Deputy County Counsel - Exempt

The Position

Why join the Contra Costa County Counsel's Office?

The Contra Costa County Counsel's Office offers an exciting career opportunity for attorneys interested in public service. The office is recruiting for three attorneys to serve as Deputy County Counsels – Exempt: two to serve in the General Law Division, and one to serve in the Juvenile Dependency/Conservatorship Division.

Our office has a collegial working environment and offers opportunities for professional growth. We engage in high-profile, complex, intellectually challenging, and meaningful legal work while encouraging a work-life balance.

We seek to hire attorneys who:

• Are able to research, analyze, and present complex legal issues clearly and succinctly, both orally and in writing
• Think strategically and exercise exceptional professional judgment
• Are able to develop positive, long-term working relationships with clients and colleagues
• Are committed to maintaining a collegial and supportive office culture
• Have a strong commitment to public service
• Maintain high standards of professional ethics and personal integrity

If you possess these attributes and the qualifications for any of our open positions, we encourage you to apply.

Attorney Vacancies in the General Law Division

The office is recruiting for two attorney positions in the General Law Division. Attorneys in this division advise boards, commissions, and departments of the County and several outside public agencies. Attorneys in this division are expected to handle all aspects of advising and representing a public agency and its departments, including:

• Providing timely and accurate legal advice
• Preparing ordinances, resolutions, formal legal opinions, and other documents
• Reviewing and drafting contracts, leases, and other legal instruments
• Working with staff on complex transactional matters
• Advising and serving as counsel to boards, commissions, and hearing bodies, including occasional evening meetings
• Handling all aspects of civil litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts
• Participating in mediations, negotiations, and administrative hearings
• Working collaboratively with outside counsel

Applicants for these positions should highlight their training and experience in one or more of the following areas: business transactions, including contract drafting and negotiation; employment and labor law; health law; construction, procurement, and real estate law; land use and environmental law; public finance and taxation; complex administrative law; and general civil litigation, including civil writ matters.

Attorney Vacancy in the Juvenile Dependency/Conservatorship Division

The office is recruiting for one attorney position in the Juvenile Dependency/ Conservatorship Division. Attorneys in this division:

• Advise and represent the Public Guardian's Office of the Health Services Department in conservatorship proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act and Probate Code
• Advise and represent the Behavioral Health Division of the Health Services Department in Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) and Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act proceedings, and other mental health proceedings
• Independently manage a calendar in Probate Court and CARE Court
• Handle court and jury trials in Probate Court, and any resulting appeals
• Advise and represent the Children and Family Services Bureau on juvenile dependency matters brought under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, including handling contested dependency matters in Juvenile Court
• Provide ongoing client training and education.

The office is seeking an attorney in this division to handle primarily conservatorship proceedings and other mental health matters. Applicants for this position should highlight their training and experience in one or more of the following areas: general civil litigation, including civil writ matters; conservatorship actions; CARE Court or other mental health proceedings; and dependency proceedings.

Current Attorney Salaries and Benefits

These openings may be filled at any level step on the salary range appropriate to qualifications and experience:

• Advanced Level, Deputy County Counsel - Advanced - Exempt ($17,565.78 - $20,880.19 monthly)
• Standard Level, Deputy County Counsel - Standard - Exempt ($14,410.05 - $17,129.02 monthly)
• Basic Level, Deputy County Counsel - Basic - Exempt ($11,821.25 - $14,051.76 monthly)

Full-time regular attorneys also receive generous County benefits, which currently include:

• Annual leave accruals of three weeks of vacation leave (to start), 24 hours of floating holiday leave, and 96 hours of sick leave
• Up to 94 hours of management leave annually (currently granted in January of each year)
• 11 paid County holidays (annually)
• A choice of health, dental, and vision plans with a significant employer contribution toward the cost of premiums for employees and any dependents
• A defined benefit pension through the Contra Costa County Employees Retirement Association, subject to vesting and other requirements
• The option to participate in a 457(b) deferred compensation plan with eligibility for an employer contribution after meeting eligibility requirements
• Longevity salary increases after 10 years of County service
• An annual allowance that can be used for continuing education, conferences, and membership dues, subject to the County Counsel's approval
• Reimbursement of State Bar dues

More information about these and other benefits can be found in the current version of the County's Management Resolution and on the Employee Benefits website. The Board of Supervisors determines employee salaries and benefits, which are subject to change.

What Else You Should Know:

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to employ a workforce representative of the diversity within Contra Costa County. We welcome applications from all candidates, including candidates of any race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and age, and from candidates with disabilities.

We are committed to helping you succeed. It may take some time to understand how the County functions as an organization. Your supervisor and colleagues will help orient you to the County's structure, office, and client expectations, and the particular ways we practice public law.

You may request a hybrid work schedule. The County's current remote work policy allows attorneys to work from home up to two days each week after approximately one month of employment, subject to approval by the County Counsel. Most attorneys have a hybrid work schedule, but some people find they are most effective when they are in the office five days a week.

And a few other things. In recognition of the possibility of conflicts of interest, Deputy County Counsels – Exempt are required to refrain from private law practice, and they are required to file statements of economic interest. Attorneys must furnish their own personal transportation, and they may seek mileage reimbursement for work-related travel in accordance with County policy. Deputy County Counsels – Exempt are excluded from the County Merit System and are appointed by the County Counsel.

