Deputy County Council III
Deputy County Counsel III - Land Use
$9,383 - $11,404/Monthly
About the Position
The County Counsel's Office is organized into five practice groups: litigation, infrastructure, health & human services, land use, and recovery & resiliency (created following the 2017 fires). The present opening is in the Land Use Practice Group, which provides legal advice to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Department, and the various bodies it supports, including the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments.
The Land Use Practice Group advise on general public law issues, including the application of local agency police power, general plan, zoning, and other land use regulations, including constitutional matters of due process, equal protection, takings, freedom of religion and speech, federal or state preemption, public trust, and vested rights. Counsel in this group also provide advice in specialized areas, including: the Coastal Act, the Subdivision Map Act, Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act), Surface Mining & Reclamation Act, Building & Housing regulations including the Health & Safety code, affordable housing regulations, Cannabis law, Telecommunications law, Timberland Productivity Act, hazard mitigation planning, and Permit Streamlining Act.
Counsel draft restrictions on property, and other real property documents, as needed. Counsel provide legal services and advice in all aspects of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and other certified regulatory programs, and other specialized areas of Environmental law such as: Endangered Species Acts, Fish & Game Code protected species, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act (401, 404, NPDES permits generally and storm water), lake and streambed alteration issues (Fish & Game Code Section 1602), historic preservation law, tribal cultural resources (AB 52 tribal consultation), environmental contamination/ brownfields, Code Enforcement, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), SB 375 and California transportation planning law. The workload is expected to be a mix of advisory/transactional work and may include litigation in state or federal court as needed.
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Experience in private development or public project review, CEQA compliance, cannabis law, telecommunications law, planning & zoning laws, the Coastal Act, California Building Code, housing law, Public Records Act, and/or constitutional and general public laws.
- Experience in drafting and interpreting land use ordinances, plans, and policies.
- Experience appearing before and/or advising administrative bodies.
- Experience preparing and presenting civil cases before State and Federal courts.
- Exceptional research and writing skills.
- Proven ability to creatively solve problems.
- Demonstrated initiative in learning new things.
- The ability to work effectively in teams and independently.
- A record of excellent academic achievement.
EOE