Deputy County Counsel II-V

Summary

Opportunity in the County Counsel's OfficeThe County Counsel's Office serves as the chief legal counsel for the Board of Supervisors and all County offices, departments, and commissions. The County Counsel's Office is responsible for providing legal advice and written opinions on matters that impact the operation of County government. The County Counsel's Office also represents the County in litigation and in preparing agreements, contracts, resolutions, and ordinances for the Board of Supervisors.The County Counsel's Office regularly handles personnel matters, election matters, bond issues, trial and appellate litigation concerning child welfare practice, public social services, condemnation proceedings, Public Administrator matters, and other legal issues affecting County government.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.Gain insights into Stanislaus County's application process. Review our application process and quick guide to applying. Tentative recruitment schedule: Application deadline: August 26, 2026 at 5pm. Oral examination: tentatively the week of September 7, 2026.The PositionThe General Legal Services section of the office provides legal advice to the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive, and various County departments and agencies. General Legal Services attorneys research and analyze many areas of law, craft ordinances and policies, negotiate contracts, comment on legislation, and, most of all, solve problems for the County departments and officials they advise. Attorneys in this section are on the front lines of providing advice on programs of significant importance to the County's Board of Supervisors and the broader community. The section's practice is grounded in various areas of public law, including the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, and the Political Reform Act.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 TasksRepresents, advises and prepares legal documents for one or more County departments, special boards, commissions, or other governmental bodies.Represents the County in litigation.Works with County departments to draft and pursue legislation, ordinances and amendments to State and County code.Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)KNOWLEDGELegal principles and their applicationLegal research methodsPrinciples of administrative and public lawDuties, powers, limitations, and authority of the County Counsel's OfficeSKILLS/ABILITIESPerform highly complex legal research workAnalyze and apply legal principles and precedents to legal problemsPresent statement of fact, law, and arguments clearly and logicallyDraft ordinances, resolutions, and regulationsPropose legislative measuresMake appearance at local, state and federal courtsEDUCATION/EXPERIENCEDeputy County Counsel IIMinimum of one (1) year of experience in the general practice of law. Participation in the State Bar of California's Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) Program may be applied to meet this requirement.Deputy County Counsel IIIPattern IMinimum of one (1) years' experience as a Deputy County Counsel II for Stanislaus County or for another California public agency in an equivalent position(s) performing the same or similar dutiesPattern IIMinimum of three (3) years' experience in the practice of public agency law, or civil law experience in areas such as civil litigation, probate, contracts, healthcare, employment, worker' compensation, real property, environmental, land use, litigation, intellectual property, or child dependency proceedings; ORMinimum of four (4) years' experience in the practice of law in CaliforniaDeputy County Counsel IVPattern IMinimum of one (1) years' experience as a Deputy County Counsel III for Stanislaus County or for another California public agency in an equivalent position(s) performing the same or similar duties.Pattern IIMinimum of four (4) years' experience in the practice of public agency law, or civil law experience in areas such as civil litigation, probate, contracts, healthcare, employment, workers' compensation, real property, environmental, land use, litigation, intellectual property, or child dependency proceedings.Deputy County Counsel VPattern IFour years of experience as a Deputy County Counsel II-IV for the County of Stanislaus or for another California public agency in an equivalent position(s) performing the same or similar duties.Pattern IIFive years of experience in the practice of public agency law, or civil law experience in areas such as civil litigation, probate, contracts, healthcare, employment, workers' compensation, real property, environmental, land use, litigation, intellectual property, or child dependency proceedings.LICENSEThe individual selected must be an active member of the California State Bar at the time of appointment. The Bar membership must be listed at the appropriate section on the application form; andApplicants must possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License and remain free from repeated preventable accidents.Application and Selection ProceduresAPPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATEApplications 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 PROCESSApplication 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 INFORMATIONCLASSIFICATION INFORMATIONUnless 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 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.Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).RECRUITMENT ACCOMMODATIONSArrangements may be made

