Deputy County Counsel III - Litigation

Join our team of attorneys and staff committed to improving our communities and the quality of life in Sonoma County.

Advance your legal career in public service as a Deputy County Counsel III - Litigation!

Starting salary up to $98.21/hourly ($ 204,976/annually) and a competitive total compensation package!*

The County Counsel department is currently recruiting to fill a Deputy County Counsel position at either the II or III level. If you are interested in being considered at the II level, you must apply to the separate, concurrent recruitment being conducted at that level.

Sonoma County Counsel, Robert Pittman, and his dedicated team work collaboratively with one another, both in the office and remotely, to provide the highest quality legal counsel and guidance to the County's various departments and agencies. County Counsel's highly motivated, collegial team of attorneys and staff are committed to providing excellent public services, improving and enriching the quality of life for all Sonoma County residents.

Please visit County Counsel's website to learn more about the valuable public law-related services they provide which promote the public interest, protect financial resources, and achieve the County's programmatic and strategic goals. The Office of County Counsel is currently recruiting for a skilled litigation attorney for its Litigation Practice Group, which handles the majority of the County’s litigation work, both defense and affirmative litigation.

They primarily advise the following departments:

• Human Resources/Risk
• Sheriff's Office
• Probation
• District Attorney
• Public Defender

This position will be exposed to a variety of County Counsel’s practice areas, such as County Operations, Resources, and Environment (CORE), and Health and Human Services. Our team members are innovative problem-solvers that work effectively together and independently to prepare and present civil cases before various administrative bodies, as well as state and federal courts.

This position is for governmental civil legal practice, with an expected focus on civil or public law litigation defense, including discovery, trial, writ, appellate work, Public Records Act compliance, and general public law.

Experience with or having a demonstrated interest in one or more of the following areas is highly beneficial: civil litigation generally from pre-trial through appeals, employment and labor law, writs, probate law, land use law, including code enforcement, environmental law, administrative law, legislative drafting, contracts, housing law, real property law, Brown Act, federal Indian law, FOIA/PRA, water law, cannabis/agricultural/timber regulation, taxes and fees, and/or constitutional law.

As a career-oriented attorney and the ideal candidate to join our County Counsel team, you will bring your excellent research and writing skills, the ability to think strategically and creatively, a desire to assume responsibility and work cooperatively on complex cases, and the ability to work on fast-moving projects. Additionally, you will possess many of the following:

• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Highly effective research, writing, and oral communication skills
• Initiative, high standards, and the drive to set and achieve goals
• A proven interest in continuous learning and professional growth
• Values that promote and support advancing the same motivations and qualities in others
• Commitment to upholding ethical standards and identifying and eliminating bias

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits
* including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement - With time and…