Deputy County Counsel II/III/IV/V

Job Description

The hiring department will consider recent California State Bar passers.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as legal counsel and attends meetings of boards and commissions.
• May act as legal advisor to County offices and departments.
• Prepares formal legislative measures, ordinances, resolutions, deeds, contracts, leases, and other legal instruments.
• Prosecutes and defends civil actions on behalf of the County and special districts in federal and state court, appellate courts, and various administrative bodies.
• Confers with and advises officers of County departments and representatives of special districts on questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations.
• May provide lead direction and act as a legal resource to other professional staff.
• Assists the County Counsel, Assistant County Counsel, and Chief Deputy County Counsels as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

Level II

One (1) year of experience in the practice of civil, criminal, or administrative law; or an equivalent combination of legal training and experience such as judicial clerkship, externship, internship, or contracts/legal compliance management providing substantial exposure to public agency or court operations.

Level III

Two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in the practice of civil law.

Level IV

One (1) year of experience as a Deputy County Counsel III with Merced County. OR Four (4) years of experience in the practice of civil law.

Level V

Three (3) years of experience as a Deputy Counsel IV with Merced County. OR Seven (7) years of experience in the practice of civil law.

License:

Active membership in the State Bar of California at time of appointment.

Essential Functions

• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
• Analyze data, interpret policies, procedures and regulations; develop appropriate conclusions.
• Meet deadlines under stressful conditions; complete multiple projects with conflicting deadlines.
• Resolve conflicts and respond appropriately to complaints.
• Maintain confidential information according to legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Establish, implement and achieve goals and objectives.
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
• Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination; normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Regular attendance is an essential function.

• The Government Code and other California statutes, and their application to governmental subdivisions.
• The principle of civil, constitutional, and administrative laws.
• Legal research methods.
• Principles of staff training and project coordination.

• Perform difficult legal research.
• Analyze and apply legal principles and precedents to specific local government problems.
• Develop legal issues and present clear and logical arguments and statements of fact and law.
• Draft ordinances, contracts, and legal instruments.
• Train subordinate staff.

Why Merced County? A message from the CEO

HOLIDAYS & LEAVES

MANAGEMENT LEAVE

May receive, depending upon classification, 96 hours per Fiscal Year.

VACATION

10 days the first 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 160 hours), 15 days in the second 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 240 hours), and 20 days after 10 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 320 hours). Optional annual sell back of a portion of accumulated vacation leave hours (maximum - 40 hours).

SICK LEAVE

0.0625 hours sick leave for each paid regularly scheduled work hour. 16 days (130 hours per year) with unlimited accumulation. Optional annual buy back of a portion of accumulated sick leave hours upon meeting certain criteria.

HOLIDAYS

Twelve paid holidays annually plus two optional holidays.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE

Five (5) regularly scheduled consecutive workdays.

INSURANCE

HEALTH INSURANCE

Medical Insurance - Merced County offers multiple Medical Plans and contributes towards employee and dependent premiums.

• Anthem 500 EPO
• Anthem 1500 EPO
• Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) with Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) without Health Savings Account (HSA)

• County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s )

• County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)

DISABILITY INSURANCE

Management Disability Insurance -Unit 20 Unrepresented Management Levels A-E - 100% premium paid by employer

LIFE INSURANCE

County-paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

• Unit 20 Unrepresented Management:
• Level A & B $85,000
• Level C $55,000
• Level D & E $35,000

Voluntary Term and Whole Life Insurance are available - premium paid by employee

RETIREMENT

DEFERRED COMPENSATION

The County offers a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. Employees choose their investment funds and can make pre-tax or post-tax contributions to the plan up to the maximum allowable.

MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION

The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 and other provisions of the California Government Code. MCERA members also pay into Social Security. The applicable benefit formula is dependent upon your hire date with an MCERA employer; your pension amount will be determined by your age, years of service and final compensation amount.

EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

Anthem EAP services provide up to five face-to-face counseling sessions per incident and provides a toll-free "800" hotline available 24/7 for emergencies and crisis intervention. EAP services include counseling services, legal services, financial services and work-life resource services.

EMPLOYEE TICKETS, COUPONS, and DISCOUNTS

The County of Merced has partnered with Employee Savings Tickets to provide discounted coupons and tickets for all county employees to attractions throughout the state and out-of-state. The discounts and coupons are available for shopping, movies, sporting events, theme parks, zoos and aquariums and much more.

THIS BULLETIN IS NOT A CONTRACT AND DOES NOT CREATE CONTRACTUAL OR LEGAL RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF ANY EMPLOYEE. THIS BULLETIN IS SUBJECT OF BEING SUPPLEMENTED, MODIFIED, WITHDRAWN OR OTHERWISE CHANGED PENDING LABOR AGREEMENTS AND/OR AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEEM NECESSARY.

For answers to specific questions regarding employee benefits, please call Human Resources at 209.385.7356.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous