What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Deputy County Counsel position at County of Riverside?
The Office of County Counsel is seeking an experienced and dynamic Chief Deputy County Counsel to lead and support the Health & Adult Welfare Section in Riverside.
This section provides critical legal guidance that protects vulnerable adults, supports the operations of Riverside University Health System (RUHS), and ensures the lawful and ethical handling of sensitive health and social services information. The team advises on adult welfare programs, represents and supports county health operations, and safeguards privacy through rigorous compliance with HIPAA and state and federal information-sharing laws.
The Chief Deputy County Counsel serves as a key member of the Office’s leadership team and operates at the full supervisory level of the Deputy County Counsel series. In this role, the incumbent will plan, organize, and direct the work of attorneys and paralegals, ensuring effective workload distribution across the office. The position also takes on complex, high-impact legal matters that carry significant legal and policy implications for the County.
This classification is distinguished from the Assistant County Counsel in that the Chief Deputy focuses on supervising legal teams and handling highly complex legal issues, while the Assistant County Counsel provides day-to-day operational leadership of the entire office and addresses the most advanced legal challenges with countywide impact.
The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of increasingly responsible legal experience, a strong background in litigation and jury trials, and proven experience supervising or leading other attorneys.
This class has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the provisions provided under Article 6, Section 601E (2) of the County Management Resolution and serves at the pleasure of the County Counsel.
Meet the Team!The Office of County Counsel is a full-service law office that provides advisory and litigation support on issues of vital concern to the County and its residents such as health care, public safety, child welfare, land development, environmental protection, public finance, taxation and elections.
- As a member of the County Counsel Leadership Team, plan and organize the work of attorneys by assigning, reviewing, and balancing the workload among the various sections of the office.
- Supervise, assign, and review the work of subordinate deputies and paralegals in the practices of the County Counsel's Office; give advice and recommendations to other staff on difficult and complex legal problems.
- Assist in the development and refinement of skills and talents; serve as advisor to various boards and commissions whose legal problems are complex and exacting.
- Confer with and advise County and district officers and employees on the complex legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations.
- Represent the County in all State, Federal and Appellate Courts; study and interpret laws, court decisions, ordinances, and other legal authorities.
- Draft contracts, deeds, leases, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal instruments; prepare written opinions and render informal opinions on complex or legal questions.
- Assist with office administration, employee evaluation, and staff direction; prepare correspondence and reports.
Experience: Four years of experience as a journey-level attorney providing the full range of legal counsel to governmental agencies or departments.
Other Requirements:
A valid California Driver's License will be required at time of appointment.
Active membership in the State Bar of California.
Knowledge of:
- Legal principles and their application;
- Rules of practice in California and federal trial and appellate courts;
- Court proceedings, discovery techniques, jury selection, settlement practices and other matters related to trial and appellate practice;
- Organization, powers, and limitations of complex County governmental functions, and of the California Constitution;
- Principles of civil law and their application to governmental subdivisions; methods, procedures, and practices used in the conduct of litigation and the preparation of legal instruments;
- Principles of supervision, including training methods and techniques.
Ability to:
- Analyze complex legal problems and apply legal principles and practices;
- Present facts, arguments, and laws clearly and logically in written or oral form;
- Perform legal research and analysis
- Draft ordinances, contracts, and legal instruments;
- Draft and revise pleadings, motions, and briefs;
- Assign, supervise, and review the work of subordinate attorneys and paralegals;
- Establish and maintain cooperative relations with subordinates, superiors, and others contacted in the work.
For questions regarding this recruitment:
Please contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org or (951) 966-3590. Please allow 1-2 business days for response.
Please contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org or (951) 966-3590. Please allow 1-2 business days for response.
Salary : $195,477 - $274,905