Deputy County Counsel III / IV

The County of Riverside's Office of the County Counsel has an opportunity for a Deputy County Counsel III / IV in Riverside. The opening will be supporting Public Safety & Litigation division in Riverside.

Riverside County is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Deputy County Counsel in support of public safety and litigation functions. The selected candidate will handle a wide range of legal matters, including assisting with motions, preparing staff for interviews and testimony, supporting Grand Jury reporting, responding to CPRA requests and subpoenas (SDTs), and managing various lawsuits. This position requires advanced legal expertise, ideally at the Deputy County Counsel IV level, given the complexity and scope of assignments.

The Deputy County Counsel will be responsible for reviewing and analyzing claims and complaints, developing civil litigation strategies, drafting pleadings, briefs, discovery, and other litigation documents, and providing regular case updates to Risk Management. The role includes attending hearings in state and federal trial courts as well as appellate courts, preparing for and completing mediations, and performing additional litigation-related assignments as needed.

Applicants must be an active member in good standing with the California State Bar.

Promotion to the Deputy County Counsel IV level is based on demonstrated ability, satisfaction of the experience requirement and an overall meets expectation rating on the annual performance evaluation. The level at which this position is offered is at the department's discretion.

Meet the Team!

The Office of County Counsel is a full-service law office that provides advisory and litigation support on issues of vital concern to the County and its residents such as health care, public safety, child welfare, land development, environmental protection, public finance, taxation and elections.

• Provide guidance and advice to Deputy County Counsel attorneys, Supervisors, and Chief Deputies in matters of law and trial tactics, legal research, preparation of legal briefs and opinions, completing mediations, and trial and appellate practices.
• Provide responsive, high-quality service to County employees and representatives of outside agencies by providing accurate, complete and up-to-date information in a courteous, efficient and timely manner, and may interact with members of the public.
• Consult with subordinate Deputies and Paralegals on points of law, evidence, legal procedures and policies, and practices of the County Counsel's Office; counsel and provide recommendations to subordinate Deputies and Paralegals on more difficult and complex legal problems.
• Represent the County in all state and federal courts and before administrative hearing bodies.
• Study and interpret laws, court decisions, ordinances, and other legal authorities.
• Draft written opinions and render informal opinions on legal questions; draft regular Risk Management case reports; prepare correspondence and pleadings; handle percipient witness and expert depositions; prepare written discovery; prepare pretrial motions and settlement conferences; first or second chair trials as needed.
• Analyze, research and resolve difficult and complex legal problems.
• Prepare, present and manage difficult to complex trial and appellate cases under minimal to moderate supervision depending upon level of experience
• May be required to perform the functions of the lower-level Deputy County Counsel classifications.

DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL III ($137,000.00 - $179,579.00 Annually)

OPTION I

Experience : One year at the Deputy County Counsel II level with the County of Riverside's Office of County Counsel, or as a county counsel attorney or city attorney at an equivalent level with another California county or city.

OPTION II

Experience : Three years in the practice of civil law providing professional legal counsel to governmental agencies or departments.

OPTION III

Experience : Three years in the practice of civil law in one of the following areas : eminent domain; labor and employment; civil litigation; business transactional; environmental; finance; healthcare; probate and conservatorships; bankruptcy; juvenile dependency or delinquency; land use; Native American gaming and land use; public works; real estate; or utilities.

OPTION IV

Experience : Three years in the practice of criminal law.

DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL IV ($144,125.00 - $214,964.00 Annually)

OPTION I

Experience : One year at the Deputy County Counsel III level with the County of Riverside's Office of County Counsel, or as a county counsel attorney or city attorney at an equivalent level with another California county or city.

OPTION II

Experience : Four years in the practice of civil law providing professional legal counsel to governmental agencies or departments.

OPTION III

Experience : Four years in the practice of civil law in one of the following areas : eminent domain; labor and employment; civil litigation; business transactional; environmental; finance; healthcare; probate and conservatorships; bankruptcy; juvenile dependency or delinquency; land use; Native American gaming and land use; public works; real estate; or utilities.

OPTION IV

Experience : Four years in the practice of criminal law

All Levels Require :

License : Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.

Membership : Active member in good standing with the California State Bar.

Job Competencies :

What's Next?  This recruitment is open to all applicants and will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.

General Information

If you have any questions regarding this posting, please contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org

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