Chief Deputy County Counsel

Job Description:

Chief Deputy County Counsel

Description

About the Opportunity

THE POSITION

Under general direction, this management position is responsible for planning, assigning, and supervising the work of others; performing highly specialized legal work; providing legal counsel to the Board of Supervisors, other county elected officials, county departments, offices, agencies, Brown Act boards and commissions; and other duties as assigned at the direction of the County Counsel.

The Chief Deputy County Counsel serves as a supervising attorney comparable to a supervising lawyer at a law firm. The candidate's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, supervising attorneys and other support staff within the County Counsel's Office, assigning cases, balancing workloads among Deputy County Counsels, providing policy direction and coordination, discussing litigation strategy, reviewing complex legal work and proposed settlements, and evaluating the productivity and performance of attorneys and support staff.

The Chief Deputy County Counsel is expected to effectively manage personnel while continuing to provide high-quality legal services to County clients. Accordingly, the position requires an attorney who is poised, professional, and present.

The department enjoys a well-deserved reputation of professionalism and excellence. In the last eight years, three attorneys from the department have been appointed to the local bench and a fourth successfully ran for judge in an election. This achievement reflects the exceptional caliber of the department's attorneys, their commitment to public service, and the respect they have earned within the legal community.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Application Deadline: August 26, 2026, at 5pm
Oral Examination: Tentatively the week of September 7, 2026

Questions? We're Here to Help!

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, the recruitment process, or need assistance with your application, please contact the Recruitment Analyst at (350) 207-5129.

Typical Tasks

• Provides support to the County Counsel and Assistant County Counsel;
• Confer with and provide guidance to their team, the County, and special district boards, officers, and employees on legal matters related to their duties, powers, functions, actions, and responsibilities;
• Assist in the planning and development of procedures, policies, and goals for the County Counsel office;
• Assist the County Counsel in selection, supervision, training, and development of Deputy County Counsels;
• Assign and review the work of subordinates and evaluates their performance;
• Supervise, provide direction and assistance to staff members in inter-related casework and assignments;
• Stay informed and current on new legal principles that impact the county;
• Mentor and supervise the training of subordinate personnel;
• Review and evaluate matters, making appropriate comments and suggestions; assign them to Deputy County Counsels;
• Participate in the personnel selection; and
• Facilitates training for their teams.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)

KNOWLEDGE

• Administration and management;
• The duties, powers, limitations, and authorities of the County Counsel;
• Legal principles and their application;
• Legal research methods;
• Practice and procedures of courts and administrative agencies of the State of California; and
• The principles of administrative and constitutional law.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Supervision and Management;
• Critical thinking;
• Complex problem solving;
• Judgement and decision making;
• Coach and motivate team members; and
• Conflict resolution.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• The applicant must have at least one (1) year of experience as a Deputy County Counsel V or equivalent in other agencies and demonstrated managerial skills and leadership.

Licenses:

• Active membership in the State Bar of California.

Application and Selection Procedures

APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE

Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County.

• Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on.
• Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position.
• Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts.
• Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months but may be extended up to eighteen months.

GENERAL INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION INFORMATION

Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Unclassified Service of the County and considered “at will” for labor relations purposes. The individual selected will participate in the Stanislaus County Pay-for-Performance program, as well as receive additional benefits.

The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab.

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County.

RECRUITMENT ACCOMMODATIONS

Arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities and religious convictions. Applicants requiring testing accommodations are required to complete and submit the Testing Accommodations Request Form prior to the test administration date. Special arrangements for religious convictions should be included in the "Additional Information" section of the application form.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Pass County-paid pre-employment job-related background investigation.
• Perform job duties in a manner assuring a safe working environment for oneself and others.
• Maintain confidential information according to the legal standards and/or County regulations as required.
• Some positions may be required to possess and maintain a valid California Driver’s License and meet County insurability requirements.

APPLICATION AND/OR EXAMINATION APPEAL RIGHTS

Application and/or examination results may be appealed by applicants presenting facts alleging irregularity, fraud and/or error in application screening or in exam scoring. Appeals must be in writing and submitted to the Chief Executive Officer within seven (7) days after the examination results are emailed.

DISCLAIMER

Stanislaus County reserves the right to revise the examination plan described in this flyer to better meet the needs of County service. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. The information contained in the bulletin is information which sets forth a general summary of benefits for this respective position. This information is not legally binding. The benefits and other information regarding this position may be found in the Stanislaus County Code, the Stanislaus County Personnel Policies manual, or in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding(s), and such information prevails over information contained in this flyer. Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office/Human Relations.

Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary.

Closing Date/Time: 8/26/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$151,944.00 - $227,905.60 Annually