Date Posted:

January 11, 2018

Salary:

$8,158 – $11,404/Mo.

Description:

Join a collegial team of attorneys and staff committed to public service and quality of life in beautiful Sonoma County!

County Counsel’s Land Use Practice Group seeks highly motivated, career-oriented attorneys with excellent research and writing skills, the ability to think strategically and creatively, and the desire to assume responsibility and work cooperatively on complex, fast-moving projects.

About the Position

Over the next year or more, Sonoma County will pursue land use policies and actions to better recover from the devastating Sonoma Complex Fire, and is slated to process multiple complex and controversial private development projects. The County is also scheduled to undertake important revisions to its Zoning Ordinance, Local Coastal Program, winery event policies, density bonus rules, newly-adopted Cannabis Land Use Ordinance, and start scoping the next County General Plan. As a result, the County is interested in candidates with a strong background in land use law, including experience with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), State Planning and Zoning Law, as well as other land use and environmental laws such as the Subdivision Map Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Land Use attorneys work closely with the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and staff to review public and private development projects. They may also be responsible for defending the County’s land use decisions and enforcing the County Code in state and federal court.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess:
• Experience in private project review, CEQA compliance, code enforcement, housing law and finance, and/or the drafting and interpretation of land use ordinances, plans, and policies
• Public law litigation experience, including trial work
• Experience preparing and presenting civil cases before State and Federal courts and administrative bodies
• A record of excellent academic achievement
• Exceptional research and writing skills
• The proven ability to creatively solve problems
• The ability to work effectively, both as part of a team and independently

Qualifications:

Qualifications for this position requires current, active membership in the State Bar of California, AND:

At the II level: One year of legal experience practicing civil or governmental law as a licensed attorney

At the III level: Two years of legal experience practicing civil law as a licensed attorney, at least one year of which was with a public agency performing duties comparable to a Deputy County Counsel II; or comparable experience in private practice.

How to Apply:

For more information & to apply online, please visit: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. EOE 

Filing Deadline:

01/30/2018