Deputy City Attorney I

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

The City Attorney's Office is recruiting to fill two attorney positions - one transactional/advisory attorney, and one litigator

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE - Deputy City Attorney, Transactional/Advisory

The ideal transactional/advisory attorney candidate will have some transactional/advisory experience. Municipal or government law experience is helpful.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE - Deputy City Attorney, Litigation

The ideal candidate for our Litigation team is an experienced litigator capable of independently handling a varied litigation caseload, has effective and persuasive written and oral advocacy skills, solid legal writing and research skills. The ideal candidate should also demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively on some projects and independently on others, and be comfortable and competent to handle civil litigation from inception to conclusion, including trial, post-trial motions and appeal.

Under close supervision of a Supervising Deputy City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney and City Attorney, the Deputy City Attorney I provides professional legal services for the City of Sacramento and its boards, commissions, officers, and departments, and performs related work.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a professional-level classification populated with multiple incumbents assigned to the City Attorney's Office. In general, the Deputy City Attorney I incumbents' work may involve representing the City in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings including the abatement of city code violations, research, preparation and filing of court documents, appearances before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, and education of City staff.

The Deputy City Attorney I is the entry-level to moderately experienced working level of Deputy City Attorney. As experience is gained, employees are expected to develop the capability to perform work with less supervision, and perform at a higher professional level. Incumbents are expected to use sound professional judgment and skill in performing work, which is reviewed and approved by a Supervising Deputy City Attorney, and in some cases, by the Assistant City Attorney or the City Attorney. The Deputy City Attorney I is distinguished from next higher level classification of Deputy City Attorney II in that the Deputy City Attorney I works under closer supervision and on less complex legal problems.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Supervision is provided by a Supervising Deputy City Attorney. The Deputy City Attorney I does not supervise.TYPICAL DUTIES

• Performs legal research and prepares opinions on various legal problems for the City Council, City of Sacramento, and its boards, commissions, offices, and departments.

• Prepares and offers advice on ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, and other legal documents; reviews documents and offers advice as to the legal acceptability of such documents.

• Investigates claims and complaints by or against the City; gives advice on action to be taken; prepares cases for hearings; represents the City in such hearings.

• Handles civil law problems, including the preparation of cases for trial.

• Provides legal advice on City policies and procedures.

• Initiates and defends cases involving the City, prepares the required pleadings; may serve as trial counsel for the City before County, State and Federal courts at all levels.

• Initiates and defends cases involving the City, prepares the required pleadings; serves as a trial counsel for the City before State and Federal courts at all levels.Knowledge of:

• Municipal, state, federal and constitutional laws affecting city government.

• Methods of legal research.

• Court and administrative agency procedures, including pleading requirements and rules of court and evidentiary rules

• Ethical and other Rules of Professional Conduct that regulate the practice of law.

Skill in:

• Utilizing in a proficient manner available computer equipment and software, and other law office technology to format, prepare and process documents in reasonably efficient manner.

• Automated legal research.

Ability to:

• Acquire within a reasonable time, knowledge of City Code, City ordinances, City Charter; and other laws related to municipal legal affairs.

• Read and comprehend legal documents quickly and efficiently.

• Use sound judgment in providing legal advice

• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships

• Work well under the pressure of a heavy caseload and complete assignments within specified time limits.

• Begin to recognize issues of political sensitivity and notify supervisor of the same.

• Deal effectively and diplomatically with City officials, outside agencies and attorneys, and the public.

• Deal effectively and diplomatically with other office support and professional staff.

• Draft and present persuasive legal arguments.

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

• Research a variety of technical and legal issues and make recommendations demonstrating the exercise of sound legal advice.

• Apply legal knowledge to varied problems.

• Analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents.

• Prepare appropriate pleadings and other documents in litigation cases, and represent the City in administrative and judicial proceedings, at the trial and appellate level.

• Work effectively and cooperatively in a team environment.

• Provide general direction to support staff.

• Demonstrate skill in learning to understand varied non-legal subjects, in analyzing non-legal problems, and in relating non-legal subjects and problems to applicable law.

• Undertake and complete assigned projects on own initiative with supervision and direction.

• Inspire and impart confidence and trust.

• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by a Supervising Deputy City Attorney, the City Attorney or Assistant City Attorney.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

General knowledge of the practice of law to moderate knowledge and experience in municipal law.

Education:

LLB, JD or other equivalent law degree which entitles a candidate to sit for the California Bar Examination.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable. 

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Member in good standing with the California State Bar Association with no record of practice related discipline; have no felony convictions and be of moral character. Qualified to practice law before all courts in California and relevant Federal Courts, including the Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme.

PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP

Proof of the required membership and/or license should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.

Driver License:

Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.

1.Application: (Pass/Fail) - All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline;

• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.

• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:

• If applicants do not list current and past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).

• If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.

• Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.

• Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted online with your application. Proof of education will be required at time of appointment.

• Proof of membership and/or license should be submitted online with your application. Proof of membership and/or license will be required at time of appointment.

2.Supplemental Questionnaire: (Pass/Fail) - In addition to the City of Sacramento employment application, all applicants must complete and submit online responses to the supplemental questionnaire to the City of Sacramento Employment Office by the final filing deadline;

• Responses to the supplemental questionnaire must be submitted online; paper questionnaire will not be accepted.

• Incomplete supplemental questionnaire will not pass the review process; omitted information cannot be considered or assumed.

• A resume will not substitute for the information required in the supplemental questionnaire.

• Possession of the minimum qualifications is not necessarily a guarantee for further advancement in the selection process.

3.Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail) - All applications received by the final filing deadline will be forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.
4.Interview Process: Human Resources will forward applications to the hiring department. Those determined to be the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process.
5.Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.

QUESTIONS:

For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:

• Please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/Home/ApplicationGuide for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.

• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Application Support at 855-524-5627.

• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website at https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment;

• Send an email to employment@cityofsacramento.org; or

• Call the Human Resources Department at (916) 808-5726