Supervising Deputy County Counsel-Tax and Finance-26394609TF at County of San Diego, CA in County of San Diego, CA

Job description

• The County of San Diego's Office of County Counsel has an immediate opening for SUPERVISING DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL - TAX AND FINANCE in a rewarding and productive position performing legal work for local government.
• The County Counsel’s Office generally supports remote teleworking and a teleworking schedule with a mix of in-office and remote work may be available in this position.
• The Office of County Counsel is a full-service law office, tasked with handling the County's civil law needs, including proactive participation in all phases of government decision making and a very active and successful trial litigation program. The Supervising Deputy County Counsel will supervise a section or team of assigned staff of the County Counsel's Office and/or handle the most difficult and complex caseloads or assignments. This position provides legal advice to County officials on matters primarily involving finance and governance issues and advocates on behalf of the County of San Diego, as well as its officers and departments' employees, by representing them in civil litigation in state and federal courts as well as before administrative tribunals.
• The attorneys in this position are part of a dedicated section that provides a broad range of legal advice and litigation support to departments in the County's Finance and General Government Group such as the Treasurer/Tax Collector, Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, Auditor and Controller, Chief Administrative Office, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Office of Economic and Government Affairs, Office of Ethics and Compliance, Office of Financial Planning, and Registrar of Voters. The attorney in this position is expected to be primary advisory and litigation support for Treasurer/Tax Collector, including: (1) advising on issues related to the treasury, tax collection, tax penalties and cancellation, property tax sales, excess proceeds, transit occupancy tax, documentary transfer tax and cannabis tax and (2) litigating petitions to set aside tax sales, petitions related to excess proceeds, and bankruptcy proceedings.
• This attorney will provide advisory and litigation support as needed for the other departments in the Finance and General Government Group.
• Attorneys may advise and represent on federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding such topics as: (i) the election process for local, state, and federal elections in the County (e.g. voter registration, management of voting systems, employment and training of poll workers, election ballot processing, and vote tallying); (ii) public finance (e.g., the Budget Act, bond issuances, setting fees for local services, and management of the County investment pool; (iii) local tax (e.g., the assessment, billing, and collection of the property tax, transient occupancy tax, cannabis tax, and documentary transfer tax); and (iv) general governance (e.g., the Brown Act, California Public Records Act, conflicts of interest, political activities, and record retention).
• Attorneys may also advise local legislative bodies, and draft County ordinances and resolutions.
• Please note that the County is advertising three recruitments at the Senior Deputy County Counsel, Principal Deputy County Counsel, or Supervising Deputy County Counsel level. The candidate should apply for the position that best reflects the candidate's level of experience.
• Please read the Supervising Deputy County Counsel job description for additional information.
• The ideal candidate has experience providing clients advice on local property taxation and the Revenue and Taxation Code, and representing clients in civil litigation regarding local property taxation and/or bankruptcy matters. The ideal candidate would be an analytical thinker, able to accurately articulate the critical issues in a case. Additionally, the ideal candidate would have excellent legal research and writing skills, courtroom presence, and the ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with other attorneys and support staff. Preferably, the candidate would have experience supervising other attorneys or legal staff and preparing and/or managing cases, complaints, or projects with a high degree of difficulty or complexity.
• Hiring Timeline and Date
• The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.
• - Job offers and background process begins shortly after interviews. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• - Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• - Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date. If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.
• If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a section or team of assigned staff of the County Counsel's Office and/or handle the most difficult and complex caseloads or assignments.
• Provide legal advice to County officials on matters primarily involving finance and governance issues.
• Advocate on behalf of the County of San Diego, as well as its officers and departments' employees, by representing them in civil litigation in state and federal courts as well as before administrative tribunals.
• Provide primary advisory and litigation support for Treasurer/Tax Collector, including advising on issues related to the treasury, tax collection, tax penalties and cancellation, property tax sales, excess proceeds, transit occupancy tax, documentary transfer tax and cannabis tax.
• Litigate petitions to set aside tax sales, petitions related to excess proceeds, and bankruptcy proceedings.
• Provide advisory and litigation support as needed for other departments in the Finance and General Government Group.
• Advise and represent on federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding election process, public finance, local tax, and general governance.
• Advise local legislative bodies, and draft County ordinances and resolutions.

Requirements

• Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California; AND,
• Two (2) years of experience as a Principal Deputy County Counsel Attorney in the County of San Diego, or at an equivalent level with another California county or city, handling above average difficult and complex cases; OR,
• Seven (7) years of professional, post-bar civil legal experience as an attorney. Previous experience must have included serving as an attorney handling civil law matters and/or cases in a public or private sector law office.
• Note: Experience with a public entity representing public boards and commissions, preparing and trying public entity lawsuits, and drafting ordinances, policies, and public contracts is highly desirable.
• To be considered for this position, please provide your CA Bar number or attach a copy of your California Bar Card to your application.
• 1) Please attach a copy of your resume to your application.
• 2) Please attach a concise substantive legal writing sample to your application.
• Positions may involve necessary and timely transportation for field travel, requiring the ability to arrange transportation to different worksites, meetings, or field work.
• Must have a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. Misdemeanor and/or felony convictions may be disqualifying depending on type, number, severity, and recency. Prior to appointment, candidates will be subject to a background investigation.

Skills

Required

• Analytical thinker
• Courtroom presence
• Legal research
• Legal writing
• Litigation
• Knowledge of Revenue and Taxation Code
• Knowledge of local property taxation
• Knowledge of bankruptcy matters