficiency and prepares them for the County Counsel as requested.
• Researches and prepares legal opinions.
• Oversees and participates in litigation pertaining to Public Guardian/Public Conservator cases; reviews and revises petitions, reports, and orders; and makes court appearances.
• Performs general administrative work, including conducting and attending meetings and preparing correspondence.
• Appears before courts and at administrative proceedings to represent the County’s interests.
• Reviews and interprets current legislation and litigation relevant to County services and/or administration.
• Represents the County in court in potentially dangerous dog cases; performs associated work with each case; reviews and analyzes Sheriff’s reports and documents as well as court documents; makes court appearances.
• May advise and/or represent the County Board of Supervisors, County officers, County departments, their employees, boards, commissions, and dependent special districts.
• Performs other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in the practice of law. One (1) in asupervisory capacity is desirable.

Education: Graduation from an accredited school of law. Transcripts or degree must be attached.

Additional Requirements

Current membership in the State Bar of California.

Current bar membership must be attached.

Cover letter and resume required for qualification.

In your cover letter, please address the following:

Describe your training and experience in appearing in court proceedings and trials.

Describe your experience and training in researching legal issues utilizing state or federal resource materials.

Describe your experience and training in the preparation of legal opinions, pleadings and memoranda.

Describe your experience and training in civil law.

Describe your experience and training in public sector law (either litigation or transactional).

Describe your experience, if any, in public sector or government representation.

What specific knowledge, skills or abilities do you possess that you feel make you qualified for the Deputy County Counsel?

Must pass Livescan/Background

Possession of a valid California driver’s license at the time of appointment. Under certain circumstances, the Human Resources Director may accept a valid driver’s license from another State if the applicant acknowledges his/her intent to acquire a California driver’s license within three months by signing an acknowledgment form. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions pertaining to this or other essential functions of this classification.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of

• Principles and application of civil, constitutional, and administrative law.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations, such as the Brown Act, California Public Records Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
• Public and private labor code, including the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act.
• Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Principles and practices of public agency administration.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Legal research methods.
• Trial and hearing procedures.
• Rules of evidence.
• Current principles and practice of public law.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public and staff.
• Organization, duties, powers, limitations, and authority of County Counsel and County government.
• Effective principles of motivation and supervision.

Ability to

• Research, analyze, and apply legal principles, facts, evidence, and precedents to legal problems.
• Present statements of law, fact, and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form.
• Analyze, interpret, apply, and enforce applicable Federal, State, and local policies, procedures,codes, laws, and regulations.
• Identify problems, research, and analyze relevant information.
• Develop and present recommendations and justification for proposed solutions.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, procedures, and other written materials.
• Maintain accurate files and records.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Complete multiple priority projects with conflicting deadlines.
• Make presentations to the Board of Supervisors and other groups.
• Provide well-reasoned direction and recommendations to Deputy County Counsel incumbents as necessary.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Be organized, accountable, friendly, ethical, and professional at all times.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions within the working conditions. Work is typically performed in a normal office environment and/or a courtroom.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Requires the ability to work at a desk for multiple hours and intermittently travel to and from locations internal and external to the primary work location. Move and reposition items up to ten (10) pounds; exert fine motor skills utilizing office equipment; able to maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing. Must be able to communicate verbally and with various electronic and computer communication mediums.

This class specification lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Incumbents may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document.