Deputy County Counsel II​/III​/IV​/V

The hiring department will consider recent California State Bar passers.

• Serves as legal counsel and attends meetings of boards and commissions.
• May act as legal advisor to County offices and departments.
• Prepares formal legislative measures, ordinances, resolutions, deeds, contracts, leases, and other legal instruments.
• Prosecutes and defends civil actions on behalf of the County and special districts in federal and state court, appellate courts, and various administrative bodies.
• Confers with and advises officers of County departments and representatives of special districts on questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations.
• May provide lead direction and act as a legal resource to other professional staff.
• Assists the County Counsel, Assistant County Counsel, and Chief Deputy County Counsels as needed.

• Level II: One (1) year of experience in the practice of civil or criminal law.
• Level III: Two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in the practice of civil law.
• Level IV: One (1) year of experience as a Deputy County Counsel III with Merced County. OR Four (4) years of experience in the practice of civil law.
• Level V: Three (3) years of experience as a Deputy Counsel IV with Merced County. OR Seven (7) years of experience in the practice of civil law.

Active membership in the State Bar of California at time of appointment.

• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
• Analyze data, interpret policies, procedures and regulations; develop appropriate conclusions.
• Meet deadlines under stressful conditions; complete multiple projects with conflicting deadlines.
• Resolve conflicts and respond appropriately to complaints.
• Maintain confidential information according to legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Establish, implement and achieve goals and objectives.
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
• Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination; normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Regular attendance is an essential function.

• The Government Code and other California statutes, and their application to governmental subdivisions.
• The principle of civil, constitutional, and administrative laws.
• Legal research methods.
• Principles of staff training and project coordination.

• Perform difficult legal research.
• Analyze and apply legal principles and precedents to specific local government problems.
• Develop legal issues and present clear and logical arguments and statements of fact and law.
• Draft ordinances, contracts, and legal instruments.
• Train subordinate staff.