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Deputy City Attorney I/II

$145,632 - $177,024 - Level I

$160,572 - $195,180 - Level II

Plus excellent benefits!

Apply by July 11, 2025. You may be invited interview prior to the close of the recruitment closing.

THE CITY

San Rafael is the economic and cultural heart of Marin County, and its high quality of life is centered on its commercial districts, engaged neighborhoods, active lifestyle, and natural environment.

With a population of approximately 60,000, San Rafael is a full-service city with a City Council/City Manager form of government with 12 departments, more than 400 employees, and an annual budget in fiscal year 2024-2025 of approximately $180 million. The City’s vision is to be a vibrant economic and cultural center reflective of its diversity.

San Rafael’s Organizational culture framework is an initiative called “Together San Rafael.” City employees are our greatest asset, and we seek talented individuals with diverse backgrounds who are creative, curious, and excited about a challenge. We are a results-driven team focused on the needs of community members. The Together San Rafael initiative is focused on modernizing City services and increasing the engagement of employees. This initiative recognizes the interconnectedness of the customer and employee experience.

THE DEPARTMENT

At the helm of the City’s legal leadership is a part-time elected City Attorney, Rob Epstein, who has served for seventeen years as San Rafael’s City Attorney with dedication and expertise. An elected City Attorney is fairly rare (a total of 10 statewide) and the part-time position is even more unique. For many years, this distinctive structure has delivered an effective combination of elected political leadership with professional legal support for the City. In this model, the elected City Attorney sits as a trusted counterpart to the elected City Council, providing both legal advice and political leadership.

In addition to the elected part-time City Attorney, the City’s legal office is comprised of two full-time attorneys and one legal assistant. The legal team has been known for its collegial, respectful, and inclusive environment. The City Attorney’s Office also oversees and collaborates with various outside legal counsel. 

Due to the part-time nature of the position, the elected City Attorney does not manage or oversee the daily operations of the City’s legal affairs. Instead, this responsibility falls to the Chief Assistant City Attorney, who provides operational leadership and management. While the elected City Attorney offers high-level legal oversight and representation, the Chief Assistant City Attorney and support staff handle the bulk of the legal work, ensuring the City’s legal needs are met efficiently and effectively.  This structure balances the benefits of elected accountability and experience with the necessity of onsite professional legal expertise in managing the City’s legal affairs.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will bring relevant expertise, a passion for public service, and a commitment to advancing the best interests of our community. This individual will play a pivotal role in providing sound legal counsel to City officials, ensuring compliance with municipal laws, and contributing to the overall success of  City’s operations.  Top contenders will also be skillful at analyzing and preparing a wide variety of complex legal documents. 

CORE COMPETNCIES

• Legal Expertise - Strategic and forward-thinking legal advisor who can operate at a high-level to provide advice and counsel on municipal operations. Strong understanding of or willingness to learn labor and employment, risk management, public safety and other public sector legal issues. Excellent at legal research, analysis, and writing.
   
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders. Resourceful at building collaborative solutions and negotiating with diverse stakeholders to find positive solutions. Astute political sense, without being politically aligned.
   
• Ethical & Strong Work Ethic - High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity.  Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines and to move matters to resolution. A proactive and results-oriented approach to legal issues.
   
• Commitment to Public Service - A deep commitment to serving the public and enhancing the quality of life in our community.   Dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment.

We invite qualified candidates who are passionate about public service and eager to make a meaningful impact on our community to apply for this rewarding opportunity. The ideal candidate will be energetic, self-motivated, dependable, organized and highly ethical leader with a willingness to become an expert on a range of municipal law topics in both advisory and litigation roles. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to - view the full job spec HERE)

This classification is part of the Mid-Management employee group, a team of highly qualified and dedicated individuals who work under general direction and supervision of their department Directors. Essential responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Consults with and provides legal advice to staff in various departments of the City. It is anticipated that a key responsibility of the Deputy City Attorney will be to consult and support Human Resources with Labor Relations, Discipline, Investigations, ADA, and EEO issues, while also providing legal advice to other client departments.
• Reviews staff reports.
• Drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments
• Represents the City at various Brown Act meetings and community meetings.
• Performs legal research and prepares opinions on various legal issues for City departments.
• Represents the City in civil and some criminal matters in both state and federal court and in administrative or mediations proceedings.  Examples of routine matters include representing the Police Department in Pitchess motions and gun violence retraining orders. 
• Manages claims and litigation with support from the other attorneys in the office.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
 

Deputy City Attorney I:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• No previous municipal legal experience is necessary.
• Active membership in the State Bar of California.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License.

Deputy City Attorney II:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible legal practice in municipal law and any combination of education and experience that demonstrates possession of the requisite knowledge, skill and abilities representing a public agency.
• Active membership in the State Bar of California.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License.

BENEFITS

This position is a regular position of the City’s Unrepresented Mid-Management group and is eligible to receive benefits including but not limited to:

• MEDICAL | City group health coverage, with the City paying a fixed dollar amount toward the cost of the monthly insurance premium. Employee only: $950.00; Employee plus one: $1,900.00; Family: $2,400.00
• DENTAL AND VISION | Premium fully paid for employee plus eligible dependents.
• VACATION LEAVE | 15 days annually, increases after 5 years of service
• SICK LEAVE | 12 days annually
• ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE | 10 days each calendar year, prorated if hired after the first of the year
• HOLIDAYS | 12 paid City holidays plus 1 floating holiday per year
• BEREAVEMENT LEAVE | Up to 5 days paid leave
• END OF LIFE CARE LEAVE | Up to 80 hours paid leave
• PAID PARENTAL LEAVE (if eligible) | Up to 300 hours paid leave. Unrepresented Mid-Management employees also contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI)
• LIFE INSURANCE & AD&D | $300,000
• LONG TERM DISABILITY | 66.67% of salary, up to $7,500 per month
• RETIREMENT | Enrollment in the Marin County Retirement System (MCERA) pension plan, a defined benefit retirement program
  • Tier 2 - hired on or after 7/1/2011: 2% @ 55, Average of 3 highest years
  • Tier 3 PEPRA - hired on or after 1/1/2013: 2% @ 62, Average of 3 highest years
• DEFERRED COMPENSATION | City will contribute one percent (1.06%) of base pay into a City-provided deferred compensation plan
• GYM MEMBERSHIP REIMBURSEMENT | Up to $198 per year
• BILINGUAL PAY (if eligible) | Up to $250 per month