Attorney IV - County Counsel - Finance, Government Operations, and Technology

Under direction, performs professional legal work in the Office of the County Counsel to represent and advise the Board of Supervisors, County officers and departments and certain other public entities on legal issues; represents County agencies in a variety of civil matters; and assists in drafting and/or negotiating contracts, leases, ordinances, resolutions and other legal documents.

The Office of the County Counsel for the County of Santa Clara is one of the premier public law offices in the country and offers an interesting, varied, fast-paced practice with competitive salary and benefits.

The Finance, Government Operations, and Technology Team provides essential legal advice to the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive, the Assessor, the Clerk of the Board, Facilities and Fleet Department, Finance Agency, County Library, Procurement Department, Registrar of Voters, and Technology Services and Solutions Department to fulfill the public service mission of the County.  The Team’s practice is grounded in honing expertise in public law, including the Brown Act and the Public Records Act.  Attorneys also practice in specialized areas including public contracting, finance, property taxation, public works, and technology, data security, and privacy.  Finance, Government Operations, and Technology Team attorneys research and analyze many areas of law, craft ordinances and policies, negotiate contracts, comment on legislation, and help solve challenging problems for the County departments and officials they advise.   Team members also participate in highly significant litigation related to property taxation and election-related matters.  The team’s technology, data security, and privacy members negotiate technology contracts and advise the Technology Services and Solutions department, the Information Security Office, and the Privacy Office on all legal issues. The team’s public construction practice members are involved from project conception through completion, including design professional procurement, project delivery method selection, prequalification, bid solicitation, bidding disputes, construction contracting, change orders and resolution of construction and claims disputes, and related risk management issues.

The Office of the County Counsel is seeking an attorney for assignment on the Office's Finance, Government Operations, and Technology Team. A successful candidate must have experience providing legal advice to governmental entities (city, county, state, special district, or federal agency) on public law issues, including one or more of the following: public finance; public contracting; government operations; public construction; or technology, data security, and privacy.

You must attach a resume and writing sample to your job application in order to submit your application for this recruitment.

• Represents and advises one or more County department(s), board(s), committee(s), or County officer(s) and employees on legal issues regarding their powers, functions, jurisdiction, procedures, obligations and operations;
   
• Performs legal research on a variety of legal issues pertaining to the interests of the County;
   
• Studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in preparing contracts, pleadings, ordinances, resolutions, memoranda and opinions;
   
• Attends meetings of boards, commissions or other committees to give legal advice;
   
• Litigates in both Federal and State Courts;
   
• Assists departments and other contacts in preparing documents, such as labor contracts and agreements;
   
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
   
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge and abilities consistent with the highest standard of the legal profession and with the level of difficulty and expertise required for the intended appointment.

Membership in the California State Bar is required prior to appointment. Active membership in good standing of the California State Bar must be maintained throughout employment.
 
Five (5) years of full-time practice experience as an attorney, judicial law clerk, or legal advisor.


Knowledge of:

• Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, codes and regulations applicable to the assigned responsibility;
   
• Trial and hearing practices, procedures and rules of evidence;
   
• Legal research methods, practices and techniques;
   
• General office practices and procedures, such as record keeping practices.

Ability to:

• Perform legal research;
   
• Analyze and apply legal principles and facts to legal issues;
   
• Analyze situations accurately and recommend an effective course of action;
   
• Exercise good judgment and make sound decisions on legal cases and in dealing with people;
   
• Monitor current and proposed legislation relating to assigned responsibility;
   
• Write comments or arguments appropriately within a political and sensitive environment;
   
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and colleagues in the performance of required duties.

Salary : $232,679 - $289,605