Deputy County Counsel I/II/III/IV

This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time throughout the County.

Deputy County Counsel is part of a career series for Deputy County Counsel I, II, III and IV. Under the direction of the County Counsel, attorneys in this series perform professional legal work by preparing and trying civil cases in the courts, providing legal advice and assistance to the County and its officers and agencies, and do other related work as required.

Deputies County Counsel are confidential employees in that they contribute to the development or implementation of the County's employee relations policies and/or in the course of their duties have access to information relating to the County's administration of the employer-employee relations. Under State law and the County Employee Relations Policy, confidential employees have different rights of representation than those of other non-management employees.

Under the direction of the County Counsel and Assistant County Counsel, an incumbent acts as legal adviser to the County and its officers, agencies, commissions, and districts in civil law matters; tries civil cases in State and Federal courts; tries administrative matters; prosecutes appeals; argues motions and other special proceedings; prepares legal opinions and memoranda based upon statutes, governmental regulations, court cases, and common law; prepares and presents legislative matters; prepares ordinances, resolutions, deeds, contracts, bonds, leases, and other legal instruments. 

Distinguishing Characteristics

Assignments are based upon the professional competency and experience of the incumbent and upon the needs of the County. The positions in this class are distinct by separate pay levels based upon the incumbent's professional experience. The promotion of an incumbent to a higher position within this class is based upon the incumbent's successful performance of progressively responsible job assignments and upon the experience requirements for each successive level.

Knowledge of: The canons of professional ethics of the California State Bar; the principles and application of civil law; of trial procedures and rules of evidence; of legal research methods; of principles and precedents and their application. Ability to: Present statements of facts, law and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form; effectively analyze and appraise legal problems; apply legal principles and precedent to particular sets of facts; establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Specialized experience requirements dependent upon the needs of the Office of the County Counsel will be set forth specifically at the time of recruitment.

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date.  Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca.  Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process.  We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.
 
An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.
 
Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process. 
 
If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.
 
For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points 
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points.  Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit.  Please note that Veteran’s credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity 
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.