Deputy County Counsel II/III/IV - Child Welfare

Deputy County Counsel II/III/IV - Child Welfare

Salary

$144,123.20 - $221,416.00 Annually

Location

Riverside

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

26-78514-03

Department

County Counsel

Division

County Counsel

Opening Date

07/22/2026

Closing Date

8/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The County of Riverside's Office of the County Counsel has multiple opportunities for a Deputy County Counsel II/III/IV to support their Riverside Child Welfare Division at County Farm Circle.

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.

The level at which this position is offered is at the departments discretion.

Deputy County Counsel II: $51.47 - $66.80 Hourly

Deputy County Counsel III: $65.87-$86.34 Hourly

Deputy County Counsel IV: $69.29 - $103.35 Hourly

Meet the Team!

The Office of County Counsel is a full-service law office that provides advisory and litigation support on issues of vital concern to the County and its residents such as health care, public safety, child welfare, land development, environmental protection, public finance, taxation and elections.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• 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 Counsels 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Deputy County Counsel II ($107,048.00 - $138.938.00)

OPTION I

Experience: One year at the Deputy County Counsel I level with the County of Riversides 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

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

OPTION III

Experience: Two 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

Experience: Two years in the practice of criminal law.

DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL III ($137,000.00 - $179,579.00 Annually)

OPTION I

Experience: One year at the Deputy County Counsel II level with the County of Riversides 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

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

OPTION III

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.

OPTION IV

Experience: Three years in the practice of criminal law.

DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL IV ($144,125.00 - $214,964.00 Annually)

OPTION I

Experience: One year at the Deputy County Counsel III level with the County of Riversides 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

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

OPTION III

Experience: Four 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

Experience: Four years in the practice of criminal law

All Levels Require:

License: Possession of a valid California Drivers 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.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

For questions regarding this recruitment:

Please contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org or (951) 966-3590. Please allow 1-2 business days for response.

____

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veterans Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouses death certificate, a letter of spouses disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veterans Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Proof of Education

If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information

Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the Apply link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veterans preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.

If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.

BENEFIT PROGRAM: PR7

MEDICAL/DENTAL INSURANCE: A Flexible Benefit Credit is provided on a monthly basis as governed by the Management Resolution or applicable bargaining unit. Vision coverage is provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP) at no cost to employee or eligible dependents.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.

MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
• A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,

Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If theres any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.

ANNUAL LEAVE (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 36 months = 8.92 Hours

36 to <108 months = 10.46 Hours
108 or more months = 12.00 Hours

Maximum Annual leave accumulation is 2,080 hours. Employee may receive pay in lieu of up to 40 hours per calendar year. Agency/Department Head may approve an additional 40 hours.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

401(a) MONEY PURCHASE PLAN: County contribution of $50 per pay period towards choice between two 401(a) plan providers.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 days can be taken through use of accrued leave balances)

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY (LTD): Benefit pays 66.67% of earnings to a maximum of $10,000 per month; 30-day waiting period; pays to age 65. Benefit can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of pay.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the Management Resolution or applicable bargaining unit.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, Management Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

01

I affirm that my answers to the following questions are truthful and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I also understand that my answers will be verified with the information I have provided in my application.

• Yes
• No

02

Select the answer that best describes your current driver license status:

• I have a valid California Class C license.
• I am able to obtain a valid California driver license.
• I currently have a valid out-of-state driver license, and I am able to obtain a valid California driver license.
• I do not have and/or I am not able to obtain a California driver license.

03

How many years of attorney experience do you have working in areas related to Child Welfare law, including case preparation, legal research and writing, daily court appearances, and advising clients on matters involving child abuse and/or neglect?

• 0-1 years
• 2-3 years
• 4-5 years
• 6 years or more

04

Do you have an active membership and are you in good standing with the State Bar of California?

• Yes
• No

05

Please enter your state of California Bar Number:

Required Question

Employer County of Riverside

Address County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569

4080 Lemon St., 7th floor

Riverside, California, 92502-1569

Phone Contact Recruiter for Job Information

Website http://www.rc-hr.com