Deputy County Counsel - Exempt

Full Job Description

Why join the Contra Costa County Counsel's Office?

The Contra Costa County Counsel’s Office offers an exciting career opportunity for attorneys interested in public service.

The office is recruiting for three attorneys to serve as Deputy County Counsels – Exempt: two to serve in the General Law Division, and one to serve in the Juvenile Dependency/Conservatorship Division.

Our office has a collegial working environment and offers opportunities for professional growth. We engage in high-profile, complex, intellectually challenging, and meaningful legal work while encouraging a work-life balance.

We seek to hire attorneys who:

• Are able to research, analyze, and present complex legal issues clearly and succinctly, both orally and in writing
• Think strategically and exercise exceptional professional judgment
• Are able to develop positive, long-term working relationships with clients and colleagues
• Are committed to maintaining a collegial and supportive office culture
• Have a strong commitment to public service
• Maintain high standards of professional ethics and personal integrity

If you possess these attributes and the qualifications for any of our open positions, we encourage you to apply.

Attorney Vacancies in the General Law Division

The office is recruiting for two attorney positions in the General Law Division.

Attorneys in this division advise boards, commissions, and departments of the County and several outside public agencies.

Attorneys in this division are expected to handle all aspects of advising and representing a public agency and its departments, including:

• Providing timely and accurate legal advice
• Preparing ordinances, resolutions, formal legal opinions, and other documents
• Reviewing and drafting contracts, leases, and other legal instruments
• Working with staff on complex transactional matters
• Advising and serving as counsel to boards, commissions, and hearing bodies, including occasional evening meetings
• Handling all aspects of civil litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts
• Participating in mediations, negotiations, and administrative hearings
• Working collaboratively with outside counsel

Applicants for these positions should highlight their training and experience in one or more of the following areas: business transactions, including contract drafting and negotiation; employment and labor law; health law; construction, procurement, and real estate law; land use and environmental law; public finance and taxation; complex administrative law; and general civil litigation, including civil writ matters.

Attorney Vacancy in the Juvenile Dependency/Conservatorship Division
The office is recruiting for one attorney position in the Juvenile Dependency/ Conservatorship Division. Attorneys in this division:

• Advise and represent the Public Guardian’s Office of the Health Services Department in conservatorship proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act and Probate Code
• Advise and represent the Behavioral Health Division of the Health Services Department in Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) and Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act proceedings, and other mental health proceedings
• Independently manage a calendar in Probate Court and CARE Court
• Handle court and jury trials in Probate Court, and any resulting appeals
• Advise and represent the Children and Family Services Bureau on juvenile dependency matters brought under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, including handling contested dependency matters in Juvenile Court
• Provide ongoing client training and education.

The office is seeking an attorney in this division to handle primarily conservatorship proceedings and other mental health matters.

Applicants for this position should highlight their training and experience in one or more of the following areas: general civil litigation, including civil writ matters; conservatorship actions; CARE Court or other mental health proceedings; and dependency proceedings.

Current Attorney Salaries and Benefits

These openings may be filled at any level step on the salary range appropriate to qualifications and experience:

• Advanced Level, Deputy County Counsel - Advanced - Exempt ($17,565.78 - $20,880.19 monthly)
• Standard Level, Deputy County Counsel - Standard - Exempt ($14,410.05 - $17,129.02 monthly)
• Basic Level, Deputy County Counsel - Basic - Exempt ($11,821.25 - $14,051.76 monthly)

Full-time regular attorneys also receive generous County benefits, which currently include:

• Annual leave accruals of three weeks of vacation leave (to start), 24 hours of floating holiday leave, and 96 hours of sick leave
• Up to 94 hours of management leave annually (currently granted in January of each year)
• 11 paid County holidays (annually)
• A choice of health, dental, and vision plans with a significant employer contribution toward the cost of premiums for employees and any dependents
• A defined benefit pension through the Contra Costa County Employees Retirement Association, subject to vesting and other requirements
• The option to participate in a 457(b) deferred compensation plan with eligibility for an employer contribution after meeting eligibility requirements
• Longevity salary increases after 10 years of County service
• An annual allowance that can be used for continuing education, conferences, and membership dues, subject to the County Counsel’s approval
• Reimbursement of State Bar dues

More information about these and other benefits can be found in the current version of the County’s Management Resolution and on the Employee Benefits website. The Board of Supervisors determines employee salaries and benefits, which are subject to change.

