The City of Elk Grove is now accepting applications for the position of
DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY I-II/SR. DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
Deputy City Attorney I: $118,331.00 - $158,588 annually
Deputy City Attorney II: $130,733.00 - $175,208.00 annually
Senior Deputy City Attorney: $151,811 - $203,455.00 annually
The City of Elk Grove City Attorney’s Office is seeking a highly motivated and dedicated attorney to join our team as a Senior Deputy City Attorney or Deputy City Attorney I/II. The ideal candidate will have experience practicing municipal law in California immediately prior to application, either with a private law firm or as an in-house attorney for a public agency. The successful candidate will be placed as either a Senior Deputy City Attorney, Deputy City Attorney II, or Deputy City Attorney I commensurate with experience. The ideal candidate will have broad experience in varied aspects of municipal law, and specifically, land use and planning, CEQA, public works, public contracting, affordable housing, municipal finance, labor and employment law, municipal rate setting, open government laws (Brown Act and Public Records Act), waste and recycling, franchises, and code enforcement. In addition to transactional work, the successful candidate will engage in a litigation practice in both prosecuting and defending the City in civil actions. The City does not anticipate that the successful candidate would prosecute criminal matters, but would coordinate with law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, and other prosecutorial agencies, as necessary. The successful candidate must have excellent communication, research, writing, and analytical skills. The successful candidate must have the ability to work independently to produce high quality work product with minimal guidance or supervision from other attorneys in the office, while also working cooperatively and collaboratively with members of other City departments and serving in a supervisory capacity for office administrative staff.
Tentative Recruitment Timeline (subject to change)
Filing Deadline: 11:59 P.M. on July 25, 2024
Oral Board Interviews: August 8, 2024 (Virtual)
Selection Interviews: August 13, 2024 (In Person)
The City offers a competitive salary and generous benefit package including CalPERS retirement benefits, a deferred compensation match and more.
Why work for the City of Elk Grove? Proud Heritage. Bright Future.
Community Profile
Elk Grove is a vibrant, family-friendly community of approximately 178,124 people in the Sacramento, California region, located 14 miles south of the State Capital and 60 miles east of the Bay Area. Elk Grove is a young, ethnically diverse, modern city that was incorporated in 2000. Elk Grove has low crime, excellent schools, over 100 community parks and 28 miles of trails, plentiful dining and shopping options, numerous annual events and festivals, and over 270 sunny days per year.
Deputy City Attorney I-II: Under general supervision (Deputy City Attorney I) to direction (Deputy City Attorney II), provides professional legal services and representation, advice, and assistance to City departments, employees, the City Council, and various committees and commissions; conducts legal research and prepares and reviews opinions, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents; provides responsible and complex administrative support to the City Attorney and Assistant City Attorneys; and performs related duties as assigned.
Sr. Deputy City Attorney: Under general direction, leads, oversees, reviews, and participates in the work of staff providing professional legal services and representation, advice, and assistance to City departments, employees, the City Council, and various committees and commissions; serves as a technical resource and provides consulting services to City departments on complex legal matters; conducts legal research and prepares and reviews opinions, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents; provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the City Attorney and Assistant City Attorney; and performs related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Deputy City Attorney I-II: Receives general supervision (Deputy City Attorney I) to direction (Deputy City Attorney II) from the Assistant City Attorney and/or City Attorney. Exercises no direct supervision over staff, but does provide technical and functional direction to professional administrative staff.
Sr. Deputy City Attorney: Receives general direction from the Assistant City Attorney and/or City Attorney. Exercises technical and functional direction over and provides training to professional administrative staff.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Deputy City Attorney I: This is the entry level classification in the Deputy City Attorney series. Incumbents may have some professional legal experience and learn and perform the less difficult and less controversial assignments related to municipal law under the direction and guidance of the Assistant City Attorney or more senior attorneys. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and complex. Close supervision and frequency of work review lessen as an incumbent demonstrates skill to perform the work independently.
Deputy City Attorney II: This is the journey level classification in the Deputy City Attorney series. Incumbents at this level are distinguished from the I-level by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned, working independently, and exercising judgment and initiative. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the City Attorney’s Office.
Positions in the Deputy City Attorney class series are flexibly staffed and positions at the II-level are normally filled by advancement from the next lower level upon management approval, after gaining the knowledge, skill, and experience which meet the qualifications for and after demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class, subject to budgetary restrictions.
Sr. Deputy City Attorney: This is the advanced journey and/or lead level classification in the Deputy City Attorney series responsible for performing the most complex work assigned to the series. Incumbents regularly work on tasks which are varied and complex, requiring considerable discretion and independent judgment, and, for lead positions, provide lead direction to a work unit of lower-level staff. Positions in the classification rely on experience and judgment to perform assigned duties and ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines and methods to complete assignments. Work is reviewed on an as needed basis upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements.
EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only) Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
Deputy City Attorney I-II:
Positions at the Deputy City Attorney I and Deputy City Attorney II level may perform some of these duties and responsibilities in a learning capacity.
- Performs legal research and provides legal opinions on various issues for the City Attorney, Assistant City Attorney, City management and staff, City Council, boards, commissions, and committees.
- Prepares, reviews, and provides legal advice on City staff reports, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases, permits, licenses, policies, pleadings, applications, and other legal documents and instruments; reviews documents and provides opinions to legal acceptability.
- Represents the City in litigation and administrative proceedings; may perform all phases of pretrial, trial, and appellate work; develops litigation strategy, prepares briefs, drafts pleadings, motions, and arguments, and conducts discovery and depositions; files motions and briefs; represents the City in court.
- Reviews, evaluates, investigates, and consults on claims filed against the City; determines legal impact of specific cases on City operations.
- Examines and analyzes court opinions and legislation regarding its legal effect on municipal, state, and federal issues; recommends changes in City policies and practices to comply with legal requirements.
- Attends and participates in various meetings; may serve as legal advisor, offer legal advice, and respond to questions from City Council, City staff, and various boards, commissions, and committees of the City.
- Responds to public, City staff, outside agencies, and other interested parties’ requests for information; assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.
- Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays informed of new trends and innovations in the practice of municipal law; attends City Council meetings as requested.
- Acts as liaison between City departments and outside litigation counsel.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Sr. Deputy City Attorney:
- Provides input for personnel decisions such as performance evaluations, promotions, hiring, and disciplinary actions for professional and paraprofessional legal support staff.
- Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, new or revised programs, systems, methods of operation, and administrative control systems for assigned projects and programs.
- Participates in annual budget preparation; identifies resource needs; prepares detailed cost estimates with appropriate justifications; monitors expenditures.
- Continuously evaluates City Attorney programs, policies, procedures and practices to identify areas in need of improvement; develops recommendations for improvements.
- Performs legal research and provides legal opinions on various issues for the City Attorney, Assistant City Attorney, City management and staff, City Council, boards, commissions, and committees.
- Prepares, reviews, and provides legal advice on City staff reports, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases, permits, licenses, policies, pleadings, applications, and other legal documents and instruments; reviews documents and provides opinions to legal acceptability.
- Represents the City in litigation and administrative proceedings; may perform all phases of pretrial, trial, and appellate work; develops litigation strategy, prepares briefs, drafts pleadings, motions, and arguments, and conducts discovery and depositions; files motions and briefs; represents the City in court.
- Reviews, evaluates, investigates, and consults on claims filed against the City; determines legal?impact of specific cases on City operations.
- Examines and analyzes court opinions and legislation regarding its legal effect on municipal, state, and federal issues; recommends changes in City policies and practices to comply with legal requirements.
- Attends and participates in various meetings; may serve as legal advisor, offer legal advice, and respond to questions from City Council, City staff, and various boards, commissions, and committees of the City.
- Responds to public, City staff, outside agencies, and other interested parties’ requests for information; assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.
- Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays informed of new trends and innovations in the practice of municipal law; attends City Council meetings as requested.
- Acts as liaison between City departments and outside counsel.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing divisional policies and procedures.
The information listed above is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The City of Elk Grove is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and professionalism. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (916) 478-2230.