Deputy County Counsel III​/IV

The Office of Riverside County Counsel is seeking a Deputy County Counsel III/IV to support the Land Use, Real Estate & Business Transactional Division in Riverside.

The Deputy County Counsel III/IV are the journey level classifications responsible for providing highly complex legal advice and representation in the areas of land use, planning, and environmental law. This role routinely advises and supports the Planning Department on complex and sensitive land use matters and serves as legal counsel to the Transportation and Land Management Agency (TLMA), including coordination and oversight of litigation counsel on land use and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) matters.

The position oversees in particular compliance and documentation related to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

An ideal candidate possesses extensive, progressively responsible experience providing legal counsel on highly complex land use, planning, and environmental matters within or on behalf a large public-sector organization. However appropriate expertise could also be obtained working on behalf of private clients. The candidate demonstrates advanced expertise in CEQA  compliance, including oversight of environmental review processes, mitigation strategies, and coordination of litigation matters (however this is not a litigation position).

Experience advising planning agencies, commissions, and special districts on sensitive development, regulatory, and policy issues requiring advanced legal judgment and independent decision-making is essential.

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 department's discretion.

Deputy County Counsel III:  $ - $ Annually

Deputy County Counsel IV: $ - $ Annually

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.

* Provide guidance and advice to Deputy County Counsel attorneys in matters of law and trial tactics, ordinance drafting and interpretation, preparation of contracts and other legal instruments, legal research and preparation of legal briefs and opinions.

* 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 on points of law, evidence, legal procedures and policies, and practices of the County Counsel's Office; counsel and provide recommendations to subordinate deputies on the more difficult and complex legal problems.

* Attend meetings of various boards and commissions as legal advisor; confer with and advise County and district officers and employees on legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations; represent the County in all state and federal courts.

* Study and interpret laws, court decisions, ordinances, and other legal authorities.

* Draft contracts, deeds, leases, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal instruments; prepare written opinions and render informal opinions on legal questions.

* Analyze, research and resolve difficult and complex legal problems.

* May be required to perform the functions of the lower-level Deputy County Counsel classifications.

Deputy County Counsel III

OPTION I

Experience:

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

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

OPTION I

Experience:

One year at the Deputy County Counsel III 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

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…