General Recruitment Information
The County Counsel's Office offers a fast-paced, multi-faceted opportunity to practice public law. Attorneys are assigned to wide areas of practice with opportunities to be involved in multiple areas of public law including; transactional, advisory, and litigation. Each attorney advises multiple County departments in legal matters relating to water rights, construction, roads, taxes, juvenile dependency, land use, governmental transparency, employment, and law enforcement. Lake County offers a community-spirited rural environment. Please visit our website at www.lakecountyca.gov or click to apply.
Working and Living in Lake County Lake County is located in the heart of Northern California's wine country just north of the San Francisco Bay Area. Lakeport is home to freshwater Clear Lake which is 68 square miles offering premier boating and fishing experience. There is no shortage of her fun activities from; hiking, biking, off-roading, camping, excellent restaurants, breweries, and wine tasting. With over 30 wineries and 9,000+ acres of vineyards Lake County is one of the fastest growing winemaking regions in America. The County of Lake has all of the benefits of a close-knit community with tons of small-town charm. Employees enjoy proximity to the lake, mountains and the ocean, with affordable housing, excellent schools and easy commute times. Recruitments for County positions are typically conducted to establish eligibility lists to fill countywide vacancies that occur during the active status of those lists (approximately 3 -12 months).
Any person on a promotional eligibility list will be considered first by the hiring department(s) before persons on an open eligibility list. The County of Lake only accepts applications for permanent positions when actively recruiting. Only online applications are accepted. It is the responsibility of each applicant to review the full job description and requirements. The County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer. Veteran's Preference.
To apply for County examinations - All applications for County examinations must be submitted through the County's online application system. A completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each online application. All permanent County recruitments will be posted at www.co.lake.ca.us with a link to the online application. The County of Lake reserves the right to limit the number of applications that will be accepted for any open recruitment, and any such limit will be included on the job posting. When a limit is posted, the recruitment is subject to close at any time prior to the final filing date.
Completed online application packets must be submitted by the close of business on the date that the recruitment closes. All relevant experience must be included on the application to be considered - resumes and other attached documents will not be used to qualify an applicant. Relevant experience and/or education may be substituted at a ratio of 2 to 1 for the purpose of meeting minimum qualifications and applicants should contact the Human Resources department for details.
Important Notice - The provisions listed on job postings, job descriptions, or other recruitment materials do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Benefits may vary between bargaining units. Any provisions contained within job postings, job descriptions or other recruitment material may be modified or revoked without notice. All County of Lake applicants who are given a conditional employment offer must comply with the County's pre-employment medical review program before they may be appointed to the County position.
Minimum Qualifications
Deputy County Counsel I Licensing and Certification: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s license.
Possess an active membership in the State Bar of California.
Education and Experience: A Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school is highly desirable.
Deputy County Counsel II Licensing and Certification: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s license.
Possess an active membership in the State Bar of California.
Training and Experience: One (1) year of professional work experience comparable to that of a Deputy County Counsel I with the County of Lake.
Job Description
DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL I DEFINITION Under supervision, performs the less difficult civil legal work involved in the provision of legal counsel for county officials, agents, departments, and special districts; and performs related duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This is the entry level class in the Deputy County Counsel series. Incumbents in this class are characteristically assigned routine cases and other assignments and may assist with more difficult cases under close supervision. Assignments are generally limited in scope and are performed within a procedural framework established by the County Counsel. Less specific supervision is received as the employee acquires experience.
This class differs from the next higher class of Deputy County Counsel II in that the level II performs work of average difficulty involving a full range of civil legal work with only general instruction, while the level I performs less difficult civil legal work from detailed instructions under close supervision.
Positions in the Deputy County Counsel series are flexibly staffed. Incumbents may advance to the higher classifications after gaining the knowledge, skill, experience, licenses, and certifications which meet the qualifications for and demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.
Confidential incumbents may have access to information affecting employer-employee relations and are not eligible to participate in a union bargaining unit.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Receives general direction from County Counsel. This is not a supervisory classification .
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the scope of duties performed by employees in this class and are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
- Confers with and advises officers and employees of county departments on routine legal matters pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations.
- Drafts ordinances, resolutions, and other legal measures and submits to higher level attorneys for review and discussion.
- Attends meetings of boards or commissions as assigned to give both oral and written legal counsel and advice.
- Studies, interprets, and applies statutes, regulations, court decisions, and legal authorities in connection with the giving of legal advice, written legal opinions and the preparation of cases, pleadings, and briefs.
- Represents the county in lawsuits by or against the county in state and federal courts before administrative agencies and in arbitration.
- Conducts discovery, examines, and interprets evidence.
- Confers with judge and/or opposing counsel regarding settlement, prosecution or dismissal of civil litigation and discusses available alternates with superiors.
- Performs a variety of legal research.
- Prepares correspondence and reports.
- Performs, oversees, and coordinates a wide variety of risk management functions.
- Performs related work, as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: - Legal principles and their application.
- Principles of civil, constitutional, administrative law and California and Federal civil procedure.
- Discovery, trial and appellate procedure and practice.
Ability to: - Complete thorough legal research, in order to provide prompt answers to commonplace legal problems.
- Analyze legal problems and give sound legal advice and/or devise appropriate plan of action based thereon.
- Represent the county in the courts and before administrative agencies.
- Establish and maintain confidential relationships with county department heads and members of the Board of Supervisors.
- Develop cooperative work relationships both within the County Counsel’s office and with those contacted within the course and scope of work.
- Present law, facts, evidence, and arguments clearly and logically, both in written and oral form.
- Treat county employees, representatives of outside agencies, and members of the public with courtesy and respect.
- Consistently work well under pressure, meeting multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines.
