The County Counsel’s Office provides legal advice and representation to County departments, agencies, officials, and employees in all civil law matters. The County Counsel’s Office is distinguished from the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office, which handle criminal matters.

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. In addition to the salary of approximately $132,840.24 to $216,173.10 annually, an employee within this position will also be eligible for the following:

• A general salary increase of 4.0% effective December 24, 2023 and 3.5% effective December 22, 2024.
• Bilingual Incentive – Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational needs and certification skills.
• Annual Leave – The candidate selected for this position will earn 208 hours per year, increasing to 288.08 hours after 5 years of service.
• Annual Leave Redemption – The ability to “cash in” or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after using 80 hours of annual leave within the previous 12 months (Management Resolution, § 1205).
• Deferred Compensation – Eligible to participate in the County’s 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Insurance Plans – Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your dependents. A maximum flexible credit allowance of up to $21,450 annually.
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Increase your spending power by reimbursement with pre-taxed dollars for IRS-approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Holidays – 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Pension Plan – Both you and the County contribute to the County’s Retirement Plan. If you are eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.
• Additional Benefits – Professional Memberships, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Wellness Program.

An Assistant County Counsel position is available in the Civil Attorney III or Senior Civil Attorney classification, depending upon candidate experience. The position will primarily support the County’s Health Care Agency. The Health Care Agency operates an integrated public health care delivery system consisting of two hospitals, network of specialty clinics, and health care plan. The Health Care Agency also includes a behavioral health department, department of public health, and emergency medical services division. The ideal candidate will have experience or strong interest in providing advice to healthcare providers and administrators on matters of importance to the industry such as regulatory compliance, contracting and procurement, quality improvement and risk management, certification and licensing, pharmacy services, policies and procedures, health information privacy and data security, medical ethics, and health care finance.

APPROXIMATE MONTHLY SALARY:
Civil Attorney III: $11,070.02 – $15,498.03
Senior Civil Attorney: $12,866.18 – $18,014.42
Civil attorneys receive management benefits and are exempt from overtime compensation.

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, the incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further exam upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

Examples Of Duties
Typical duties include, but are not limited, the following:

• Conduct legal research and provide advice regarding healthcare and behavioral health operational issues including patient consent, risk management, medical staff management and privileges, licensing and certification, policies and procedures, procurement, regulatory requirements and compliance, medical ethics, and other areas of health care operations subject to state and federal laws and regulations.
• Review and prepare contracts and agreements with medical professionals and other health care providers, medical equipment and supply vendors, and health information technology vendors.
• Draft ordinances, resolutions, bylaws and other legal documents.
• Attend, advise, and represent County officials at meetings of the Board of Supervisors, Health Care System Oversight Committee, Behavioral Health Advisory Board, and other boards and commissions as needed.
• Represent the County in administrative hearings and before superior, appellate, and federal courts.
• Collaborate with outside legal counsel on advisory and litigation matters.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications
These are entrance requirements to the recruitment process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

Required Legal Experience:

• All levels require graduation from law school and active membership in the State Bar of California.
• Civil Attorney III – A minimum of four (4) years of professional legal experience.
• Senior Civil Attorney – A minimum of six (6) years of professional legal experience.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• General advisory and civil litigation experience representing public entities and officials in state and federal courts and administrative proceedings.

Desired Legal Experience:

• Experience with healthcare contracting and procurement
• Experience with or a strong interest in learning state and federal laws and regulations such as Medi-Cal, California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute, Mental Health Services Act, and federal and state patient privacy laws
• Experience with or strong interest in learning state conflict of interest laws including the Political Reform Act and Government Code section 1090 et seq.
• Experience providing legal advice to healthcare providers and administrators.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Working (IIII) to comprehensive (Sr.) knowledge of: the canons of professional ethics of the American Bar Association and related provisions of the California State Bar; legal principles and their application; rules of evidence and the conduct of court proceedings; legal research methods; state and federal laws and regulations regarding the provision of healthcare and behavioral health services such as Medi-Cal, California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute, Mental Health Services Act, and federal and state patient privacy laws; state conflict of interest laws including the Political Reform Act and Government Code section 1090 et seq.

Working (III) to comprehensive (Sr.) ability to: analyze difficult and complex legal problems; perform exhaustive legal research for principles of law, applicable statutes, and cases in point; apply legal rules and principles; present statements of fact and argue logically and clearly both orally and in writing; view legal problems in the perspective of the many interrelated factors rather than as a single case; draft legal instruments and opinions, and win the confidence and respect of members of the legal profession, public officials and other persons contacted in the work; draft healthcare contracts and agreements.

The County of Ventura Personnel Rules and Regulations prohibit County attorneys from engaging in the private practice of law for compensation.

Pursuant to the Political Reform Act, Assistant County Counsels must file a financial disclosure statement within thirty (30) days of appointment, and annually thereafter.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

FIRST REVIEW: A first review of applications is anticipated to occur on or around January 9, 2023 and subsequent reviews may be conducted until sufficient applications are received to meet business needs.

To apply on-line refer to web site: www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 S. Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.