Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Deputy County Counsel

Recruitment #15-3230-01

Introduction

This is a new, assembled examination. The hiring list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may be valid for approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing (Thursday, October 8, 2015). Applications will only be accepted online.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing (Thursday, October 8, 2015). Failure to submit the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

NOTE: Please submit, along with your application and supplemental questionnaire, a sample of your legal writing (e.g. an opinion or legal analysis of an unusual problem, trial brief, points and authorities, etc.).  This sample should demonstrate your ability to research and analyze legal issues.

DESCRIPTION

Please CLICK HERE for the full Deputy County Counsel job specification/description.

 

THE AGENCY

The mission statement of the Office of the County Counsel is to provide competent, efficient and cost-effective legal representation and advice, thus advancing and protecting the programs and financial resources of the County, its officers, departments, boards, commissions, districts, and courts.

 

THE POSITION

Under general direction of an Assistant or Chief Assistant County Counsel, performs moderate to complex legal work in representing clients of the Office of the County Counsel in civil cases and advises them in matters of civil law; and does related work as required.

 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Deputy County Counsel performs all phases and types of legal work involved in representing clients of the Office of the County Counsel, including County agencies, boards and commissions, special districts and authorities and independent agencies served by the Office of the County Counsel. Persons in this classification have a working knowledge of legal principles, and may be expert in one or more specialized practice area. They report to and are supervised by an Assistant County Counsel or a Chief Assistant County Counsel, who in contrast to this classification, have supervisory and administrative responsibilities. Deputy County Counsel may also provide occasional mentoring and oversight of Associate County Counsel on particular tasks as requested by a Senior Deputy County Counsel or an Assistant or Chief Assistant County Counsel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either Pattern I
Experience:

The equivalent of two years of experience in the class of Associate Deputy County Counsel or in an equivalent or higher level class as an attorney in the Alameda County classified service. Additionally, each month of service in the classification of Associate Deputy County Counsel in the Office of the County Counsel will be counted as two months experience of the practice of law for purposes of meeting the five year requirement, below.

Or Pattern II
Experience:

A minimum of five years of relevant experience practicing law as an attorney.

Both Pattern I and II Require the Following Licenses:

Current active membership in the California State Bar.
Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Methods of legal research involving issues arising from California and federal statutory and constitutional law.
• Trial and hearing procedures and rules of evidence.
• Principles and practice of constitutional, civil and administrative law and procedure, California civil and appellate procedures.
• California statutory and constitutional law.
• Law in relation to authority, responsibilities and obligations of public officials, administrative boards and agencies.
• County administrative procedures, ordinances and rules.
• Conducting hearings before administrative tribunals.

Ability to:

• Perform legal research.
• Analyze, appraise, and apply legal principles, facts and precedents to legal problems.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Present oral and written statements of fact, law and argument in a clear and logical manner.
• Prepare correspondence and reports.
• Exercise good judgment and make sound decisions on legal casework and in dealing with people.
• Listen for the sensitive and political issues/considerations underlying requests for legal assistance from clients.
• Respond to various interpersonal reactions of clients, judges and attorneys in a sensitive and tactful manner.
• Frame oral and written comments or argument appropriately within a sensitive and political environment.
• Effectively and positively take direction from Senior, Assistant, Chief Assistant and/or County Counsel.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2) A review of candidates' Supplemental Questionnaires to determine the best qualified; only the best qualified candidates will be invited to the oral interview process.

3) A panel interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score and may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the "What You Need To Know" section of our website: www.acgov.org/hrs.

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

***WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN***

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

  • Deadline for Filing: by 5:00p.m., Thursday, October 8, 2015
  • Application Screening for Minimum Qualifications Completed By: Monday, October 19, 2015
  • Supplemental Questionnaire Screening for Best Qualified Completed By: Friday, November 13, 2015
  • Panel Interviews: Week of December 7, 2015 

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
  • Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
  • Vision
  • Basic Life Insurance 
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
  • County Allowance (Employer Credit)
  • Health Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Short-term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Group Auto/Home Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Group Legal
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Iona Childers, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
Iona.Childers@acgov.org
510-272-6463
www.acgov.org/hrs

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer