Deputy County Counsel

The final filing deadline for application submissions has been extended to Friday, January 30, 2015 at 5:00 pm.

Placer County's County Counsel Office is currently recruiting for a California licensed attorney to fill one position of Deputy County Counsel at either the II or III level.  Salary and position placement will be determined at the time of employment offer with the hiring authority.  Positions in the Deputy County Counsel series I-IV are designated as unclassified and, as such, are at-will employees serving at the pleasure of the County Counsel.

Salary Information:

Deputy County Counsel II
$45.16 - $54.90 hourly / $7,827 - $9,516 monthly / $93,932 - $114,192 annually

Deputy County Counsel III
$49.90 - 60.67 hourly / $8,649 - 10,516 monthly / $103,792 - 126,193 annually

The County Counsel's Office is a department of the County of Placer.  It consists of twenty-two employees, including fourteen attorneys.  The Office of the Placer County Counsel is headed by the County Counsel, an attorney who is a direct appointment of the Board of Supervisors.  The office structure is similar to a traditional law office, providing in-house transactional and civil litigation services to its client population.

Employment law services include advising clients on the full range of employment and labor law issues that may arise in the public sector.

Transactional legal services include legal research and analysis, advising County officers and employees regarding the County's responsibilities, and drafting legal documents.

Litigation services include the full range of civil litigation defense and prosecution activities, from investigation through appeal.  These services also include representation of county departments in child and adult protective proceedings.  Practice includes appearances in state court, federal court, the court of appeals, and before administrative bodies.

The successful candidate for this position will be assigned primarily to a personnel/employment/labor law advising assignment.  However, the assignment may also include advising services outside of this specialty, as well as some litigation.  Applicants are encouraged to identify in their application materials all experience regarding this employment law area of practice.

To assist the County Counsel in providing legal advice and services to County and district officers and employees; to act for the County Counsel at his/her direction; and to act as trial advocate in civil litigation at all levels of court.

This is a multi-level class series in which incumbents may be assigned to any one of four levels, depending upon organizational needs, professional legal experience, individual expertise and skill, proficiency gained, and the complexity and sensitivity of assigned cases.  Progression from one level to the next is at the discretion of the appointing authority, provided the minimum qualifications are met.

Deputy County Counsel I is the entry level in the Deputy County Counsel series assigned to employees with no previous legal experience.  Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgement on matters allocated to the higher levels.  Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

Deputies County Counsel II - IV are full journey level classes within the Deputy County Counsel series.  These classes are distinguished from the Deputy County Counsel I by the assignment of the full range of duties.  Employees at these levels receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise. As employees progress through these levels they will be assigned more difficult and sensitive cases, will be required to be fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit, and may be required to prepare legal opinions on problems that are complex and have far-reaching implications.  Positions in these classes are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry Level.

These classes are distinguished from the Senior Deputy County Counsel in that the latter is responsible for providing lead direction to a functional area and presents the most complex and sensitive cases in court.

Deputy County Counsel II
Receives general supervision from a management staff and receives technical and functional supervision from higher level Deputy County Counsels.

Deputy County Counsel III
Receives direction from management staff.
May exercise technical and functional supervision over legal staff.

• Confer with and advise County and district officers and employees on legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions and obligations.
• Attend meetings of boards and commissions.
• As requested, act as legal advisor for County offices.
• Prepare formal legislative measures, contracts, leases, conveyances and other legal documents.
• Study, interpret and apply laws, court decisions and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases, opinions and trial briefs.
• Prepare pleadings and other papers related to suits, trials, hearings and similar legal proceedings.
• Make decisions concerning the advisability to prosecute, compromise or dismiss civil litigation subject to civil suits in all State and Federal courts.
• Assemble and evaluate evidence and secure and interview witnesses.
• Perform a wide variety of legal research.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, outside counsel and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Deputy County Counsel II

Experience: One year of responsible professional legal experience performing duties similar to a Deputy County Counsel I with Placer County or one year of trial experience.

Training: Active membership in the California State Bar.

License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Deputy County Counsel III

Experience: One year of responsible professional legal experience performing duties similar to a Deputy County Counsel II with Placer County or two years of trial experience.

Training: Active membership in the California State Bar.

License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Deputy County Counsel I

Knowledge of:

• The principles of civil, constitutional and administrative law.
• Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Principles, methods, materials and practices of legal research.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures; and explain relevant policies, procedures and matters of law to County officers, employees, outside counsel and the general public.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time or in meetings; intermittently, walk, stand and bend while going to/from other offices or court and taking files to/from meetings or court; twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; hear sufficiently to communicate with clients and to understand actions in public meetings, hearings, or court proceedings; and lift light weight.
• Analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence and precedents and present such material orally or in writing in clear and logical form; and analyze and appraise a variety of legal documents and instruments.
• Draft legal instruments such as ordinances, resolutions, Board orders and contracts.
• Learn to prepare and present legal cases; and perform legal research.
• Learn to recommend investigative alternatives.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Learn to obtain information through interview; handle multiple cases; work with interruption; and deal firmly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, dictation machine, facsimile machine, postage meter, microfilm reader/printer and photocopy machine.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Adhere to ethical standards. 

County Counsel II - IV

In addition to the qualifications for County Counsel I:

Knowledge of:

• Responsibilities, powers and statutory limitations of the County Counsel's office.
• Federal and State statutes and County ordinances and rules and regulations pertinent to assigned cases.
• Policies and procedures of a County Counsel's office.
• Principles and practices of case development and management.

Ability to:

• Independently analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence and precedents and to present such material orally and in writing in clear and logical form; and analyze and appraise a variety of legal documents and instruments.
• Independently draft legal instruments such as ordinances, resolutions, Board orders and contracts.

Application materials will be forwarded to the Department of County Counsel who will contact the most highly qualified applicants to schedule a hiring interview with department executive staff.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination, which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation, sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation and/or be bonded.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County now offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please visit our website at:
http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment and retaliation is prohibited and that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. Please contact the Personnel Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Personnel Department.

Click here to view benefits for Management bargaining unit