Attorney - County Counsel

The County of Santa Clara’s Office of the County Counsel is one of the nation’s preeminent public law offices, serving as legal counsel to the County, its Board of Supervisors and elected officials, every County department and agency. The Office’s work covers a wide array of litigation and policy matters that significantly affect the health, safety, and well-being of the County’s 1.9 million residents. The Office has widely been recognized for its excellence, including through awards and recognition from the American Bar Association, the International Municipal Lawyers Association, the Daily Journal, the California Lawyer Magazine, the County Counsels’ Association of California, and other leading legal institutions.

The Office of the County Counsel is seeking talented, highly motivated attorneys to fill open positions on the following teams.Prior public-sector experience is desirable, but not required for any of the open positions.

Civil Rights, Tort, and Employment Litigation Team

We are seeking an experienced employment litigator for our Civil Rights, Tort, and Employment Litigation Team. This Team defends the County in lawsuits filed not only against the County, but also its officials, and/or its employees. In addition to employment cases, the Team’s docket includes a wide variety of other subject matter areas, including tort, employment, civil rights, medical malpractice, and dangerous condition of public property actions to name a few. Our litigators handle all phases of litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Additionally, our litigators represent all County departments and have developed expertise in the work of each department to provide advice and training on risk management issues to improve policies, practices, and to minimize legal exposure to the County. We are interested in candidates who would like to work in a collaborative and dynamic public-sector litigation practice, have experience in employment litigation, and five (5) or more years of litigation practice. Experience in the other specific types of cases described above is desirable, but not required.

Health and Hospitals Team

We are seeking an experienced health care attorney to join our Health and Hospitals Team, which provides legal advice to the County’s health care delivery system. This Team counsels Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), a 731-bed acute care hospital and Level 1 trauma center and 50-bed psychiatric hospital; O’Connor Hospital, a 358-bed acute care hospital; Saint Louise Regional Hospital, a 95-bed acute care hospital; and a network of health centers and urgent care clinics across Santa Clara County. Attorneys also serve as legal counsel to the Behavioral Health Services Department; the Public Health Department; the Custody Health Services Department; the Emergency Medical Services Agency; and Valley Health Plan, the County’s Knox Keene-licensed, publicly-sponsored health plan.

The ideal candidate will have a range of experience furnishing general advice and counsel to large health care providers and/or plans. Desirable skillsets include, but are not limited to, health care contracting; regulatory compliance, including with regard to state and federal claims, billing, consent and data privacy, finance and cost reporting, pharmacy, and/or Federally Qualified Health Center requirements; experience advising hospital and clinic quality and risk departments, including on responses to federal and state survey activities; and payor-side managed care experience, including with complex delegation agreements and provider dispute/grievance resolution. Familiarity with California’s health care regulatory landscape, including requirements set forth by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), and the Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI), would be an asset.

General Qualifications

Member in good standing with the State Bar of California;

Demonstrated history of hard work, dedication, and academic excellence;

Ability to prioritize and manage several simultaneous projects under deadlines;

As some of the work done in the Office of the County Counsel will undoubtedly be new to any applicant, the ideal candidate will be flexible and show an eagerness to learn;

Self-motivated and willing to take ownership of any matter;

Team player. Our Office is a collegial and supportive environment in which employees willingly pitch-in to help one another;

Exceptional legal research and writing skills;

Strong communication skills. Our attorneys must be able to explain complex legal issues to judges, arbitrators, elected officials, a diverse range of clients, and, occasionally, members of the public; and

Able to establish and maintain excellent working relationships with other County staff.

Salary and Benefits

Salaries vary based on experience and qualifications. For attorneys with five or more years of experience, the annual salary range is $225,902 to $281,170.

The County offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for all attorneys and their dependents. Attorneys also receive substantial pension benefits, long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and related coverage.

How to Apply

Applicants interested in any of the above positions should send a résumé, list of five references, and brief cover letter to Assistant County Counsel Michaela Lewis via hiring@cco.sccgov.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply promptly.