Deputy County Counsel II/III/IV

The County of Riverside’s Office of the County Counsel has multiple opportunities for a Deputy County Counsel II/III/IV to support their Child Welfare Division. The immediate opening is in Murrieta but there is a possibility that this recruitment will be used to fill future vacancies throughout the County.

The Child Welfare Division handles cases involving allegations of child abuse and/or neglect. The Deputy County Counsel will manage a large number of cases and work on a team with other Deputy County Counsels. Responsibilities will include daily court appearances, case preparation, legal research and writing, and advising clients on a variety of matters related to Child Welfare.

The most competitive candidates will be great team players who are adaptable and have prior child welfare experience.

Applicants must have graduated from an American Bar Association accredited law school and be an active member in good standing with the California State Bar. The most competitive candidates will be highly motivated and detail-oriented with prior law experience with a government entity or providing professional legal counsel to governmental agencies and departments. Prior experience with social work, probation, family law, probate litigation, or immigration law is highly desired.

Promotion to the Deputy County Counsel III, and IV levels is based on demonstrated ability, satisfaction of the experience requirement and an overall meets expectation rating on the annual performance evaluation.

• Provide guidance and advice to Deputy County Counsel attorneys, Supervisors, and Chief Deputies in matters of law and trial tactics, legal research, preparation of legal briefs and opinions, completing mediations, and trial and appellate practices.

• Provide responsive, high-quality service to County employees and representatives of outside agencies by providing accurate, complete and up-to-date information in a courteous, efficient and timely manner, and may interact with members of the public.

• Consult with subordinate Deputies and Paralegals on points of law, evidence, legal procedures and policies, and practices of the County Counsel's Office; counsel and provide recommendations to subordinate Deputies and Paralegals on more difficult and complex legal problems.

• Represent the County in all state and federal courts and before administrative hearing bodies.

• Study and interpret laws, court decisions, ordinances, and other legal authorities.

• Draft written opinions and render informal opinions on legal questions; draft regular Risk Management case reports; prepare correspondence and pleadings; handle percipient witness and expert depositions; prepare written discovery; prepare pretrial motions and settlement conferences; first or second chair trials as needed.

• Analyze, research and resolve difficult and complex legal problems.

• Prepare, present and manage difficult to complex trial and appellate cases under minimal to moderate supervision depending upon level of experience

• May be required to perform the functions of the lower-level Deputy County Counsel classifications.

Experience: One year at the Deputy County Counsel II level with the County of Riverside's Office of County Counsel, or as a county counsel attorney or city attorney at an equivalent level with another California county or city.

Experience: Three years in the practice of civil law providing professional legal counsel to governmental agencies or departments.

Experience: Three years in the practice of civil law in one of the following areas: eminent domain; labor and employment; civil litigation; business transactional; environmental; finance; healthcare; probate and conservatorships; bankruptcy; juvenile dependency or delinquency; land use; Native American gaming and land use; public works; real estate; or utilities.

Experience: Three years in the practice of criminal law.

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.

Membership: Active member in good standing with the California State Bar.

Job Competencies:
• Make sound and accurate decisions under pressure.
• Maintain an environment of teamwork and collaboration conducive to expanding knowledge and expertise.
• Communicate clearly and concisely in both written and verbal forms.
• Persuasively communicate your findings and recommendations to a variety of audiences.
• Possess superior negotiation skills.
• Time management.
• Effectively maintain expertise in all areas of responsibility and seek opportunities to increase personal knowledge in areas of responsibility.
• Take independent actions after carefully analyzing and interpreting the associated risks.
• Customer focused, meeting obligations and commitments.
• Demonstrate ethical behavior and integrity even when challenged with highly stressful or crisis situations.
• Skillfully gain and maintain credibility with superiors, co-workers, public, and managers.
• Exhibit values and respect of others in all undertakings.
• Encourage creative problem solving, collaboration, and analysis techniques.
• Driven to excel, supportive of change and seeks continuous learning.

What’s Next? This recruitment is open to all applicants. Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Office of the County Counsel may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.

If you have any questions regarding this posting, please contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org or (951) 966-3590.

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