Deputy County Counsel III/IV

The County of Riverside’s Office of the County Counsel has an opportunity for a Deputy County Counsel III/IV in Riverside. The opening will be supporting Public Safety & Litigation division in Riverside.

Riverside County is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Deputy County Counsel in support of public safety and litigation functions. The selected candidate will handle a wide range of legal matters, including assisting with motions, preparing staff for interviews and testimony, supporting Grand Jury reporting, responding to CPRA requests and subpoenas (SDTs), and managing various lawsuits. This position requires advanced legal expertise, ideally at the Deputy County Counsel IV level, given the complexity and scope of assignments.

The Deputy County Counsel will be responsible for reviewing and analyzing claims and complaints, developing civil litigation strategies, drafting pleadings, briefs, discovery, and other litigation documents, and providing regular case updates to Risk Management. The role includes attending hearings in state and federal trial courts as well as appellate courts, preparing for and completing mediations, and performing additional litigation-related assignments as needed.

Applicants must be an active member in good standing with the California State Bar.

Promotion to the Deputy County Counsel IV level is based on demonstrated ability, satisfaction of the experience requirement and an overall meets expectation rating on the annual performance evaluation. The level at which this position is offered is at the department's discretion.

• 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 and will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.

If you have any questions regarding this posting, please contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org

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