County Counsel Attorney I, II, III

COUNTY COUNSEL ATTORNEY I II and III

Salary may be negotiable within the applicable range of the classification based on position requirements and successful candidates qualifications subject to appropriate authorization.

Salary Information:

Attorney I - $46.49 up to $56.20 hourly

Attorney II - $54.37 up to $60.60 hourly

Attorney III - $62.22 up to $86.17 hourly

This recruitment is being held to establish an Open Eligible List to fill current and future Attorney I Attorney II and Attorney III positions. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will close on Wednesday December 31 2025 at 11:59PM (PST).Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

COUNTY COUNSEL

The Office of County Counsel is charged with providing civil legal services to County government e.g. defending and prosecuting litigation advising the Board of Supervisors and providing opinions to the County and district officers on matters pertaining to their duties. The Office as provided by the Government Code was created on September 16 1941 by Ordinance No. 432. Most of County Counsels functions are defined and mandated by California statutes County ordinances Board resolutions Board policy and case law.

County Counsel acts as in-house counsel. The primary client is the Board of Supervisors but all County officers and employees receive County Counsels services. Legal services are also provided to some independent local public entities such as the Grand Jury and the Orange County Flood Control District. Legal services are not provided to individual citizens.

Click here for more information about the County of Orange.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Office of the County Counsel has opportunities for County Counsel Attorney I II and IIIs who will contribute to our mission of making Orange County a safe healthy and fulfilling place to live work and play. We hire qualified candidates demonstrating a great attitude absolute integrity remarkable talent stellar credentials grit and a passion for public service.

The Office of County Counsel is seeking attorneys with an interest or experience in civil criminal and/or government law who are prepared to conduct hearings try cases examine witnesses lodge evidentiary objections and deliver oral arguments. Strong analytical skills and expansive collaborative abilities are prerequisites. The immediate vacancy is for a trial deputy for Child Protection Team which requires daily appearance in Juvenile Dependency Court to handle all aspects of the Social Services Agency (SSA) cases where abused and neglected children need immediate protection. Prior experience specifically in Child Dependency law though helpful is not a pre-requisite.

Future opportunities may be available in the offices various civil advisory and litigation services. Advisory attorneys provide legal guidance about government operations. Advisory teams cover broad practice areas such as environmental constitutional contract privacy real estate child abuse tax election transparency and probate laws. The office has a general litigation team that defends and prosecutes civil matters on behalf of the County of Orange and its officers in both Federal and State courts both at the trial level and on appeal. The office also has litigation teams that focus on specific areas of the law such as juvenile dependency mental health conservatorship and probate proceedings.

TECHNICAL TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

• Understanding of civil legal procedure including writs and appeals in State and Federal courts.
• Understanding and application of California public law including the Government Code Penal Code and Welfare & Institutions Code.
• Preparing formal opinions; drafting ordinances resolutions contracts leases conveyances; preparing pleadings; conducting legal litigation.
• Representing clients in criminal or civil court proceedings jury trials depositions and/or administrative hearings.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Working collaboratively with team members to achieve objectives.
• Thriving in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

JUDGMENT PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

• Identifying evaluating and resolving issues as they arise using decision-making abilities and technical expertise.
• Developing solutions proposing solutions achieving measurable results and implementing best business practices.
• Receiving complaints evaluating evidence and determining the justification for taking legal action.
• Exercising discretion and independent judgment in performing job duties.

COMMUNICATION ORAL AND WRITTEN SKILLS

• Interacting effectively and tactfully with client agencies/departments judges and opposing counsel.
• Maintaining strong oral advocacy skills in court proceedings public meetings and professional engagements.
• Possessing strong writing skills and background in preparing briefs and other legal memoranda
• Writing formal opinions as to the legality of actions; drafting ordinances resolutions contracts leases conveyances and other legal documents.
• Composing pleadings and other written communication in connection with lawsuits trials hearings and other legal proceedings.

Attorney I:

License Required: Active membership in the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the state of California and eligible to practice law in the state of California OR

• Applicants awaiting most recent California Bar Examination results may apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the state of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment AND
• Possession of a California Class C Drivers License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.

Experience: None Required

There is no permanent status in this classification. Incumbents who do not promote to Attorney II within one year from the date of appointment will be subject to termination of their Attorney I status and/or County employment.

Attorney II:

License Required: Active membership in the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the state of California and eligible to practice law in the state of California OR

• Members in good standing of California State Bar and have been assigned a license number but have inactive membership status are also welcome to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the state of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment AND
• Possession of a California Class C Drivers License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.

There is no permanent status in this classification. Incumbents who do not promote to Attorney II within one year from the date of appointment will be subject to termination of their Attorney I status and/or County employment.

Attorney III:

LicenseRequired: Active membership in the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the State of California OR

• Members in good standing of California State Bar and have been assigned a license number but have inactive membership status are also welcome to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the state of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment AND
• Possession of a California Class C Drivers License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation to carry out the essential functions of the job.

Experience: Two (2) years of experience as an attorney in the practice of civil governmental criminal or child support establishment and enforcement law or comparable experience that would demonstrate the application of the knowledge and abilities listed.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials for minimum qualifications. After the initial screening qualified applicants will be referred to the next step of the selection process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application-Appraisal Panel Assessment (Weighted 100%)

An Application Appraisal Panel (AAP) of job knowledge experts willthoroughly screen and evaluate the application and supplemental questionnairefor job knowledge competencies and related experience described above.

Based on the Departments needs the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List

Once the assessment has been completed HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to military veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION:

Emailis the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the site. Please check your email folders including spam/junk folders and/or accept emails ending with and . If your email address should change please update your profile at.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment please contact Michelle Kozaiat or

Orange County as an equal employment opportunity employer encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.