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The San Mateo County Attorney's Office is seeking candidates for the 2026 Michael P. Murphy Public Law Fellowship.

In 2014, the County of San Mateo established a Fellowship position in honor of former San Mateo County Counsel Michael P. Murphy. Mr. Murphy served in the County Counsel’s office from 1982 to 2011, the last four years as County Counsel. Vacancies in Bay Area county counsel offices typically attract many qualified applicants and new attorneys are generally not considered for these positions. This Fellowship provides an opportunity for new attorneys to receive training and experience in advising and litigating on behalf of government agencies as they begin their legal careers.

Attorneys in the San Mateo County Attorney’s Office (previously known as the County Counsel’s Office) are generalists. We provide legal advice to County departments, school districts, and special districts; litigate civil cases in State and Federal courts and before administrative agencies; and manage calendar assignments in Dependency, Probate, Lanterman Petris Short Act, and other specialized areas of law. Fellows are given the opportunity to experience a wide range of public sector work, in litigation, public policy, and advice roles. The goal is to provide each Fellow a year in the life of a Deputy County Attorney.

The one-year Fellowship position is focused on providing opportunities to recent law school graduates and judicial clerks. This Fellowship will begin in the Fall of 2026. Law School graduates who will be sitting for the 2026 July Bar Exam are encouraged to apply.

The annual salary range for the position is $131,673 to $187,860.

To apply, please submit in one combined PDF: a resume, cover letter, writing sample, unofficial transcript, and a list of references to cc_applications@smcgov.org by 11:59 p.m. on September 1, 2025.

Applications will be accepted by email only (cc_applications@smcgov.org).

The Superior Court of California, San Mateo County is seeking highly qualified individuals for the position of Court Commissioner. 

The appointment to this position shall be by the judges of the superior court and shall be under the general direction of the presiding judge.

Pursuant to California Rules of Court, candidates must have been admitted to practice law in California for at least 10 years or, on a finding of good cause by the presiding judge, for at least 5 years.

The commissioner’s duties include the subordinate judicial duties set forth in Code of Civil Procedures 259, which include but are not limited to conducting judicial hearings in a broad range of civil proceedings which may include family law, making findings of facts in traffic, small claims, and criminal proceedings, and performing other subordinate judicial activities as may be conferred by law or by order of the court.

There are currently two vacancies for Court Commissioners.  One position is a regular position and the second is a limited term position.  Limited term positions are full-time, temporary assignments not to exceed three years. Limited term employees receive medical and dental benefits, like regular employees, and a defined contribution retirement plan. 

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Experience as a hearing officer, judge pro-tem, or mediator.
• Knowledge of trial and hearing procedures and rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of court calendars.
• Demonstrated ability to present statements of law, fact, and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form.
• Ability to manage a courtroom in a fair, courteous, and efficient manner to promote respect for the judicial process.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with judicial officers, attorneys, court staff, and various governmental agencies.
• Experience working effectively with the public, especially in stressful situations.
• Ability to work efficiently and with flexibility.
• Experience working in and with the citizenry of San Mateo County.

For more information about the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, please visit https://www.sanmateocourt.org.

RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

• Recruitment Opens: August 15, 2025
• Recruitment Closes: August 29, 2025
• Application Screening: September 2-5, 2025
• Panel Interviews: September 11-12, 2025
• Finalist Interviews: October 3, 2025

TO APPLY

To apply for these exciting career opportunities, the following materials must be submitted electronically at https://jobs.smcgov.org:

• Resume
• Cover Letter that includes:
  • You name
  • California State Bar number
  • Date of Admission to the State Bar
  • Law School, Degree Awarded, Date
  • The position(s) in which you are interested – regular, limited term, or both
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

1. Describe your experience working as an attorney during the past five years, including specific areas of the law, trials, and other significant legal practice experience. Cite any relevant cases related thereto. If practicable, please provide a name and telephone number of any person(s) who can be a reference for you regarding your trial/courtroom work.

2. Describe your community or civic service experience. Include the names of the organizations, the services provided, the time periods, and, if practicable, the names and telephone numbers of any persons who can provide a reference regarding your service.

3. Describe, if applicable, any previous Judge Pro Tem service. Please specify the court, specialty area, and period of the service.

4. List the names and telephone numbers of three professional references who are not a sitting judge, commissioner, or staff in this court.

5. Describe any commendations or disciplines issued by the California or other State Bar. Please include the year of the action.

