THE CURRENT VACANCY IS WITHIN THE SHASTA COUNTY - COUNTY COUNSEL

ORAL EXAM IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JULY 2024

SKILLS OR EXPERIENCES LISTED UNDER THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

STATEMENT MAY ALSO BE USED TO SCREEN APPLICATIONS

SEE “SPECIAL REQUIREMENT” SECTION REGARDING 

POSSESSION OF AN ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP IN THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA

RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS REQUIRED

FINAL FILING DATE: JULY 4, 2024 AT 5:00 PM

SALARY & BENEFITS INFORMATION

$12,975 - $16,560 APPROXIMATE MONTHLY / $74.85 - $95.54 APPROXIMATE HOURLY

• Holidays: 12 days per year.
• 8-hour floating holiday
• Vacation: 10 days first 3 years; increasing with service
• Sick Leave: 12 days per year with a pro rata payoff at termination after at least 5 years.
• Administrative Leave: 80 hours per year
• Longevity Stipend
• Annual leave buy-out amount of up to 120 hours of vacation and administrative leave.
• Bereavement: 5 days of leave with 3 days (24 hours) paid.
• Retirement: CalPERS, coordinated with Social Security.
• Insurance: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Optional Insurance: Aflac, Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability: Fully paid group life and accidental death and dismemberment policy and long-term disability. 
• Deferred Compensation Plan: Dollar-for-dollar County match of employee contribution up to 50% of the normal base contribution each calendar year.
• Other
  1. California State Bar Association dues are paid in full by the County.
  2. IRC Section 125 plan
  3. A generous MCLE allowance and attendance at County Counsel Association conferences is provided at County expense.

Please visit https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/labor-agreements-mous. and refer to the Shasta County Personnel Rules and the Unrepresented Management Cost of Living Increases for future salary increases.

ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The County Counsel provides most of the civil legal services required by the County. The County Counsel represents the County and its officers and employees in civil actions. The office drafts or reviews for legal sufficiency all proposed legislation, contracts, leases, deeds, ordinances, and resolutions. Statutory interpretation and the issuance of legal opinions in response to requests from County officials comprise another major area of responsibility. The County Counsel also identifies and explains legal trends to assist in program planning.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under minimum direction, to provide a variety of professional legal services to the County through the County Counsel's Office; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

There is substantial similarity in the scope and level of work assignments handled by the Assistant County Counsel and a Deputy County Counsel III or a Senior Deputy County Counsel. However, the incumbent has, in addition, regular responsibility for acting for or representing the County Counsel in that person's absence, for participating in the direction of professional and clerical staff, and for assisting with assigned administrative tasks. This position is an unclassified, at will position.

IDEAL CANDIDATE 

• Proven ability to represent the county departments related to diverse matters.
• Substantive knowledge county related legal matters.
• Ability to work positively with the department, opposing counsel and the court.
• Have exceptional legal research and writing skills.
• Be a reliable and strategic legal advisor.
• Be able to simultaneously prioritize and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Provide a positive work environment for attorneys and staff while providing guidance and training.
• Five years working in a County Counsel position or equivalent and at least one-year supervisory experience.

Confers with and advises officers and employees of County departments and special districts on complex legal matters affecting their powers and functions; attends meetings of boards and commissions to give legal counsel and advice; drafts ordinances, resolutions and other legislative measures; drafts and approves as to legal sufficiency various contracts, leases, conveyances or other agreements to be entered into by the County; defends the County, County agencies or County employees in actions brought against them, including preparation and trial of cases before courts and administrative agencies; participates in the settlement of claims for or against the County; provides legal counsel on matters of prosecution, compromise or dismissal of civil litigation; performs legal research; prepares correspondence and reports; acts for the County Counsel in the latter's absence.

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following: 

Knowledge of: 

Legal principles and practices, with special emphasis on the rules of evidence, Government Code and Civil Code provisions applicable to the functions of county government, and civil, constitutional, and administrative law and procedures; pre-trial and trial procedures; and legal research methods.

Ability to: 

Perform legal research using traditional and computer-assisted resources; analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to complex and sensitive legal problems; present law, facts, evidence and arguments clearly and concisely in written and oral form; effectively represent County employees, departments and special districts in legal proceedings and administrative hearings; deal effectively and tactfully with those contacted in the course of the work; train and direct the work of staff; and assist in the formulation of policy and procedures.

In order to qualify for this position, the employee must have been employed as a civil attorney for a California county or city for five years or have at least one year of experience as a Senior Deputy County Counsel in Shasta County.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTActive membership in the State Bar of California.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

1. Do you have an active membership in the State Bar of California? Yes___ No___
2. If yes to Question 1, please provide your State Bar of California Number. If none, please write “N/A”.
3. Have you been employed as a civil attorney for a California county or city for five years? Yes___ No___
4. If yes to Question 3, please provide examples of duties, the employer, and the duration. If none, please write “N/A”.
5. Do you have one year experience as a Senior Deputy County Counsel in Shasta County? Yes___ No___
6. If yes to Question 5, please provide examples of duties, the employer, and the duration. If none, please write “N/A”.
7. Describe in detail, any experience with leading and/or managing projects or work groups. Be sure to include the position title, employer name, dates of employment, scope of responsibilities and month and/or years of experience. If none, please type “N/A”.
8. Describe in detail, your experience as a supervising or lead attorney. Include the number of staff you supervised and/or the scope of your role acting as a lead attorney along with the name of employer, dates of employment and your job title. If none, please type “N/A”.
9.  I acknowledge that this position may require a valid California driver's license. Yes___ No___

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 

• All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account.
• Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position.
• As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered. 
• Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing. 

• In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.

Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 5:00 p.m., on July 4, 2024. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, “Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter,” or “See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter” the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered. 

Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at apply onlineor submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office.

Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345.

Shasta County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Shasta County is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Shasta County Personnel