The Position

Why join the Contra Costa County Counsel's Office?

The Contra Costa County Counsel's Office offers an exciting career opportunity for attorneys interested in public service. The office is recruiting for three attorneys to serve as Deputy County Counsels – Exempt: two to serve in the General Law Division, and one to serve in the Juvenile Dependency/Conservatorship Division.

Our office has a collegial working environment and offers opportunities for professional growth. We engage in high-profile, complex, intellectually challenging, and meaningful legal work while encouraging a work-life balance.

We seek to hire attorneys who:

• Are able to research, analyze, and present complex legal issues clearly and succinctly, both orally and in writing
• Think strategically and exercise exceptional professional judgment
• Are able to develop positive, long-term working relationships with clients and colleagues
• Are committed to maintaining a collegial and supportive office culture
• Have a strong commitment to public service
• Maintain high standards of professional ethics and personal integrity

If you possess these attributes and the qualifications for any of our open positions, we encourage you to apply.

Attorney Vacancies in the General Law Division

The office is recruiting for two attorney positions in the General Law Division. Attorneys in this division advise boards, commissions, and departments of the County and several outside public agencies. Attorneys in this division are expected to handle all aspects of advising and representing a public agency and its departments, including:

• Providing timely and accurate legal advice
• Preparing ordinances, resolutions, formal legal opinions, and other documents
• Reviewing and drafting contracts, leases, and other legal instruments
• Working with staff on complex transactional matters
• Advising and serving as counsel to boards, commissions, and hearing bodies, including occasional evening meetings
• Handling all aspects of civil litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts
• Participating in mediations, negotiations, and administrative hearings
• Working collaboratively with outside counsel

Applicants for these positions should highlight their training and experience in one or more of the following areas: business transactions, including contract drafting and negotiation; employment and labor law; health law; construction, procurement, and real estate law; land use and environmental law; public finance and taxation; complex administrative law; and general civil litigation, including civil writ matters.

Attorney Vacancy in the Juvenile Dependency/Conservatorship Division

The office is recruiting for one attorney position in the Juvenile Dependency/ Conservatorship Division. Attorneys in this division:

• Advise and represent the Public Guardian's Office of the Health Services Department in conservatorship proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act and Probate Code
• Advise and represent the Behavioral Health Division of the Health Services Department in Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) and Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act proceedings, and other mental health proceedings
• Independently manage a calendar in Probate Court and CARE Court
• Handle court and jury trials in Probate Court, and any resulting appeals
• Advise and represent the Children and Family Services Bureau on juvenile dependency matters brought under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, including handling contested dependency matters in Juvenile Court
• Provide ongoing client training and education.

The office is seeking an attorney in this division to handle primarily conservatorship proceedings and other mental health matters. Applicants for this position should highlight their training and experience in one or more of the following areas: general civil litigation, including civil writ matters; conservatorship actions; CARE Court or other mental health proceedings; and dependency proceedings.

Current Attorney Salaries and Benefits

These openings may be filled at any level step on the salary range appropriate to qualifications and experience:

• Advanced Level, Deputy County Counsel - Advanced - Exempt ($17,565.78 - $20,880.19 monthly)
• Standard Level, Deputy County Counsel - Standard - Exempt ($14,410.05 - $17,129.02 monthly)
• Basic Level, Deputy County Counsel - Basic - Exempt ($11,821.25 - $14,051.76 monthly)

Full-time regular attorneys also receive generous County benefits, which currently include:

• Annual leave accruals of three weeks of vacation leave (to start), 24 hours of floating holiday leave, and 96 hours of sick leave
• Up to 94 hours of management leave annually (currently granted in January of each year)
• 11 paid County holidays (annually)
• A choice of health, dental, and vision plans with a significant employer contribution toward the cost of premiums for employees and any dependents
• A defined benefit pension through the Contra Costa County Employees Retirement Association, subject to vesting and other requirements
• The option to participate in a 457(b) deferred compensation plan with eligibility for an employer contribution after meeting eligibility requirements
• Longevity salary increases after 10 years of County service
• An annual allowance that can be used for continuing education, conferences, and membership dues, subject to the County Counsel's approval
• Reimbursement of State Bar dues

More information about these and other benefits can be found in the current version of the County's Management Resolution and on the Employee Benefits website. The Board of Supervisors determines employee salaries and benefits, which are subject to change.

What Else You Should Know:

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to employ a workforce representative of the diversity within Contra Costa County. We welcome applications from all candidates, including candidates of any race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and age, and from candidates with disabilities.

We are committed to helping you succeed. It may take some time to understand how the County functions as an organization. Your supervisor and colleagues will help orient you to the County's structure, office, and client expectations, and the particular ways we practice public law.

You may request a hybrid work schedule. The County's current remote work policy allows attorneys to work from home up to two days each week after approximately one month of employment, subject to approval by the County Counsel. Most attorneys have a hybrid work schedule, but some people find they are most effective when they are in the office five days a week.

And a few other things. In recognition of the possibility of conflicts of interest, Deputy County Counsels – Exempt are required to refrain from private law practice, and they are required to file statements of economic interest. Attorneys must furnish their own personal transportation, and they may seek mileage reimbursement for work-related travel in accordance with County policy. Deputy County Counsels – Exempt are excluded from the County Merit System and are appointed by the County Counsel.

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