County Counsel

The County of Fresno is offering a rewarding and challenging career opportunity for a strong, seasoned, and confident attorney with exceptional leadership, organizational, and managerial skills to serve as the County Counsel.  The County Counsel, under policy direction from the Board of Supervisors, is responsible for planning, directing and managing the activities of the County Counsel’s Office; serves as the attorney for the Board of Supervisors, all other County officials, Boards and Commissions, and certain special districts.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ELECTRONIC BROCHURE

Fresno County is working together for a quality of life for all. Our mission is to provide excellent public services to our diverse community.

Samples of Duties

The information listed below is meant to serve as samples of job duties and responsibilities for this classification.  This list is neither inclusive nor exclusive, but indicative of several types of duties performed. Consequently, this information does not reflect Essential Functions for this classification.

• Under policy direction by the Board of Supervisors, develops policies and programs, and formulates operational objectives within local, state and federal legal requirements, County ordinances, policies and procedural guidelines.
• Acts as legal advisor to the Board of Supervisors, other County officials and County staff, boards and commissions, the governing bodies of school districts, and other special districts.
• Directs the department in planning, developing and administering goals, objectives, management strategies, programs, policies and procedures consistent with regulatory standards.
• Evaluates the day-to-day and long range legal matters having impact on County operations, and establishes County-wide controls and procedures.
• Attends, or is represented, in boards and commission meetings to provide legal advise.
• Assumes responsibility for bond, tax increase, and improvement district proceedings for the County and agencies represented.
• Prepares or approves contracts and other legal documents involving the agencies County Counsel represents.
• Directs the preparation and administration of the department's budget; and establishes short and long term budget priorities and funding requirements.
• Interprets and communicates department programs, goals, policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations.
• Interviews, selects, trains, supervises, evaluates, promotes and disciplines, including terminates staff; and directs the same activities and staff through subordinate managers and supervisors.
• Reviews legislative activities affecting the delivery of service and advises management on policy and/or operational changes.
• Prepares, or supervises the preparation of, special studies, research, analysis, reports, and correspondence.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Duties, powers, limitations and authority of the County Counsel's Office.
• Federal, state and local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, and regulations applicable to the operation of County government and related agencies.
• Principles and practice of public administration, organization, and management.
• Organizational and functional structure of the County.
• Principles and practices of public funding; and budget preparation, administration and control.
• Principles of civil, constitutional and administrative law and their application.
• Trial and hearing procedures, practices, and rules of evidence.
• Methods of legal research.
• Preparation of briefs and opinions.
• Personnel management practices, including effective employee supervision, selection, training, staff development, and discipline.
• Practices and techniques involved in conducting analytical studies of administrative and management practices, methods and procedures.
• Ethical and professional rules of conduct.

Skills/Abilities to:

• Plan, organize, coordinate and direct the administration of a large, multifunctional organization with a broad spectrum of government operations and public services.
• Exhibit strong administrative, organizational and managerial aptitude.
• Analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence, and precedents and present such material orally or in writing in clear and logical form.
• Analyze and appraise a variety of legal documents and instruments.
• Research and draft opinions.
• Draft legal instruments such as ordinances, resolutions, board orders and contracts.
• Maintain confidential information according to legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Direct, prepare and/or supervise the preparation of the departmental budget.
• Interpret and/or develop rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Select, motivate, supervise, and evaluate staff and provide for their training and professional development.
• Analyze complex regulatory and administrative problems, evaluate alternatives, and adopt effective courses of action.
• Make presentations to the Board of Supervisors, other agencies and the public.
• Communicate information in a political environment with divergent interests in a fair and balanced manner.
• Promote open, candid information sharing across organizational boundaries.
• Present ideas and complex material clearly, concisely, logically, and persuasively both orally and in writing.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all organizational levels as well as with other agencies and the public.
• Display and maintain the highest degree of maturity, integrity, loyalty, accountability, good judgment, ethics and vision.
• Maintain the County's commitment to provide excellent customer service.

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience:  Five (5) years of recent full time, paid county, municipal, or administrative law experience; two (2) years of which must have been in a high-level management capacity requiring frequent contact with boards or commissions.

Licenses: Active Membership, in good standing, with the State Bar of California.

Possession of a valid driver's license may be required.

Note:  As a condition of employment, candidates will be subject to a background investigation.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS:

• A complete, accurate Fresno County employment application must be submitted online only and shall include:
  • All education and work experience to demonstrate the applicant meets the minimum qualifications.
• Comprehensive Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
• Verification of California State Bar licensure (a printout from the "Attorney Search" section of the California State Bar website is acceptable). 

Please Note:

• Resumes and attachments are not accepted in lieu of a completed employment application. 
• Incomplete or inaccurate applications will be disqualified. 
• Submissions must be received by the closing date and time of this recruitment. Amendments will not be accepted after the filing deadline.
• See electronic brochure for details and topics to cover. A comprehensive resume must be attached to your online application or via fax to (559) 455-4788.

Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS:

Positions in this classification are in Medical Group I – Light Physical Activity (Personnel Rule 8). This group includes positions which require only light physical effort and may include lifting of small, light objects and some bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching. Considerable walking or standing may be involved.

The County of Fresno is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application, examination, or selection process may contact Human Resources at (559) 600-1830 at least five days prior to the scheduled date or deadline. 

Eligible candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The County of Fresno is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Fresno County to provide employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, or denial of medical family care leave, or any other non-job-related factor. 

Analyst: Zachary Carter

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• Fresno County