6. Provide a sample of your professional legal writing.

SELECTION PROCESS

The court hiring committee will screen application packets and extend an interview invitation to only the most highly qualified candidates, as determined by the committee.  Panel interviews will be conducted on September 11 and 12, 2025.  Finalist interviews will be conducted on September 19, 2025.  Interviews will be conducted in San Mateo County.

For questions about these positions or the selection process, please contact Chet Overstreet at 650-363-4385 or coverstreet@smcgov.org.

TO VIEW JOB ANNOUNCEMENT, CLICK JOB PDF OR JOB ANNOUNCEMENT URL BELOW.

The Department:
The responsibilities of the City Attorney's Office broadly consist of representing and advising the City Council, City officials, and employees of all City departments in all matters of law pertaining to their offices and departments. This includes appearing on behalf of the City in legal actions or proceedings, providing the City Council with information and advice on wide range of legal matters including litigation and new legislation, and staffing City Council and City Board and Commission meetings as necessary. The City Attorney's Office provides legal advice and support on matters initiated by the City Council, City Manager's Office, and all City departments. Typical work includes research and opinion on various issues; review and negotiation of contracts, leases, or permits; drafting employee policies; review and drafting of resolutions, ordinances, and agenda reports; and preparation of responses to Public Records Act requests.
 
The Position:
The City is recruiting to fill one (1) Assistant City Attorney position. Ideally, the position will be assigned to act as the primary advisor to the City’s Human Resources Department, with additional general municipal areas of work for other departments including but not limited to finance, governance, conflicts of interest, open meetings, and public records.
 
The position is expected to perform a wide variety of legal services ranging from litigation (or litigation management) of  administrative matters (such as internal disciplinary appeals, PERB UPC charges, and CalPERS determinations) to collective bargaining and MOU review/drafting; legal research and drafting opinions; negotiating contracts; drafting disciplinary documents; drafting resolutions and ordinances; providing on-call legal support to all divisions of the Human Resources Department (records, benefits, testing, classification, labor, workers compensation, recruitment, safety, risk management, etc.); and, staffing commission meetings such as the Civil Service Commission and Salary Setting Commission. This position is also expected to perform other duties as assigned.
 
The ideal candidate will have superior legal analytical ability and excellent research, writing and oral communication skills and the ability to deal effectively with City employees, opposing counsel, elected and appointed officials, and members of the public.
 
The ideal candidate will also have experience defending  allegations of misconduct in personnel matters, significant experience advising on human resource issues, including Fair Labor Standards Act, Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, labor negotiations, California Public Employees’ Retirement Law, state and federal benefits/leave laws, state and federal employment-related tax laws, and experience providing training in laws, regulations, policies and best practices in personnel management and workplace misconduct

This is a professional position in the Unclassified Service, is an “at-will” position, and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager. This position is responsible for performing a broad range of duties, which deal with more complex issues. An incumbent in this classification must exercise independent judgment and discretion; manage, control, and direct employees; and formulate administrative policies for the effective use of assigned personnel. The position requires a demonstrated ability to work well with management, professional and administrative support employees in the Office; with clients, professionals, managers, City’s executive management team and all City Departments and elected and appointed officials from the City and various boards, commissions, and committees. An incumbent in this classification must demonstrate strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills, set a good example; and correctly apply and abide by the tenets of the City’s Code of Ethics and Values.
 
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Additional Information: 
Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter 2) Resume, and 3) Writing Sample of maximum 5 pages (appropriate examples would be a staff report, public legal memo, redacted memo).  Incomplete applications will not be considered.
 
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. This job posting is open until filled: Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis. If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the posting is closed, which may happen at any time.

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS.  ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. 

 

The annual salary range for this position is $213,185.04 - $275,895.96.  This position will be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.
 

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE
• J.D. or L.L.B. from an accredited law school;
• Six (6) years recent experience in the general practice of law.  Four (4) years of the qualifying experience must include dealing with municipal, county or state governmental agencies in the State of California;
• One year of supervisory experience is desirable; and
• Trial experience is highly desirable.

CERTIFICATION
• Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California is required;
• Admission to the Federal District Court and Federal Appeals Court Bar is desirable.

LICENSE:
Possession of an appropriate California driver's license is required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job.

Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
May be required to work odd and unusual hours.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Incumbents in this position are required to file a Conflict of Interest statement upon assuming office, annually and upon leaving office, in accordance with City Manager Directive 100.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.  
The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov.