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County of Humboldt

*Deadline Extended* Deputy County Counsel I - IV (Child Welfare Services)

County of Humboldt, Eureka, California, us, 95502


Please note: The filing deadline for this recruitment has been extended to run continuously. Human Resources reserves the right to close this recruitment at any time.DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL I - IV

Please note: The assignment for this position will be representing Child Welfare Services.Under general supervision, performs legal work of a routine to complex nature in representing the County and providing advice and counsel to the Board of Supervisors and County management staff and commissions and committees; performs related work as assigned.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a multi-level class in which incumbents may be assigned to any of four levels, depending upon experience, proficiency gained, and the complexity of assigned projects. The work may be related to any of a number of legal specialty areas and normally includes providing legal services for one or more County departments and their associated elected officials and appointed boards and commissions. Involvement in formal litigation, discretionary powers, and direction of the work of other professional staff increase as incumbents progress through the various levels. Deputy County Counsel IV is considered to be the highest level non-supervisory class, fully capable of working independently in any number of specialist areas and provides direction and training to less experienced staff.ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Advises County departmental management concerning their respective duties, powers, functions and obligations.Performs a wide range of legal work in such areas as juvenile, child welfare, criminal, public guardian, special districts and mental health.Researches legal problems and prepares opinions, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, permits and other legal documents.Prepares and tries routine to difficult cases, often involving a specialized body of law.Represents the County in administrative hearings before boards and commissions and state and federal agencies.Assists other attorneys in all phases of legal work.Attends County departmental, board and commission meetings to provide legal advice on a variety of matters.Investigates and prepares reports regarding claims against the County.Reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts and other documents for legal sufficiency; recommends modifications as required.Maintains accurate records and files and compiles reports of work performed.Monitors legal developments, including proposed legislation and court decisions; evaluates their impact on County operations and recommends appropriate action.Directs the work of professional and support staff as assigned.Knowledge of:

Civil and administrative law and procedures.Procedures and practices and effective techniques in presentation of court cases.Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.Principles, methods and techniques of legal research and investigation.State and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting County agencies' operation.Responsibilities and obligations of public officials and administrative agencies.County governmental organization, structure and functional responsibilities.Rules of procedure governing the conduct of hearings before administrative bodies.Skill in:

Defining issues, performing legal research, analyzing problems, evaluating alternatives and making appropriate recommendations.Presenting statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically.Exercising sound, independent judgment within the general policy guidelines and legal parameters.Interpreting state and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting County operations.Representing the County effectively in hearings, courts of law and meetings with others.Preparing clear, concise and legally sufficient resolutions, ordinances, contracts, leases, permits, reports, correspondence and other written materials.Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.Other Requirements:

Must possess a valid California driver's license. Must be a current member of the California State Bar Association.Desirable Education and Experience:

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills outlined above is:Deputy County Counsel I:

Equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university, plus an appropriate law degree.Deputy County Counsel II:

In addition to the above, one year of experience as an attorney engaged in the practice of law in the State of California, preferably in a county government setting.Deputy County Counsel III:

In addition to the above, two additional years of experience (a total of three years) as an attorney engaged in the practice of law in the State of California, preferably in a county government setting.Deputy County Counsel IV:

In addition to the above, two additional years of experience (for a total of five years) as an attorney engaged in the practice of law in the State of California, preferably in a county government setting. Demonstrated increased ability to litigate a wide variety of civil lawsuits and to advise County agencies with a minimum of supervision is required for advancement to the level of Deputy County Counsel IV.EMPLOYEE PERKS

CalPERS health insurance program, providing several options to employees; the County pays most of the employee premium and a portion of dependent coverage.Dental and vision plan with premiums for the employee and dependents paid by the County.At hire, earn 12 vacation days per year. Upon 3 years of service, increases to 15 days per year. Upon 10 years of service, increases to 20 days per year. Upon 15 years of service, increases to 25 days per year. Upon 20 years of services, increases to 30 days per year.15 paid holidays per year, including 2 personal holidays.12 sick days per year with an unlimited cap on sick day accumulation.The County participates in the CalPERS retirement system, with both the County and the employee making contributions toward the employee’s retirement.A Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer.Other benefits like life insurance, longevity pay, educational reimbursement, deferred compensation, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary benefits may also be purchased, including supplemental life insurance, pet insurance, and flexible spending accounts.Please Note: Extra Help positions are non-benefitted but may be eligible to purchase health insurance upon meeting the hours worked requirement under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).For more information about County benefits, visit our benefits webpage:

https://humboldtgov.org/2492/Employee-Benefits .HOW TO APPLY

A complete, original application must be filed for each position you are interested in applying for. Applications must be submitted online through the County’s automated application system at

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/humboldtcountyca

no later than the final filing date listed on the job flyer. All applications are screened by both Human Resources staff and may be screened by additional subject matter experts. The most qualified candidates may then be invited for further testing.It is important that your application shows all the relevant experience and education you possess. Human Resources staff does not consider or review resumes or attachments.Please read the job requirements section of the announcement. Be sure you meet these requirements since they will be carefully evaluated during the selection process. Your performance in any employment examinations will be compared with the performance of others who take the tests. All candidates who pass will be ranked according to their scores. The examination results will be emailed to you as quickly as possible.The County of Humboldt’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionResearch indicates that individuals in protected classes can be less likely to submit a job application. The County of Humboldt is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where our employees are free to bring their full selves to work each day in an environment that allows them to reach their full potential.

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