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ATTORNEY IV - COUNTY COUNSEL

Recruitment #16-JD7-01

Definition

THE JOB: The Santa Cruz County Counsel’s Office is seeking an experienced attorney specializing in municipal law. The most competitive candidates will have expertise in handling legal issues for a government agency related to public health care services and/or employment/personnel matters. Experience handling legal issues related to land use, human services, tax, elections, public contracts, and law enforcement is also beneficial. Candidates should have strong writing skills and be able to draft legal documents, ordinances and contracts. Broad litigation experience is not necessary, but having basic litigation skills will make candidates more competitive for the position (e.g., experience with evidentiary hearings, drafting briefs and position papers, etc.).

Employment Standards

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

Three years of experience (gained after admission to a State Bar) as an attorney practicing civil law for a public agency or four years of full time experience as an attorney practicing general civil law.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Membership in the California State Bar.  

Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of the principles of civil, constitutional and administrative law; judicial procedures and the rules of evidence; principles, methods, materials and practices of legal research; statutes and codes applicable to civil procedures; county ordinances and rules; and precedent decisions impacting county operations.  

Ability to: Research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; analyze and appraise a variety of legal documents and instruments; draft legal documents such as ordinances, resolutions, statutes, and contracts; present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; establish and maintain effective working relationships with County and government officials and the general public.

Benefits

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
VACATION
– 16 days 1st year, increasing to 31 days per year after 15 years service. Available after 1 year service.
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE – One week advanced upon appointment; two weeks accrued each year; can be taken in cash or time off.
HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
SICK LEAVE – Six days per year; after 6 months.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with PERS for a variety of medical plans.  For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and dependents.
DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage.  Employee may purchase dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY – Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years.  County pays a portion of retirement contribution and participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $50,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
LONG TERM DISABILITY PLAN – Plan pays 66 2/3% of the first $13,500, up to $9,000 per month maximum.
DEPENDANT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
FLEXIBLE HEALTH ALLOWANCE (FHA) – A portion of the County’s contribution to employee health insurance that allows employees to have health plan purchase options. Employees who are enrolled in a County medical plan can participate in this program.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
AUTOMATIC CHECK DEPOSIT – Required for all employees in this bargaining unit.

Selection Plan

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.  Following a review for minimum qualifications, applicants who are selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be notified that they must submit a completed conviction history questionnaire in order to continue to the examination phase of the process. 

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigations.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

An Equal Opportunity Employer