Deputy City Attorney IV, Senior

The Office of the City Attorney is seeking a highly qualified attorney for the unclassified at-will position of Deputy City Attorney IV Senior. This role requires substantial experience in motions practice and appellate advocacy and the selected candidate may be assigned by the City Attorney to new additional or alternate duties in either litigation or transactional work.

Within the Office the appointed attorney will represent the City of Oakland its officers employees and agencies in a broad spectrum of high-stakes civil matters in both state and federal courts. These matters include but are not limited to inverse condemnation actions eminent domain complex civil rights litigation high-value personal injury claims wrongful death suits collection of City-owed funds employee disciplinary appeals before the Civil Service Board or hearing officers personnel disputes and other claims filed on behalf of or against the City.

This classification is the most advanced non-supervisory level in the Deputy City Attorney series requiring extensive expertise in specialized municipal practice and the independent application of professional judgment. The incumbent will receive general supervision but will exercise a high degree of autonomy in handling complex legal assignments. The City Attorney may assign the attorney to different or evolving practice areas as the needs of the Office dictate.

• Performing legal research interpreting and applying laws.
• Appearing in court to present argue and try cases.
• Preparing pleadings and other papers in connection with trials hearings discovery and other legal proceedings.
• Reviewing and evaluating case files and making decisions regarding proper disposition.
• Studying interpreting and applying laws court decisions and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases opinions and briefs
• Overseeing outside counsel.
• Skillfully and professionally presenting legal advice to attorneys and lay people and defending legal analyses.
• Inspiring confidence and respect for legal advice.
• Interacting with other in-house attorneys as part of a team and occasionally as team leader to provide the best product for clients of the City Attorneys Office.

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

Experience

• Five years of increasingly responsible work experience comparable to a Deputy City Attorney III in the City of Oakland.

• Graduate of accredited school of law.

• A member in good standing with the California State Bar.
• Incumbents in this position are required to maintain a valid California Drivers License during the City employment or demonstrate the ability to travel to required locations in a timely manner. due to assignments and hours or work public transportation may not always be an efficient method for traveling to required locations. Should the candidate need accommodations or be ineligible for a Drivers License the City Attorneys Office will work with the candidate to make such accommodations as appropriate.

• Bilingual skills in Spanish Cantonese and/or Mandarin.
• Working knowledge of municipal state and federal laws ordinances and codes affecting City government.
• Working knowledge of local court rules and procedures.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.