Deputy County Counsel III​/IV

Deputy County Counsel III / IV (Public Safety & Litigation)

The County of Riverside’s Office of the County Counsel has an opportunity for a Deputy County Counsel III/IV to support the Public Safety & Litigation division. 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.

• Review and analyze claims and complaints; develop civil litigation strategies.
• Draft pleadings, briefs, discovery, and other litigation documents.
• Provide regular case updates to Risk Management.
• Attend hearings in state and federal trial courts as well as appellate courts.
• Prepare for and complete mediations and other settlement conferences.
• 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.
• Prepare correspondence, pleadings, and pretrial motions.
• Handle witness and expert depositions and prepare written discovery.
• First or second chair trials as needed; may perform functions of lower-level Deputy County Counsel classifications.
• Provide guidance and advice to Deputy County Counsel attorneys, supervisors, and chief deputies in matters of law and trial tactics.
• Provide responsive, high‑quality service to County employees and outside agencies, ensuring accurate and timely information.
• Consult with subordinate deputies and paralegals on points of law, evidence, legal procedures, policies, and practices.
• Assist with the preparation of written opinions and risk‑management case reports.
• Investigate and resolve difficult and complex legal problems.
• Prepare, present, and manage difficult to complex trial and appellate cases under minimal to moderate supervision.

• Active member in good standing with the California State Bar.
• License:
  Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
• Promotion to the Deputy County Counsel IV level is based on demonstrated ability, experience requirements, 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.
• ALL LEVELS REQUIRE:
  • License:
    Valid California Driver’s License.
  • Membership:
    Active member in good standing with the California State Bar.
• OPTION I:
  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.
• OPTION II:
  Three years in the practice of civil law providing professional legal counsel to governmental agencies or departments.
• OPTION III:
  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.
• OPTION IV:
  Three years in the practice of criminal law.

• 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 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.
• Take independent actions after carefully analyzing and interpreting 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…