Deputy City Attorney I/Ii

Description:

This employment opportunity is open to all qualified candidates. It will be open until filled. Early submissions are encouraged.
The City of Oxnard's City Attorney's Department is seeking a well-qualified, highly motivated Deputy City Attorney. As described below, the Deputy City Attorney position provides a wide range of legal services. For this recruitment, the ideal candidate will have some transactional/advisory experience and some litigation experience.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
The Deputy City Attorney I is the entry-level class in the professional legal series. Attorneys in this class are generally assigned to more routine professional legal tasks. Under the training concept, positions allocated to the Deputy City Attorney II level which become vacant may reasonably be filled by the Deputy City Attorney I level.
The Deputy City Attorney II is the journey level class in the professional legal series. Attorneys in this class customarily advanced from the I level by being flex staffed. When Attorneys in this class are filled from the outside they require prior litigation or municipal legal experience. Appointment to the II level requires that the incumbent perform the more difficult and complex professional legal tasks involving a wide variety of municipal legal subjects with only occasional instruction or assistance.
Supervision Received/Exercised:
General direction is provided by the City Attorney. Technical or functional supervision may be received from higher level Attorneys. Technical or functional supervision may be provided to legal clerical staff.
Work Schedule: The normal work week is Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and alternating Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position may be required to be available to work additional hours as needed to respond to workload needs. This position is not eligible for overtime pay.
Essential Functions:
Include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs legal research and prepares professional opinions on various legal issues for the City, departments, divisions, the City Council, and various boards and organizations.
• Represents the City in judicial and administrative hearings including citation appeals, administrative writs, traditional writs, affirmative litigation and settlement conferences, and other similar actions.
• Initiates and prosecutes misdemeanor violations of City ordinances and criminal appeals; and represents the City in civil litigation, including requesting and responding to discovery, motion practice, and taking and defending depositions,
• Assist with nuisance, vacant and foreclosed housing issues (Code Compliance issues), rent control, tenant relocation and other substantive areas as needed.
• Prepares, drafts, and reviews legal opinions, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, contracts, bid documents, requests for proposals or qualifications, deeds, leases and other legal documents.
• Attends City Council, City commission and committee meetings as required; acts in an advisory capacity on legal matters as requested.
• Works closely with City administrators, elected officials and agency and department staff to ensure compliance with laws and City policies.
• Reviews and writes agenda reports for City legislative bodies.
• Exercises sound judgment and clearly explains legal advice to attorneys and lay people to defend legal analyses.

Minimum Qualifications:
The following are minimum qualifications necessary for entry into the classification:

• Deputy City Attorney I & Deputy City Attorney II: a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.

Experience:

• Deputy City Attorney I: No experience required
• Deputy City Attorney II: Two (2) years of directly related experience in municipal law or civil litigation.

License, Certification and Other Requirements:

• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Possession of a valid and unrestricted Class C driver's license.

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