Administration
The office is administered by the County Counsel. Legal services are provided by nine attorneys, including the County Counsel and Assistant County Counsel. The attorneys are supported by an Executive Assistant and two legal secretaries.
Practice Areas
Each attorney provides advice and representation in one or more of the following areas:
- Transactional and General Services: Drafting and reviewing for legal sufficiency contracts, deeds, leases, and other instruments; providing oral and written opinions to the Board of Supervisors, County Administrative Office, and other County clients regarding their legal powers, responsibilities, and limitations; and drafting and reviewing ordinances, resolutions, and policies.
- Child Dependency: Trial and appellate services for the Social Services branch of the Health and Human Services Agency, Children and Family Services Division, for all Juvenile Court dependency and child welfare proceedings (for the protection of abused and neglected children).
- Personnel and Labor: Advice and representation in matters pertaining to personnel issues, disciplinary proceedings, labor relations, and employee benefits.
- Litigation and Claims: Representation in tort, employment, civil rights, code enforcement, and other civil and administrative actions and proceedings brought against or on behalf of the County, through direct representation or oversight of outside counsel, and risk analysis.
- Land Use and Environmental Resources: Advice and representation in planning and development matters before the County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, as well as legal services related to the planning, development, and management of County roads, airports, waste disposal facilities, and other public facilities.
- Law and Justice: Legal services to County criminal justice agencies, including the Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, and Public Defender.
- Grand Jury: Advice and representation with regard to the Grand Jury’s "civil watchdog" role.