Description

The County Counsel’s role is that of legal counsel for the County of Inyo. The office offers a wide range of challenging work in a congenial atmosphere in a County with a spectacular environment. This is a countywide position. The position is expected to report to and perform work at all office and/or court locations within Inyo County as needed to complete assigned duties. The position is “at will” subject to specific contractual rights and obligations.

The County Counsel’s office is a small office with a total of three attorneys, including the County Counsel, and one staff person. County Counsel attorneys provide professional legal services and advice to the Board of Supervisors, County departments, special districts, joint powers authorities, and commissions on civil and administrative legal matters. Each lawyer handles a wide variety of issues, generally addressing all legal issues of assigned departments, and general counsel advice for non-County clients. To be successful, an attorney must be a generalist who enjoys dealing with a variety of non-routine issues.

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

• An attorney who assists policymakers to accomplish their goals by providing legal advice, representing the County in civil actions, and providing written and oral opinions on a variety of subjects to the Board of Supervisors, and other County boards, commissions, departments, special districts and joint powers authorities.
• Inyo County is a rural county in which many of the legal issues common to rural western counties tend to manifest themselves. Ninety-eight percent of the property in the County is managed by state and federal agencies and the City of Los Angeles. Current issues in the County include: Water exports to Los Angeles and within the County; federal land use decisions affecting the County; and geothermal and solar energy facility planning. The office also handles the full range of governmental issues common to most counties in California.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have knowledge of state and federal statutory and case law applicable or translatable to public entities in California, including principles and case law for California and Federal Courts; current issues in the field of governmental law, and related matters. The candidates must also be able to efficiently and effectively communicate legal principles to managers and other lay people; write clearly and concisely; orally communicate in an effective manner; analyze and research complex legal issues; interpret cases, statutes, and regulations; and understand public administration problems and programs.
• Assigned work is normally performed in an office environment, with more limited courtroom duties. There is continuous contact with County staff, management, general public, and outside organizations/agencies. A valued skill is the ability to identify the client’s objective and to creatively find a lawful and direct means to achieve it.

Chief Deputy

• For the Chief Deputy, this position is responsible for all duties described in the job description for a Deputy County Counsel IV, and also assisting the County Counsel with administering the ongoing activities of the County Counsel's Office and assists in developing and implementing departmental goals and objectives within general policy guidelines.  

Requirements

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

Level I-

• Graduation from an accredited Law School
• Must be an active member of the California State Bar
• Possess a valid operator’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles
• Demonstrated a commitment to public service
• Have experience that is translatable to a county government
• Public sector legal experience is helpful but not required.   

Level II-
The above listed qualifications plus:

• At least two years of legal practice involving representation of public entities or comparable legal experience in the private sector

Level III-
The above listed qualifications plus:

• At least three years experience as an attorney in the practice of public law or comparable legal experience in the private sector

Level IV-
The above listed qualifications plus:

• At least four years of legal practice involving representation of public entities or comparable legal experience in the private sector

Chief Deputy-
The above listed qualifications plus:

• At least five years of legal practice involving representation of public entities or comparable legal experience in the private sector

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• You may be required to drive a motor vehicle in the course of employment and must possess a valid operator’s license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles
• Must successfully complete a pre-employment background investigation
• Position may be required to serve as a Disaster Service Worker during a County emergency