Deputy City Attorney I/II
About The Position
The City is hiring for Deputy City Attorney I and Deputy City Attorney II. Deputy City Attorney I conducts legal research; prepares and prosecutes criminal matters; prepares, assists with, and handles civil litigation; prepares or assists in administrative hearings and represents the City in those hearings; and reviews and interprets legal authorities, including statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, and court decisions. Deputy City Attorney II performs these duties and also represents the City in administrative hearings before City Boards and Commissions and federal agencies, prosecutes litigation in which the City is the plaintiff, and assists other attorneys in all phases of legal work. Applications are accepted continuously and may close after ten days from the announcement issue date if enough qualified applications are received. The first application review is scheduled for November 9, 2026. Candidates are evaluated through an appraisal of their experience, education, training, certification, knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal qualifications. A minimum score of 70% is required, and examination admission may be limited to applicants with the strongest combination of qualifications.
Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited American Bar Association law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
- At least two years of experience practicing law; governmental agency experience is preferred.
- Demonstrated civil litigation experience representing a plaintiff or defendant throughout a civil lawsuit. Substantial experience representing municipal clients may substitute for lack of civil litigation experience.
- Active membership in the California State Bar Association.
- A valid California Class C driver's license.
- Ability to pass a police background check.
- For Deputy City Attorney II, an additional two years of experience practicing law, preferably in a municipal setting, and substantial civil litigation experience.
Nice To Haves
- Ties to Kern County.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work well under pressure.
- Experience with a governmental agency.
- For Deputy City Attorney II, experience in a municipal setting.
Responsibilities
- Conduct legal research as needed.
- Prepare and prosecute criminal matters.
- Prepare, assist with, and handle civil litigation cases.
- Prepare or assist in administrative hearings and represent the City in those hearings.
- Review and interpret federal, state, county, and city statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, court decisions, laws, and other legal authority.
- For Deputy City Attorney II, represent the City in administrative hearings before City Boards and Commissions and federal agencies.
- For Deputy City Attorney II, prosecute litigation in which the City is the plaintiff.
- For Deputy City Attorney II, assist other attorneys in all phases of legal work.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
