Job Abstract

For all Attorney classifications, the City of Sunnyvale:

• contributes 4% of the 7% employee contribution to CalPERS for classic members;

• contributes 2% of an employee's gross pay to a deferred compensation plan, and

• provides fully employer paid medical, dental, and vision benefits.

Annual salaries listed below include 3.5% premium pay.

Senior Assistant City Attorney: $204,603 - $255,754
Assistant City Attorney: $178,595 - $223,244
Deputy City Attorney: $144,965 - $181,205

About the Position:

The Sunnyvale City Attorney's Office seeks a qualified attorney to fill one vacancy. The position will provide complex professional legal services supporting City departments, boards and commissions, and City Council, and may represent the City in administrative and judicial actions. Significant experience in the practice of general municipal law, including working knowledge in at least one or more of the following areas, is required: environmental regulation and compliance (including CEQA), stormwater regulation, Clean Water Act, election law, Brown Act, the Public Records Act, Conflict of Interest law, public contracting, real estate transactions, land use, housing, public sector labor and employment, law enforcement, code enforcement, and/or municipal litigation. Experience staffing public meetings and/or willingness to do so is a plus.

The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and highly collaborative, with excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to take on complex legal matters, develop an accessible and approachable relationship with city staff, and find creative approaches to solve problems collaboratively.

About the Office:
The Sunnyvale City Attorney’s Office consists of five attorneys, including the City Attorney, and two support staff. The vacancy being filled is due to the appointment of a long-serving attorney in the office to City Attorney in May 2024. Attorneys have a high level of independence and autonomy in their work appropriate to their skill and experience levels. The office operates as a team and attorneys and staff enjoy engaging together on legal projects and process improvements. Client assignments depend on experience, interests, and identified areas for cross-training and skill development.

Remote work on a hybrid schedule (up to 3 days per week remote) is permitted. The City Attorney’s Office enjoys a spacious office suite on the top floor of a new energy-efficient, LEED platinum certified City Hall building that opened in Spring 2023. There is ample onsite parking, an onsite fitness center, and City Hall is within walking distance to the Sunnyvale CalTrain station.

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Acts as liaison with the District Attorney and County Counsel on matters of joint interest and with outside counsel on civil matters.
• Handles (Deputy may handle) criminal discovery motions including motions for discovery of Public Safety personnel records.
• Studies, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, ordinances, and other legal sources in advising officers and employees of the City in legal matters.
• Represents the City in the community and at professional meetings as required.
• Answers inquiries from City departments and other agencies pertaining to City operations.
• Responds to citizen complaints and requests for information.
• Prosecutes misdemeanor and infraction violations of City ordinances and criminal appeals.
• Performs legal research and prepares opinions on various legal issues; provides professional legal advice to City departments, boards, commissions, and the City Council.
• Prepares cases and represents the City in administrative hearings.
• Prepares and drafts ordinances, resolutions, permits, administrative procedures and policies, contracts, deeds, leases, and other legal documents and instruments; reviews such documents and offers opinions as to legal acceptability when presented to the City for consideration.

• Assists City Attorney in making decisions regarding when to prosecute, compromise or dismiss civil litigation.
• Attends meetings of the City Council and boards and commissions as a legal advisor.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with office staff, other City staff, opposing counsel and the public.
• Gives legal advice and counsel on matters such as acceptable methods for gathering evidence; prepares opinions concerning the actions, powers, duties, functions, and obligations of City officials.
• Investigates claims and complaints by and against the City.
• Oversees services provided by outside legal specialists engaged by the City for special legal problems.
• Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of staff involved in the performance of professional, technical, and clerical legal duties, as assigned.
• Provide staff training on legal issues as assigned.
• Represents the City, its officers and employees in civil actions brought by or against the City in state and federal court, including tort cases, petitions, forfeiture or weapons, and appeals of City administrative decisions.
• Serves in the absence of the City Attorney, as assigned.

• As requested or directed, gives legal advice and counsel on matters such as acceptable methods for gathering evidence; prepares opinions concerning the actions, powers, duties, functions, and obligations of City officials.
• Assists the City Attorney as required in court, at council meetings and with respect to litigation, risk management and attendance at City Council meetings.
• Attends meetings of Boards and Commissions and serves as a legal advisor.
• May advise on liability and insurance issues and claims.
• May assist City Attorney in making decisions with regard to when to prosecute, compromise or dismiss civil litigation.
• May investigate claims and complaints by or against the City and recommend action to be taken.
• May oversee services provided by outside legal specialists engaged by the City for special legal problems.
• May provide technical or functional supervision to Deputy I Attorney and Paralegal.
• May represent the City Attorney at City Council meetings and in court when necessary.
• Represents the City, its officers and employees in civil actions brought by or against the City in state and federal court, including tort cases, petitions, forfeiture or weapons, and appeals of City administrative decisions.

• Act as primary or backup advisor to City boards and commissions as assigned.
• Investigates claims and complaints by or against the City and recommends action to be taken.
• Represents the City, its officers and employees in civil actions brought by or against the City in state or federal court.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading reports and work related documents and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal customer service. The need to lift, drag and push files, paper, books and documents weighing up to 10 pounds is also required. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Education and Experience:

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:

A Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school; AND

Knowledge of:

• Legal office work, procedures, terminology, and documents, including proper English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Legal principles and practice, including civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law and procedures.
• Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• State of the art methods of legal research.
• Established precedent and sources of legal reference applicable to municipal activities.
• Ordinances, statutes, and court decisions related to municipal entities, particularly in the areas of community development, public works, public safety, and finance.
• Organization and operating procedures of a City Attorney's Office.
• Office methods, procedures, software and equipment.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training and performance management.
• Customer service skills.

Ability to:

• Perform legal research and organize, interpret and apply legal principles to complex legal problems.
• Review and draft legal documents, correspondence, memoranda, pleadings, briefs, ordinances, contracts, deeds, leases, policies and other legal documents.
• Represent the City in court and administrative proceedings.
• Present statements of law, fact, and argument clearly and logically.
• Interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies.
• Perform increasingly complex legal work using independent judgment.
• Present statements of law, fact, and argument clearly and logically.
• Prepare and present complex cases in court, including jury trials.
• Interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies.
• Analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents.
• Perform difficult legal work using independent judgment.
• Operate a computer using word processing and business software and other office equipment.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain and promote positive and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, public officials and the public.
• Demonstrate initiative and exercise good judgment in the performance of duties.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and confidential matters.
• Work independently and as a team member; recognize and set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.
• Act as administrative and technical assistant to the City Attorney.

Willingness to:

Attend evening meetings.

Licenses/Certificates:

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license or the ability to provide alternative transportation as approved by the appointing authority and a safe driving record.

Membership in the State Bar of California.

Admission to the Federal District Court Bar (Senior Assistant City Attorney) or the ability to gain admission to the Federal District Court Bar (Assistant and Deputy City Attorney).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICTIONS

• Admission to the Federal Appeals Court Bar.

APPLICATION PROCESS
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2025. Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted on-line through the City's employment page at Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click on City Jobs. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

EXAM PROCESS
Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an interview scheduled for a date to be determined. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources).

SELECTION PROCESS
Any candidate who is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a background history check as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City-selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION
Any successful candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e., original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Positions in this job classification are designated as at-will in the City Charter and are unrepresented and appointed by the City Attorney.

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

The City of Sunnyvale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Sunnyvale not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion (including religious dress or grooming practice), color, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding), gender identity and/or gender expression, sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality), ethnic or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, marital status, family relationship, age, cancer or HIV/AIDS related medical condition, genetic characteristics and/or genetic information, and physical or mental disability. Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to the Department of Human Resources at time of application.