Deputy County Counsel I / II / III / IV

Salary : $91,041.60 - $180,377.60 Annually

Location : San Luis Obispo, CA

Job Type : Permanent - Salary

Job Number : 0225PM-000313-01

Department : County Counsel

Division : County Counsel Administration

Opening Date : 02 / 25 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 10 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Pacific

About the Position

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

Definition

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.

Typical Tasks and Representative Duties

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.

Assignment may vary based on Interest and Experience.

Click Here for the full job description for DCC I

Click Here for the full job description for DCC II

Click Here for the full job description for DCC III

Click Here for the full job description for DCC IV

Click Here to learn more about the County of San Luis Obispo's County Counsel Department.

The Ideal Candidate

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.

Education and Experience

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

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes :

Deputy County Counsel I : No experience required.

Deputy County Counsel II : Either A : One year of experience as an attorney in the practice of law for a public agency or two years in the practice of general civil law; OR B : One year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class of Deputy County Counsel I with San Luis Obispo County.

Deputy County Counsel III : Either A : Two years of experience as an attorney in the practice of law for a public agency or three years in the practice of general civil law; OR B : One year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class of Deputy County Counsel II with San Luis Obispo County.

Deputy County Counsel IV : Either A : Three years of progressively responsible experience as an attorney in the practice of law for a public agency or four years in the practice of general civil law; OR B : One year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class of Deputy County Counsel III with San Luis Obispo County.

Licenses and Certificates

Active membership in the California State Bar.

Certain positions within this classification may require driving. When driving is an essential function of the position, a valid CALIFORNIA driver's license will be required at the time of appointment.

How to Apply

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 Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at

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. 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.

Make a Difference

Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits

Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated .

Some benefits include :

• Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
• Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
• Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
• Free visits to the employee health clinic
• Mental Health resources / benefits including Headspace
• Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
• A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
• Optional deferred compensation plan with up to $500 per year match (depending on bargaining unit)
• Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
• Paid personal, sick and vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education and Wellness Allowance
• Post Employment Health Plan
• Family Friendly workplace policies
• Flexible work schedule options
• Rideshare commuter benefits
• Pet Insurance

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through : childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates :

The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions :

The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),

Learning and Development

The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include :

Student Loan Forgiveness

Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program

Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.

Are you an active member in the California State Bar?

Please select the option below which best describes your prior related experience as an attorney :

Required Question

Salary : $91,042 - $180,378