Job Description

Opportunity in the County Counsel's OfficeThe County Counsel's Office serves as the chief legal counsel for the Board of Supervisors and all County offices, departments, and commissions. The County Counsel's Office is responsible for providing legal advice and written opinions on matters that impact the operation of County government. The County Counsel's Office also represents the County in litigation and in preparing agreements, contracts, resolutions, and ordinances for the Board of Supervisors.The County Counsel's Office regularly handles personnel matters, election matters, bond issues, trial and appellate litigation concerning child welfare practice, public social services, condemnation proceedings, Public Administrator matters, and other legal issues affecting County government.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.Gain insights into Stanislaus County's application process. Review our application process and quick guide to applying. Tentative recruitment schedule: Application deadline: August 26, 2026 at 5pm. Oral examination: tentatively the week of September 7, 2026.The PositionThe General Legal Services section of the office provides legal advice to the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive, and various County departments and agencies. General Legal Services attorneys research and analyze many areas of law, craft ordinances and policies, negotiate contracts, comment on legislation, and, most of all, solve problems for the County departments and officials they advise. Attorneys in this section are on the front lines of providing advice on programs of significant importance to the County's Board of Supervisors and the broader community. The section's practice is grounded in various areas of public law, including the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, and the Political Reform Act.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 TasksRepresents, advises and prepares legal documents for one or more County departments, special boards, commissions, or other governmental bodies.Represents the County in litigation.Works with County departments to draft and pursue legislation, ordinances and amendments to State and County code.Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)KNOWLEDGELegal principles and their applicationLegal research methodsPrinciples of administrative and public lawDuties, powers, limitations, and authority of the County Counsel's OfficeSKILLS/ABILITIESPerform highly complex legal research workAnalyze and apply legal principles and precedents to legal problemsPresent statement of fact, law, and arguments clearly and logicallyDraft ordinances, resolutions, and regulationsPropose legislative measuresMake appearance at local, state and federal courtsEDUCATION/EXPERIENCEDeputy County Counsel IIMinimum of one (1) year of experience in the general practice of law. Participation in the State Bar of California's Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) Program may be applied to meet this requirement.Deputy County Counsel IIIPattern IMinimum of one (1) years' experience as a Deputy County Counsel II for Stanislaus County or for another California public agency in an equivalent position(s) performing the same or similar dutiesPattern IIMinimum of three (3) years' experience in the practice of public agency law, or civil law experience in areas such as civil litigation, probate, contracts, healthcare, employment, worker' compensation, real property, environmental, land use, litigation, intellectual property, or child dependency proceedings; ORMinimum of four (4) years' experience in the practice of law in CaliforniaDeputy County Counsel IVPattern IMinimum of one (1) years' experience as a Deputy County Counsel III for Stanislaus County or for another California public agency in an equivalent position(s) performing the same or similar duties.Pattern IIMinimum of four (4) years' experience in the practice of public agency law, or civil law experience in areas such as civil litigation, probate, contracts, healthcare, employment, workers' compensation, real property, environmental, land use, litigation, intellectual property, or child dependency proceedings.Deputy County Counsel VPattern IFour years of experience as a Deputy County Counsel II-IV for the County of Stanislaus or for another California public agency in an equivalent position(s) performing the same or similar duties.Pattern IIFive years of experience in the practice of public agency law, or civil law experience in areas such as civil litigation, probate, contracts, healthcare, employment, workers' compensation, real property, environmental, land use, litigation, intellectual property, or child dependency proceedings.LICENSEThe individual selected must be an active member of the California State Bar at the time of appointment. The Bar membership must be listed at the appropriate section on the application form; andApplicants must possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License and remain free from repeated preventable accidents.Application and Selection ProceduresAPPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATEApplications 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 PROCESSApplication 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 INFORMATIONCLASSIFICATION INFORMATIONUnless 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 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.Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).RECRUITMENT ACCOMMODATIONSArrangements may be made