Senior Deputy County Counsel

About the role

This department promotional recruitment is to fill four current vacancies in the Office of The County Counsel and to establish an eligible list which may be used to fill future vacancies. To qualify, candidates must be currently employed by the San Joaquin County Office of The County Counsel and meet all eligibility requirements for promotional opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a group of professional and paraprofessional staff and personally handle complex legal research and analysis on a wide range of sophisticated issues;
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and court decisions to prepare detailed memoranda, briefs, pleadings, and legal opinions supporting strategic County legal interests;
• Represent and advise County departments, offices, and officials on complex civil legal matters, including precedent-setting situations and specialized areas such as land use, environmental law, labor relations and employment law, public safety, and administrative law;
• Serve as principal legal counsel on significant or sensitive matters, providing authoritative guidance to County executives and elected officials on legal risks, policy implications, and compliance with governance codes and statutes;
• Lead, supervise, and provide ongoing mentoring and professional development for assigned staff ensuring consistent quality and alignment with office standards in legal research, negotiation, and legal efforts;
• Cookordinate and monitor progress and quality of legal work products, including that of outside counsel; provide direction and feedback to maintain high performance and efficiency;
• Assist in the coordination of specialized legal activities and workflows; oversee and represent the specialized legal areas in internal and external meetings or negotiations;
• Draft, review, and advise on complex legislative proposals, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and legal documents, ensuring consistency with County policies and legal requirements;
• Participate in negotiations and resolutions involving the County, representing its interests in complex and high-profile matters;
• Ensure continuous adherence to the Code of Professional Responsibilities, and County Administrative Code, modeling professional ethics and standards across all work and client interactions.

Requirements

• Eight years in the practice of law with at least two (2) years as a Deputy County Counsel IV in the San Joaquin County Counsel’s Office.
• Eight (8) years in the practice of law, including at least four (4) years of civil practice, including litigation, handling government-related matters such as the Brown Act, Public Records Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), land use, employment law, labor law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act.

Qualifications

• Possession of a valid California State Bar license.

Skills

• Knowledge of civil and procedural laws applicable to county government;
• Principles, methods, and practices of legal research and analysis;
• Strategies and techniques for litigation and negotiation involving complex cases;
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, and governance codes relevant to county operations;
• Responsibilities, powers, and statutory limitations of the County Counsel's Office;
• Principles of supervision, leadership, and office management;
• Legal document drafting, review, and general legislative proposal evaluation;
• Basic computer skills and use of legal research tools, document preparation, and case management software necessary to support effective legal analysis and office functions.

Benefits

• Health Insurance;
• Dental Insurance;
• Vision Insurance;
• Life Insurance;
• Section 125 Flexible Benefits Plan;
• Retirement Plan;
• Deferred Compensation;
• Vacation;
• Holiday;
• Vacation Cash-Out;
• Confidential Unit Supplement;
• Sick Leave;
• Bereavement Leave;
• Merit Salary Increase;
• Job Sharing.