What Else You Should Know:

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to employ a workforce representative of the diversity within Contra Costa County.

We welcome applications from all candidates, including candidates of any race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and age, and from candidates with disabilities.

We are committed to helping you succeed. It may take some time to understand how the County functions as an organization. Your supervisor and colleagues will help orient you to the County’s structure, office, and client expectations, and the particular ways we practice public law.

You may request a hybrid work schedule.

The County’s current remote work policy allows attorneys to work from home up to two days each week after approximately one month of employment, subject to approval by the County Counsel.

Most attorneys have a hybrid work schedule, but some people find they are most effective when they are in the office five days a week.

And a few other things.

In recognition of the possibility of conflicts of interest, Deputy County Counsels – Exempt are required to refrain from private law practice, and they are required to file statements of economic interest.

Attorneys must furnish their own personal transportation, and they may seek mileage reimbursement for work-related travel in accordance with County policy.

Deputy County Counsels – Exempt are excluded from the County Merit System and are appointed by the County Counsel.

Qualifications

License Required: Candidates must possess a valid California motor vehicle operator's license. Out of state valid motor vehicle operator's license will be accepted during the application process.

Registration: Active member of the State Bar of California

Experience:

• Basic Exempt Level: One (1) year of full-time experience as a practicing attorney.

• Standard Exempt Level: Two (2) years of full-time experience as a practicing attorney.

• Advanced Exempt Level: Four (4) years of full-time experience as a practicing attorney.

Additional Information

Thank you for your interest in the Deputy County Counsel – Exempt opportunity in the Office of the County Counsel. These positions will remain open until filled.

All required information must be received by the priority screening date of February 25, 2026, for a guaranteed review. Submissions received after this date will be considered on an as-needed basis until the positions are filled.

Place Deputy County Counsel in the subject line of the e-mail.

• Resume. Your resume should include:
  • State Bar of California membership number and admission date
  • Undergraduate college/university and graduation date
  • Law school and graduation date

• TWO writing samples only
  • Preferably a substantive pleading and an advisory letter or memorandum, of no more than 15 pages and five pages in length, respectively.
• List of professional references
  • Please indicate whether we may contact your current employer.
• A cover letter
  • A cover letter or attachment addressing the following questions. Each response should not exceed 300 words.

• On separate sheets of paper

Please provide answers to the following:

1. 1. Please summarize your experience, if any, providing legal counsel to public clients. Include the name of the employer(s) where you gained this experience, the scope of your duties and responsibilities, and the dates employed (MO/YR to MO/YR).

   Have you ever been fired or resigned after being requested to do so?

   Have you ever been sued by a client and/or disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics or unprofessional conduct by, or been the subject of a complaint to, any court, administrative agency, bar association, disciplinary committee, or other professional group?

   If so, please explain.

   2. How would your colleagues and administrative support staff describe you?
   3. Please describe your experience, if any, performing complex transactional work and/or handling litigation. Provide sufficient details about the scope of your related responsibilities to allow for a thorough evaluation of your experience.
   4. Please describe the most significant and complex legal matter you have handled. Include the name of your employer at that time, a description of the matter, your role in the process, and the outcome.
   5. As the primary attorney in a matter, please describe a difficult situation you encountered while working directly with a client. Include details about how you resolved the situation and any lessons learned.
   6. What book, short story, play, poem, or film has had a significant impact on you and why?
   7. How did you first learn about this job opportunity?

This is an exempt recruitment, which means candidates are not guaranteed an interview. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to a hiring interview. Candidates invited to the interview may be asked questions in areas such as training and experience relevant to the position, and the knowledge of and ability to apply legal principles. References will be required.

CONVICTION HISTORY

After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be 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 used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer.

If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances.

Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County.

If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.

Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.