Job Description
About the Health & Human Services Team
The Health & Human Services Team serves as general counsel for the Department of Public Health, the Human Services Agency, the City’s programs for people experiencing homelessness, and certain other health-related City departments. This includes working with: The City’s two public hospital facilities, its ambulatory and mental health clinics, and its street medicine teams; the Medical Examiner’s Office; Jail Health; the Health Officer and Population Health; the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS); the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families (DCYF); Environmental Health; and the Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing (HSH). This work includes assisting with Medical Probate (Probate Code Section 3200) petitions, tuberculosis (TB) civil detention petitions, legal issues related to involuntary mental health hold petitions (Welfare & Institutions Code Section 5150, etc.), Health Officer orders and directives related to the COVID-19 pandemic, other advice and litigation as assigned, and permit and enforcement proceedings.
The team also advises the Mayor’s Office, the Board of Supervisors, and other City officials and departments on matters relating to health care and human service programs. The team’s responsibilities include: providing general legal counsel to the team’s clients, including in relation to privacy and compliance, health care issues, and state and federal regulatory oversight of licensed facilities and professionals; interpreting the myriad of federal, state, and local laws governing the provision and funding of health and human service programs; drafting related local and state legislation; drafting and approving a high volume of contracts and advising in relation to the City’s procurement processes (including requests for proposals); advising the Health Commission, the Human Services Commission, and other policy and advisory bodies; and advising on the day-to-day legal issues that arise in the operation of major City departments, including in relation to public meeting and public records laws. 
Certain matters involving these clients require specialized legal expertise and are either referred to other teams or advice is provided in coordination with other teams. The Trial Team generally represents these departments in litigation, with assistance from the Health & Human Services Team. The Labor Team advises these departments on personnel issues and handles litigation relating to employer-employee matters, also including with assistance from the Health & Human Services Team. The Health & Human Services team is a collaborative and dynamic group of 9 attorneys, one paralegal, and two legal secretaries. 
Deputy City Attorney Position and Responsibilities
Attorneys on the Health & Human Services Team are assigned a mix of client work and specific projects or assignments. Assignments change over time depending on client needs and attorney interests. The team’s attorneys handle all aspects of their assignments, including issue spotting, legal research, client communication and coordination, document drafting and review, and other tasks as needed or assigned.