Assistant/ Senior Assistant Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel at VTA is seeking to hire two experienced attorneys for the position of Assistant/Senior Assistant Counsel to provide legal services and support to the agency. These attorneys will play a critical role in advising the agency on complex legal matters, either in the area of litigation or transactional law, depending on the candidate’s qualifications and experience. The Assistant/Senior Assistant Counsel classification at VTA is a flexibly staffed position, meaning appointments may be made at different levels within the classification series based on the selected candidate’s background and agency needs.

The Ideal Candidate:

The General Counsel will consider applicants with expertise in either of the following areas:

1. Litigation

Ideal candidates should have experience in areas such as:

• Personal injury defense
• Employment and labor relations
• Civil litigation
• Administrative law

Litigation duties include:

• Initiating and conducting comprehensive legal research, analysis, and crafting & preparing legal opinions, briefs, and pleadings.
• Representing VTA in litigation, arbitration, administrative hearings, trials, and appeals, which may require in-person depositions, court appearances and hearings/trials, in the surrounding area.

2. Transactional

Ideal candidates should have experience in:

• Public works and procurement
• Construction and real estate law
• Public finance
• Contract negotiation and drafting

Transactional duties include:

• Advising VTA staff in public procurement, construction contracts, public finance, and public law matters.
• Drafting, review, and negotiation of critical documents such as construction contracts, public procurement contracts, and public financing documents.
• Interpretating, developing, drafting, and reviewing internal policies and procedures, legislation, contracts, and other pertinent legal documents crucial to VTA operations.

The successful candidate will exhibit a high degree of discretion and independent judgment, reflective of their specialized legal skills and experience. Proficiency in research and writing is essential to be effective in this dynamic legal environment.

What You'll Be Doing:

Assistant Counsel:
Under general direction of the General Counsel, or other counsel as designated by the General Counsel, a Assistant Counsel represents VTA in a wide variety of legal matters, and serves as primary or secondary counsel in routine to fairly complex cases/matters in the areas of labor, contract, civil and administrative law (including real property law); and performs tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility.
 
Distinguishing Characteristics
This class is distinguished from the Senior Assistant Counsel in that the latter routinely works more independently, handles highly complex matters, and may serve as lead attorney. Assistant Counsel are typically responsible for less complex matters but are nevertheless required to obtain a degree of knowledge of legal processes and comprehension relative to the application of the law to enable him/her to handle, without much assistance, legal problems that normally occur in the public transportation law arena.

Senior Assistant Counsel:
Under direction of the General Counsel or the Deputy General Counsel, a Senior Assistant Counsel represents VTA in complex legal matters and serves as primary counsel in complex cases in the areas of labor, contract, civil, and administrative law; and performs tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility and developed expertise.

Distinguishing Characteristics
This highly advanced working level class serves under direction of the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel. This class is distinguished from the Deputy General Counsel in that the latter leads and supervises other attorneys in litigation and arbitration matters or in complicated business transactions. Incumbents in this class are required to demonstrate advanced comprehension and knowledge of the law related to public agencies and public transportation and how that law applies to the issues unique to the transportation industry and to public agencies.

Incumbents in this class may also be responsible for the direction of lower level staff.

This is a non-represented, at-will classification.

Typical Tasks

• Develops VTA defense and tries complex cases before state and federal trial and appellate courts and in labor arbitration hearings under collective bargaining agreements; coordinates litigation activities;
• Initiates claims and files lawsuits in appropriate forums to protect fundamental VTA interests;
• Plans, organizes, assigns, reviews, and monitors work related to complex litigation and arbitration matters, including matters assigned to outside counsel; may provide guidance to other attorneys;
• Initiates, researches, analyzes, and prepares legal opinions, briefs and pleadings;
• Advises VTA staff in contract, personnel, labor relations, and business matters;
• Interprets, develops, drafts, and reviews VTA internal policies and procedures, legislation, contracts, other legal documents, and collective bargaining agreement language;
• Exercises discretion and independent judgment, commensurate with specialized legal skills and experience;
• Performs related duties as required.

Assistant Counsel
Sufficient training, education, and public or private legal experience to demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
 
Development of the required knowledge, skills and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to 

• A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and 
• Three years of increasingly responsible experience in a public agency or private law firm.
• Membership in the California State Bar or membership in another state Bar with ability to become a member of the California State Bar within six months from date of hire is also required.

• Completion of a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and 
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience in a public agency or private law firm.
• Membership in the California State Bar at the time of appointment is required.

Knowledge of:
•State and federal court procedures;
•Statutory and case law and regulations applicable to public agencies;
•Legal principles, practices and procedures relating to contract, labor, real property, administrative, environmental, and construction matters particularly as applied to public agencies;
•Methods and techniques of legal research;
•Principles and practices of supervision.

Ability to:
•Analyze complex legal issues and apply relevant legal principles and practices;
•Prepare and present legal information in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in writing; make effective and persuasive legal arguments;
•Evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations;
•Exercise initiative and independent judgment;
•Analyze complex legal issues and apply relevant legal principles and practices;
•Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with VTA personnel, colleagues, opponents, and other business contacts.

Working Environment/Conditions and Physical Demands
Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Good Conditions
Primarily Sedentary Work

Work Locations:
Office or similar indoor environment – Frequently

Exposures:
Minimal exposure to environmental factors