Deputy General Counsel (Hybrid)

PRISM is a joint powers authority (JPA) that provides risk management and insurance solutions for public entities throughout California.  Our organization is member driven meaning that our public entity members have numerous opportunities available to participate in the governance of our JPA. 

One of PRISM’s greatest assets is its staff. PRISM employees are smart, creative, hard-working, and passionate individuals working in areas ranging from member services, risk control, claims administration, information technology, accounting, and risk pool administration.  Working here requires energy, commitment, and teamwork. At the same time, we offer a great work environment built upon our Core Values of People, Families, Trust, Integrity, and Growth.  We are looking for an individual who shares these values to join the PRISM team.

The Deputy General Counsel will advise and provide legal counsel to members regarding matters related to Employment Practices Liability such as the discipline and discharge of employees, labor law compliance, disability laws and the interactive process, leaves of absence and return to work, harassment and discrimination prevention for the purpose of assisting members avoid lawsuits and reduce legal liabilities.  This role will train and educate member staff in discrimination law, employment law, and positive employment practices as well as research legal issues to provide legal advice to PRISM staff and members regarding the Brown Act, employment and labor laws, public sector tort liability, civil rights claims, and legal procedures. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Temporary modifications to provide reasonable accommodations, or transitional work assignments, do not waive any of the essential functions for this position.

• Advise and provide legal counsel to members regarding matters related to Employment Practices Liability such as the discipline and discharge of employees, labor law compliance, disability laws and the interactive process, leaves of absence and return to work, harassment and discrimination prevention for the purpose of assisting members avoid lawsuits and reduce legal liabilities.
• Train and educate member staff in discrimination law, employment law, and positive employment practices through webinars, blogs, guides, emails, and other methods of communication.
• Research and analyze laws to provide legal advice to PRISM staff and members regarding employment and labor laws, unemployment laws, tort liability, civil rights issues, workers’ compensation laws, public records/meeting laws, and litigation procedures, for use in providing training and advice to members.
• Review and assist in the preparation of quality documentation for members relating to discipline, disability accommodation and leave laws, and other subjects. Review responses on behalf of members to E.E.O.C. and California Civil Rights Department charges of discrimination or harassment.
• Compose and present original training to members on a variety of employment law topics, including best practices for avoiding discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, leave of absence laws, and disability accommodation practices.
• Update existing employment law leave manuals that are available to the members through the PRISM website.
• Work collaboratively with others to address members’ risk management situations with the goals of avoiding claims/lawsuits and reducing legal liabilities.
• Speak to member groups and train members’ staff and management in the legal nuances of employment practices, employment discrimination law, tort law, positive employment practices, and other legal sources of potential liability for cities, counties and special districts.
• Strategize with member’s Human Resources and legal teams on workplace-related issues relating to union-represented employees.
• Provide training via local, regional, and state-wide training sessions (e.g., in person, at conferences, or via other training platforms, like webinars and podcasts) on employment law issues, including laws providing employees with workplace rights, employment law case updates, and other legal sources of potential liability for members and PRISM staff.
• Compose training materials, articles and guidebooks for production by PRISM regarding employment law compliance and employment practices, including discrimination and harassment law, termination procedures and risks, managing employee absences due to medical issues/injuries, leave laws, handling internal investigations, case law updates, and any other employment law matter that could result in a covered employment claim.
• Analyze and review legal documents including members’ employment contracts with employees or other forms of local governance documentation (as related to powers of public officers to oversee any aspects of the terms and conditions of employee’s employment, including hiring, disciplining, and firing).
• Research and provide resource lists to members seeking workplace investigators, workplace mediation experts, and communication facilitators.
• Review members’ employee handbooks/personnel policies.
• Develop, draft, and implement a variety of workplace and employment-related templates and tools to be used by members.
• Provide guidance to and review draft position statements in response to administrative charges and complaints of discrimination (g., CCRD and EEOC).
• Work independently in such a manner which advances PRISM’S goal of quality service delivery to its members.
• Must be able to handle the demands of an active advice practice, and work collegially with PRISM staff, PRISM member staff, and various stakeholders.
• Document member interactions.
• Provide updates to Chief Legal Counsel and assist Chief Legal Counsel with other legal tasks as needed.
• Must have the ability to drive and maintain a valid California Driver’s License.