Special Counsel Labor & Employment

*** Continuous Recruitment***

Recruitment may close at any time. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply immediately.

• Supervising mentoring and supporting the attorneys within the Labor & Employment Unit.
• Providing and overseeing the provision of legal advice on labor and employment programs investigations cases and projects of varying complexity.
• Ability to quickly develop proficiency in ancillary areas of law including general municipal law.
• Collaborating with other attorneys City staff and leadership to resolve complex labor and employment issues and disputes.
• Consistently exercising the highest levels of professional judgement and skill in developing and maintaining client relationships.

• Assigning and/or performing legal research interpretation and summarization of codes ordinances and court decisions in order to answer varied novel and complex personnel and employment questions.
• Advising and training City investigators department heads and leaders on employee misconduct discipline and due process grievances and other complex personnel and employment matters with a particular emphasis on police personnel issues including investigations conducted by the Police Departments Internal Affairs Bureau.
• Preparing and/or reviewing legal opinions ordinances resolutions employment contracts collective bargaining agreements settlements and other legal documents that may require labor and employment law expertise.
• Providing and/or overseeing representation of the City in administrative proceedings including labor arbitrations Civil Service Board hearings and hearings before the Public Employee Relations Board.
• Advising and supporting City executives and designated negotiators in labor bargaining including assisting in preparation for negotiations development of strategies and proposals and presentations to the City Council in closed sessions.

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities may qualify.. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• One year of increasing responsible work experience comparable to a Deputy City Attorney IV in the City of Oakland

• Ten years of professional experience in relevant areas of law

• Law school graduate

• A member in good standing of the California State Bar

• Working knowledge of municipal state and federal laws affecting City governance particularly laws related to open meetings and public records fundamentals such as the Brown Act Political Reform Act and Public Records Act
• Language skills especially in Spanish Cantonese and/or Mandarin
• Experience in supervising attorneys managing administrative matters and overseeing outside counsel

• Handle stressful and sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Provide professional leadership guidance and technical expertise to assigned staff.
• Work independently or as part of a team.
• Form or work with a multidisciplinary team.
• Manage multiple demanding programs cases and projects with competing deadlines.
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form with City officials representatives of outside agencies and the public with an emphasis on working with law enforcement and civilian oversight investigators.
• Complete varied assignments within a narrow time frame.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and other contacts in the course of work.
• Inspire confidence and respect for legal advice.
• Skillfully and professionally present legal advice to clients including the elected and high-level appointed officials.

The Recruitment Process:

This is an at-will position exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules per Charter Section 902. All applications received will be forwarded to the Oakland City Attorney for further consideration.

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

• 15 paid holidays.
• Vacation 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service.
• Management Leave 5 days 5 days of discretionary leave for superior performance.
• Sick leave Employees accrue 12 days per year.
• Retirement CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security.
• Health The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem Blue Shield United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plan.
• Dental The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents.
• Vision The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents.
• Deferred Compensation 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan.
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account Wellness Program Employee Assistance Program Life Insurance Tuition Reimbursement Employee Training & Telecommuting.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

This is a continuous recruitment. This recruitment may close without notice at any time. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY.

The City of Oakland is an Equal Opportunity / ADA Employer