Job Details

Deputy County Counsel II/III

Position Number: 6373949
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Position Type: Law and Legal Studies

Deputy County Counsel II/III

Location Santa Barbara, CA
Job Type Full-time
Job Number 25-2216-01 (O/CC)
Department County Counsel
Opening Date 07/03/2025
Closing Date 7/24/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Description

Deputy County Counsel II Salary:$112,377- $135,500 Annually
Deputy County Counsel III Salary:$129,276 - $156,137 Annually

Join Our Team and Make a Difference in Santa Barbara County!
 This is your chance to leverage your legal expertise and have a meaningful impact in one of California's most vibrant communities. The County of Santa Barbara is looking for a Deputy County Counsel II/III to join our team and play a pivotal role in serving the Board of Supervisors and County departments. The position is in Santa Barbara for the Office of County Counsel. The applicant may have the opportunity to discuss remote work options contingent upon the needs of the department.  We are also establishing one employment list for future full-time, part-time and extra-help (temporary) vacancies in the Office of County Counsel. Please select all the job types and locations you're willing to consider for both current and future roles.  The current vacancy is for a knowledgeable and experienced attorney to serve as the legal advisor to county departments. This position plays a crucial role in providing proactive, solution-oriented legal guidance to support effective governance and operational decision-making throughout the country.
The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, sound legal judgment, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving across a wide range of legal areas, including public law, housing, employment, contracts, regulatory compliance, land use, and more.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW:
Vacation: 12 to 25 days per year depending on the length of public employment.
Holidays: 12 days per year.
Sick Leave: 12 days sick leave per year. Unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement.
Retirement: The County offers a Defined Benefit Plan. The County also contributes 0.24% of base salary to a 401(a) Deferred Compensation Plan. There is voluntary participation in a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.
Health Plan: Choice of medical and dental plans (with vision care). County contributes toward the employee's premium.
On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria which provide ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents

In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:
Retirement reciprocity
Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate
For more information about the County's benefits, clickHERE.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Deputy County Counsel I/II/III/IV/Senior is a flexibly staffed series. Deputy County Counsel I is the entry-level class in this professional series in which incumbents receive orientation and training and are expected to progress to the class of Deputy County Counsel II within a reasonable length of time. Incumbents in the Deputy County Counsel III class handle the more difficult legal tasks while Deputy County Counsel IV incumbents handle the most difficult and complex cases and assist with training.

Candidates may be appointed at the II or III level depending on the candidate's qualifications and the needs of the department.
Incumbents must be willing and able to travel throughout the County.

About the Department: Santa Barbara County's Office of County Counsel offers a great career opportunity for attorneys seeking meaningful work in the public sector. Our work impacts a broad range of significant legal issues in beautiful Santa Barbara County. We support the County's elected and appointed decision-makers, its advisory boards and commissions, and the departments that implement the County's operations and programs. We also defend or prosecute all civil litigation in which the County, or its officers or employees in their official capacities, are parties.

The Ideal Candidate will have:
Strong legal research and analytical skills
Experience advising public entities and researching and writing legal opinions
Ability to research, analyze, and present complex legal issues and arguments clearly and succinctly, both orally and in writing
Ability to work efficiently and effectively as part of a team
Ability to develop and maintain sound working relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and personalities
Good professional judgment in answering questions, releasing information, and anticipating consequences of decisions and recommendations
Ability to remain calm and act professionally, even under stress
Adaptability, a positive attitude, impeccable character, and strong commitment to public service

Examples of Duties

1 Studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and legal authorities for use in the preparation of opinions and legal advice
2 Confers with and advises county and district officers, employees, and representatives on legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, and obligations
3 Reviews ordinances, resolutions, and other legislative measures
4 Prepares and/or reviews contracts, agreements, leases, and deeds for legality
5 Engages in legal research; performs related work such as preparing legal documents, reports, and correspondence
6 May represent the county in legal proceedings, such as administrative hearings, involving the county

Employment Standards

Active membership in the State Bar of California; AND 
1 One year of experience as an attorney in the practice of public law ortwo years in the practice of general civil law; OR,
2 One year of experience performing duties equivalent to the class of Deputy County Counsel I with the County of Santa Barbara; OR,
3 A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Additional Qualifications:Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required at time of appointment.

Knowledge of: the organization, powers, and limitations of the county, the courts, special districts, and other public agencies; civil law codes and the California Constitution; trial procedures and the rules of evidence; administrative law; code of Professional Conduct and Rules of Ethics.

Ability to: appraise, interpret, and apply legal principles and precedents to difficult legal problems; present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; engage in legal research; work effectively with others.

Supplemental Information

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:
1 Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
2 Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

REASONABLEACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process.Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Disaster Service Worker:Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION DEADLINE AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Thursday, July 24, by4:59 PM PST. Postmarks will not be accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Leza Patatanian Talent Acquisition Analyst II – LPatatanian@countyofsb.org

To apply, visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sbcounty/jobs/4979082/deputy-county-counsel-ii-iii?page=2&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs