Attorney IV - County Counsel - Litigation

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 Civil Rights, Tort, and Employment Litigation Team defends the County in lawsuits filed against not only the County, but also its officials, and/or its employees. The Team's docket includes a wide variety of cases, including tort, employment, civil rights, medical malpractice, and dangerous condition of public property actions to name a few. Our experienced litigators handle all phases of litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Additionally, our litigators represent all County departments and have developed expertise in the work of each department to provide advice and training on risk management issues to improve policies, practices, and to minimize legal exposure to the County. We are interested in candidates who would like to work in a collaborative and dynamic public-sector litigation practice. 

The Office of the County Counsel seeks an attorney experienced in civil litigation. Candidates must have excellent litigation, writing, oral advocacy, organizational skills and the ability to work collaboratively with their colleagues and clients. Experience in civil litigation, including preparing and responding to discovery, taking and defending depositions, and writing dispositive motions, is required. Trial experience and experience in complex civil litigation and/or public entity litigation is highly desirable. 

You must attach a resume and writing sample to your job application in order to submit your application for this recruitment. The writing sample must include your name as the author. 

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.

• 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