- Constantly demonstrate cooperative behavior with colleagues, supervisors, and customers/clients.
Licensing and Certification: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s license.
Possess an active membership in the State Bar of California.
Education and Experience: A Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school is highly desirable.
DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL II DEFINITION Under general supervision, performs a full range of civil legal work of average difficulty involved in the provision of legal counsel for county officials, agents, departments, and special districts; and performs related duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This is the journey level class of the Deputy County Counsel series characterized by assignments involving a full range of civil law cases including complex or controversial matters. Incumbents at this level are expected to carry their assigned duties through to completion with occasional instructions or assistance. Assignments are more complicated in scope, yet operable within a framework of established procedures. Work is normally reviewed upon completion for overall form and substance.
This class differs from the next higher class of Deputy County Counsel III in that the III level class performs civil legal work of considerable difficulty involving professional and administrative legal advisory work with occasional instruction and general supervision.
This class differs from the next lower class of Deputy County Counsel I in that the Grade I class performs civil legal work of routine difficulty from detailed instruction under close supervision.
Confidential incumbents may have access to information affecting employer-employee relations and are not eligible to participate in a union bargaining unit.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Receives general direction from County Counsel. This is not a supervisory classification.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the scope of duties performed by employees in this class and are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
- Represents and advises special boards, committees, and other official bodies.
- Confers with and advises officers and employees of county departments and representatives of special districts on legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations.
- Attends meetings of boards or commissions as requested to give both oral and written legal counsel and advice.
- Drafts ordinances, resolutions, and other legal measures.
- Studies, interprets, and applies statutes, regulations, court decisions and legal authorities in the giving of legal advice, written opinions and the preparation of cases, pleadings, and briefs.
- Represents the county in lawsuits by or against the county in federal and state courts before administrative agencies and/or in arbitration.
- Conducts discovery, examines, and interprets evidence, and makes tentative decisions concerning advisability to prosecute, compromise, and/or dismiss civil litigation after appropriate consultation and discussion with superiors.
- Performs a variety of legal research.
- Dictates correspondence and reports.
- Performs, oversees, and coordinates a wide variety of risk management functions.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: - Principles of civil, constitutional, and administrative law and or California and federal civil procedure.
- The rules of evidence, trial, discovery practice, and appellate practice.
- Laws directly affecting public entities and their operation, public officials and employees and their rights, duties, and responsibilities.
- Principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research.
- Jury trial, civil writ, and appellate practices.
Ability to: - Analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence, and precedents to present such materials orally or in clear written form.
- Complete thorough legal research in order to provide prompt answers to questions.
- Analyze and appraise a variety of legal documents and instruments and give sound legal advice or devise appropriate plan of action based thereon.
- Establish and maintain confidential relationships with county department heads and members of the Board of Supervisors.
- Represent the county or its agents in the courts and before administrative agencies.
- Develop and maintain cooperative work relationships both within the County Counsel’s Office and with those contacted within the course and scope of work.
- Treat county employees, representatives of outside agencies, and members of the public with courtesy and respect.
- Regularly work well under pressure, meeting multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines.
- Constantly demonstrate cooperative behavior with colleagues, supervisors, and customers/clients.
Licensing and Certification: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s license.
Possess an active membership in the State Bar of California.
Training and Experience: One (1) year of professional work experience comparable to that of a Deputy County Counsel I with the County of Lake.
WORKING CONDITIONS, ADA, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS The County of Lake is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Incumbents generally work in a typical office environment with adequate light and temperature. There may be occasional exposure?to?extreme temperatures, loud noise, fumes, noxious odors, dust, mist, gases, and poor ventilation; underground, confined, or restricted?workspaces; and heights more than five stories above ground level.?
Positions in this class typically require sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.
Positions in this class may require local and statewide travel as necessary.
A successful candidate will be required to submit to and pass a background check prior to the appointment. Depending upon the position and/or assigned department, the background check may include but is not limited to civil and criminal history check, reference check, Live Scan, and/or credit check (as allowed under state law).
Disaster Service Workers: As members of the County of Lake Emergency Services Organization, all Lake County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to perform certain emergency services at the direction of the department and / or County.
The contents of this class specification shall not be construed to constitute any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee, nor shall it constitute a contract of employment. The County of Lake assumes no responsibility beyond the general accuracy of the document, nor does it assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained herein. The contents of this specification may be modified or revoked without notice. Terms and conditions of employment are determined through a “meet and confer ” process and are subject to the Memorandum of Understanding currently in effect.
RETIREMENT - County employees are members of the California Public Employee Retirement system (CalPERS).CalPERS provides a defined benefit pension at retirement for County employees.The pension formulas and employee contribution amounts may vary by bargaining unit, date of hire, prior qualifying service, and classification. Please contact Human Resources for more information.
HEALTH AND INSURANCE BENEFITS - Medical, dental, hospital, vision, life and disability coverage is available to employees and their dependents. The County contributes $1,500 of the monthly premiums for the insurance plan options.
VACATION ACCRUAL may be adjusted for current city or county government employees.
VACATION - 80 hours per year during the first five years of service, 120 hours per year after five years, and additional accruals based on years of service beyond fifteen years. Pro-rated for part-time employees.
SICK LEAVE - Accrues at a rate of 96 hours per year. Pro-rated for part-time employees.
HOLIDAYS- An average of twelve paid 8-hour holidays per year. Pro-rated for part-time employees.
SALARY - Lake County has an adopted salary schedule. The salary range for most classifications is in five increments with a provision for longevity increases. Appointments are normally made at the first step of the salary range.
SOCIAL SECURITY - County employees participate in Social Security.
CALIFORNIA STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE - SDI is available to some County employees.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS and CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIPS are available to County employees.
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
