Deputy County Counsel III - Litigation

Deputy County Counsel III - Litigation

Salary

$173,690.13 - $211,133.06 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

26/07-4033-OC

Department

County Counsels Office (CNS)

Opening Date

07/27/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

Bargaining Unit

50

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Information

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 $101.16/hourly ($211,133/annually) and a competitive total compensation package!*

The County Counsel department is currently recruiting to fill a Deputy County Counsel III - Litigation position.

Become a Valued Member of the County Counsel Team

Sonoma County Counsel, Joshua Myers, 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 Countys various departments and agencies. County Counsels 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 Counsels website to learn more about the valuable public law-related services they provide which promote the public interest, protect financial resources, and achieve the Countys programmatic and strategic goals. The County Counsel Department 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
• Sheriffs Office
• Probation
• District Attorney
• Public Defender

This position will additionally be exposed to a variety of other County Counsel's practice areas, such as Permit Sonoma, Health Services, 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 focuses on governmental civil legal practice, employment law, and advice and representation of public safety and justice departments, with an expected focus on a broad variety of law enforcement and correctional related matters. This position requires frequent in-person court appearances and skills to work collaboratively with other justice partners and the courts.

Experience with or having a demonstrated interest in one or more of the following areas is highly beneficial, but not required: civil litigation generally from pre-trial through appeals, federal civil rights 42 USC 1983 litigation, habeas corpus proceedings, law enforcement and correctional matters, Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (POBR) and Pitchess proceedings, in person courtroom appearances, employment and labor law, workers compensation, writs and motion practice, probate law, Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) and mental health matters, land use law, including code enforcement, Brown Act, FOIA/PRA, 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 issues, 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
• A commitment to upholding ethical standards and identifying and eliminating bias

What We Offer

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 youre 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 good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Deputy County Counsel IV ($93.34 - $113.46/hour)
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation - 3%/1.9% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits: Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory

This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title for this classification is Deputy County Counsel III.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, two years of legal experience practicing civil law as a licensed attorney, at least one year of which was with a public agency performing duties comparable to a Deputy County Counsel II; or comparable experience in private practice.

Professional License: Current active membership in the State Bar of California.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition; the principles and application of civil law; legal research methods; the duties, powers, limitations and authorities of the Office of the County Counsel; trial and hearing procedures and rules of evidence; the organization, powers, and limitations of local governmental functions; the statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California.

Ability to: research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; prepare, present and conduct cases of law in court; present statements of law, fact and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; develop and maintain effective relationships with other staff members, departmental representatives, county officials, members of advisory and policy-making bodies, the courts and the public; analyze and draft ordinances and regulations.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: DP

HR Technician: KK

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: Management*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

• Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01

How did you first learn about this opportunity?

• Careers in Government
• College or University
• County of Sonoma Human Resources Office
• DiversityJobs
• Employee of Sonoma County
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Instagram
• Job Fair
• La Voz
• Latino Service Providers
• LinkedIn
• Los Cien
• Press Democrat
• sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
• Start Here!
• X (Twitter)
• Veterans Services Office
• Womens Organization or Group
• Other Internet Site
• Other Publication

02

Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.

• I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
• I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
• I am only interested in full-time positions

03

This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions and your level of proficiency.

• Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
• Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
• No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position

04

Do you possess current active membership in the State Bar of California? (If you respond, "Yes" please ensure you have included your Bar Number and Date Issued in the "Certificates and Licenses" section of your application materials.)

• Yes
• No

05

For this question and all subsequent questions, provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions may be reviewed by hiring managers.

As an attorney, have you ever been sued by a client and/or disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics or unprofessional conduct by, or been the subject of a complaint to, any court, administrative agency, bar association, disciplinary committee, or other professional group? If so, please provide the details. If not, please respond "N/A."

06

Please describe the most significant and complex matter you have handled as an attorney. Include a description of the matter, the challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the outcome.

07

Please describe your two or more years of experience providing legal services in the area of civil litigation for a client. Please be sure to emphasize any experience in the following areas: general civil litigation, including pre-litigation advice, pre-trial pleadings and discovery, and trial experience (both court trial and jury trial), code enforcement, administrative law, Public Records Act/FOIA compliance, and public law generally. Include any additional experience, familiarity with, or demonstrated interest in the following: legislative drafting, contracts, real property law, Brown Act, and/or constitutional law. In your descriptions, highlight where your work was for a public agency, if applicable.

08

Having a workforce that is reflective of and supports our community is a priority of the County and our Office. Please provide an example of how you have helped create an environment for your colleagues and/or clients where differences are valued, encouraged, and supported.

Required Question

Employer County of Sonoma (CA)

Address 575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403

Phone (707) 565-1701

Website http://www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org