Deputy City Attorney II

City of Hayward • Hayward, CA

20h • Hybrid

About The Position

Provides a wide range of professional legal services to all City departments, City Council, and various boards and commissions; conducts legal research and prepares opinions, memoranda, contracts, ordinances, and other legal documents; advises City departments, boards, and commissions; and represents the City in a variety of litigation matters. The ideal candidate is an experienced labor and employment attorney with a strong commitment to public service and a thorough understanding of the legal issues affecting public agencies. They possess exceptional analytical, legal research, writing, negotiation, and advocacy skills, with the ability to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice to clients in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The successful candidate has demonstrated experience handling a broad range of labor and employment matters, including collective bargaining, disciplinary actions, workplace investigations, employee grievances, discrimination and harassment claims, wage and hour issues, disability accommodation, leave laws, and compliance with federal and state employment statutes. Experience advising public agencies on applicable laws, regulations, and personnel policies is highly desirable. This is the journey level class in the Attorney series. This class is distinguished from that of Deputy City Attorney I by performance of the full range of professional legal duties, by the greater complexity of the assignments received and by the greater independence with which an incumbent is expected to operate. Appointment to the II level requires that the incumbent perform some of the more difficult and complex professional legal tasks involving a wide variety of municipal legal subjects with only occasional instruction or assistance. Positions may be filled by advancement from the Deputy City Attorney I level in accordance with City policies and procedures and upon recommendation for advancement from the City Attorney or by recruiting an outside candidate with substantial professional legal experience.

Requirements

• Knowledge of legal principles and practices, including civil, criminal, and administrative law and procedures.
• Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of methods of legal research.
• Knowledge of statutes and court decisions relating to municipal government operations; Public Records Act; Brown Act and conflict of interest laws; tort law and liability insurance litigation.
• Knowledge of modern office equipment and methods including use of computer applications in word processing, spreadsheet, database, and visual presentation.
• Knowledge of English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Ability to perform professional legal work related to municipal government operations.
• Ability to analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents.
• Ability to conduct research on legal issues and prepare sound legal opinions.
• Ability to learn ordinances, statutes and court decisions relating to municipal corporations.
• Ability to learn the organization, operating procedures, duties, powers, limitations and authority of City government and the City Attorney's Office.
• Ability to learn established precedents and sources of legal reference applicable to municipal activities.
• Ability to represent the City in a wide variety of judicial and administrative proceedings; prepare and present cases.
• Ability to analyze a wide variety of legal issues; organize, interpret, and apply legal principles and knowledge of legal problems; analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents.
• Ability to apply legal knowledge and principles in court; conduct research on legal problems and prepare sound legal opinions.
• Ability to operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Ability to use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Knowledge of municipal government operations, including zoning, planning, real estate, real property, labor and employment, environmental, public contracting, public safety, code enforcement and civil and criminal procedures.
• Knowledge of ordinances, statutes, and court decisions relating to municipal corporations.
• Knowledge of organization and operating procedures, duties, powers, limitations and authority of City government and the City Attorney's office.
• Knowledge of established precedents and sources of legal reference applicable to municipal activities.
• Ability to perform legal work involving the use of independent judgement.
• Two (2) years of experience performing duties comparable to those of a Deputy City Attorney I for the City of Hayward including litigation experience.
• Possess a Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License.
• Membership in the State Bar of California.

Nice To Haves

• Experience advising public agencies on applicable laws, regulations, and personnel policies is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Confers with and advises City departments, boards, and commissions concerning their duties, powers, and functions; performs legal research and prepare written and oral opinions on various legal issues for presentation to the City Council, City departments and various boards and commissions.
• Prepares and drafts ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legally binding documents; reviews such documents and offers opinions as to legal acceptability when presented to the City for consideration by an outside agency.
• Reviews and analyzes court rulings and legislation relative to their effect on municipal government operations; recommends changes in policies and procedures to meet current legal requirements.
• Investigates claims and complaints by or against the City and recommends action to be taken.
• May coordinate with outside legal counsel regarding complex litigation matters.
• Prepares cases for administrative hearings and represents the City in such hearings; represents the City in civil actions brought by or against the City.
• Responds to requests for information, including California Public Records Act requests.
• Represents the City in the community and at professional meetings as required.
• May represent the City Attorney at various City Council, board, and commission meetings and in court when necessary.
• Represents the City with dignity, integrity, and the spirit of cooperation in all relations with staff and the public.
• Fosters an environment that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and collaboration.
• Be an integral team player, which involves flexibility, cooperation, tolerance, and communication.
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, City employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Alternative Work Schedule and/or Telecommuting
• Vacation - 80 hours minimum
• 15.5 Paid Holidays
• Generous employer contribution for Health, Dental and Vision coverage
• CalPERS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (2.5% at 55 for Classic CalPERS members | 2.0% at 62 for New CalPERS members | 3.0% at 50 for Classic Safety members | 2.7% at 57 for New Safety Members) - No Social Security participation.
• Life and Disability Insurance and Paid Leave
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health and Wellness Reimbursement
• Professional Development Reimbursement
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan (employee paid)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level