Special Counsel for Federal Litigation - Strategic Advocacy Team - City Attorney's Office (8177)

City and County of San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

27d•$155,428 - $272,350•Hybrid

About The Position

The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is looking for an experienced and motivated attorney to join its Strategic Advocacy Team for a two-year appointment as Special Counsel for Federal Litigation. The Strategic Advocacy Team is a new team established to respond to complex and novel issues at the intersection of litigation and advice work. Currently the team is exclusively focused on developing, coordinating, and implementing strategies to respond to federal administration actions that threaten the City and County of San Francisco and its residents. In the future, the team may also address other major issues that require significant litigation and legal counsel. The team acts as a force multiplier that allows the Office to leverage internal and external resources to deliver meaningful results on high-priority matters. Our litigation docket is currently in federal courts across the country and generally involves cases with significant public policy implications, constitutional claims, novel legal issues, and multiple parties. Our advice work typically addresses matters of citywide concern or issues that relate to pending or anticipated litigation. We also handle projects and assignments that extend beyond traditional legal work. No task is too big or too small for this team, and we aspire to be low ego, high energy, creative, collaborative, and nimble. The Special Counsel for Federal Litigation will handle both affirmative and defensive matters involving the federal government. These matters typically require working collaboratively with other lawyers and professional staff across the Office, as well as with client departments and co-counsel. The Special Counsel should be prepared to handle all aspects of litigation, including case development and assessment, litigation strategy, discovery, motion practice, oral arguments, and appeals. The Special Counsel will be expected to lead some cases and play a contributing role in others, including mentoring other attorneys. The Special Counsel may also be assigned to handle special projects and other matters. Attorneys on the Strategic Advocacy Team perform complex legal and factual research; monitor and analyze federal executive, legislative, and regulatory actions; identify litigation trends and propose litigation strategies; and provide written and oral reports to the City Attorney and other City officials. They also coordinate with other attorneys in the Office to provide oral and written advice on a broad range of legal issues, including interpretation of local, state, and federal laws and the legal risks of proposed actions.

Requirements

Licensed to practice law in California

Nice To Haves

Ten or more years of complex civil litigation experience
Ability to identify, develop, and litigate affirmative cases as well as vigorously defend defensive matters
Ability to assume responsibility quickly, work both collaboratively and independently, and think deeply and thoroughly about novel substantive and procedural legal issues
Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as project management skills
Excellent judgment and risk assessment capabilities, and the ability to gather and distill information and make recommendations quickly and confidently, but also inclusively
Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines, produce high-quality work on tight timelines, embrace last-minute assignments, and demonstrate grace under pressure
Excellent interpersonal skills, a strong interest in working as part of a team, and comfort being in or out of the spotlight
Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment

Responsibilities

Handle both affirmative and defensive matters involving the federal government
Work collaboratively with other lawyers and professional staff across the Office, as well as with client departments and co-counsel
Handle all aspects of litigation, including case development and assessment, litigation strategy, discovery, motion practice, oral arguments, and appeals
Lead some cases and play a contributing role in others, including mentoring other attorneys
Handle special projects and other matters
Perform complex legal and factual research
Monitor and analyze federal executive, legislative, and regulatory actions
Identify litigation trends and propose litigation strategies
Provide written and oral reports to the City Attorney and other City officials
Coordinate with other attorneys in the Office to provide oral and written advice on a broad range of legal issues, including interpretation of local, state, and federal laws and the legal risks of proposed actions