Supervising Deputy County Counsel-Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk

The Office of County Counsel is a full-service law office, tasked with handling the County’s civil law needs, including proactive participation in all phases of government decision making and a very active and successful trial litigation program. The Supervising Deputy County Counsel will supervise a section or team of assigned staff of the County Counsel’s Office and/or handle the most difficult and complex caseloads or assignments. This position provides legal advice and litigation support to the Assessor/ Recorder/ County Clerk (ARCC) and will work with attorneys assigned to the Finance and General Government Team. 

The attorney in this position will provide dedicated legal support to the Assessor in connection with Assessment Appeals Board (“AAB”) hearings, including witness preparation, legal advice, representation at hearings, and drafting proposed written findings. The attorney will also provide litigation support related to AAB matters, including preparing and filing writs of administrative mandate, as appropriate, to challenge AAB decisions. 

In addition, the attorney will provide advisory legal support to ARCC with a focus on the review and development of policies and procedures, contract review, legislative support, California Public Records Act requests, and records retention.

The attorney will be expected to complete appraiser training, which will be provided by the Assessor’s Office. Although a mix of remote and in-person work will be permitted, the attorney must remain available in-person for AAB hearings, which generally occur on Thursdays.

Please note that the County is advertising three recruitments at the Senior Deputy County Counsel, Principal Deputy County Counsel, or Supervising Deputy County Counsel level. The candidate should apply for the position that best reflects the candidate’s level of experience. 

Please read the Supervising Deputy County Counsel job description for additional information.
 
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate has experience providing clients advice on assessment practices and the Revenue and Taxation Code, and representing clients in writ of administrative mandate litigation or refund actions. The ideal candidate is an analytical thinker, able to accurately articulate the critical issues in a case. Additionally, the ideal candidate would have excellent legal research and writing skills, courtroom presence, and the ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with other attorneys and support staff. Preferably, the candidate would have experience supervising other attorneys or legal staff and preparing and/or managing cases, complaints, or projects with a high degree of difficulty or complexity. 

1. Two (2) years of experience as a Principal Deputy County Counsel Attorney in the County of San Diego, or at an equivalent level with another California county or city, handling above average difficult and complex cases; OR, 
2. Seven (7) years of professional, post-bar civil legal experience as an attorney. Previous experience must have included serving as an attorney handling civil law matters and/or cases in a public or private sector law office.

Note: Experience with a public entity representing public boards and commissions, preparing and trying public entity lawsuits, and drafting ordinances, policies, and public contracts is highly desirable.