Attorney III - Law Enforcement Review



Attorney III - Law Enforcement Review

Salary

$131,905.98 - $160,332.56 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

22/11-4605-OC

Department

Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (LRO)

Opening Date

11/01/2022

Closing Date

1/12/2023 5:00 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

50

Position Information

Expand your legal career in public service. Join a team driven to improve our Sonoma County communities.

Join the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) in the commitment to accountability and transparency in law enforcement.

Starting salary up to $76.82/hour ($160,332/year), a cash allowance of $600/month, and a competitive total compensation package!*


Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
 
  • A hybrid telework schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve (typically 8 am to 5 pm but may require flexibility due to witness interviews and Community Advisory Council meetings)
  • Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
  • Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
  • County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
  • An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $1,700 and ongoing education/training opportunities
  • County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
  • Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
  • May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
Become a Valued Member of the IOLERO Team

IOLERO's staff work diligently to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Established in 2015 as an independent, non-police County agency, and expanded in 2020 by the voters in Measure P, IOLERO is responsible for investigating certain complaints against the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, auditing investigations completed by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, making policy recommendations to the Sheriff's Office, and conducting community outreach. With IOLERO’s high-profile focus on promoting greater transparency of law enforcement operations, this position will play a key role in assessing and auditing public complaints and conducting investigations related to law enforcement personnel misconduct.

The ideal attorney for this position will have three or more years of experience in the practice areas of civil rights and/or criminal law cases, which included working with individuals of diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. Additionally, the most qualified candidate will demonstrate the ability to:
 
  • Perform sensitive inquiries into allegations of misconduct and other operational issues in order to ensure compliance with related Federal and State laws, County Ordinances, law enforcement policies, and IOLERO’s internal protocols
  • Develop an investigative plan and conduct independent investigations of complaints, interview witnesses and/or other individuals who may provide pertinent information, and evaluate and analyzes information
  • Conduct legal research and assess and submit recommendations regarding policies, practices, procedures, strategies, and training intended to reduce incidents or allegations of law enforcement misconduct
  • Anticipate and remain current on issues and legislation as they develop, track law enforcement audit trends, and advise the Director on factors that may impact the functions of the Office
  • Work collaboratively with community groups and law enforcement to provide education on law enforcement challenges, incident trends, practices, policies, and strategies
  • Assist in the preparation of the Office’s annual report and other periodic reports to the Board of Supervisors and the public
  • Support the Director's outreach goals to collaborate with community members and law enforcement staff, and attend Community Advisory Council meetings and other community outreach events
Please note that due to the nature of the case audit and legal work performed, the pre-employment requirements of this position outline that qualified candidates must have:
 
  • Current active membership in the State Bar of California
  • A Juris Doctor degree or equivalent from an accredited U.S. law school
  • Three or more years of experience as a licensed attorney, typically in civil rights and/or criminal law, and experience working with individuals of diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds
  • The ability to successfully complete a thorough background investigation
  • Not been a sworn law enforcement officer within the last five years
  • Zero immediate family members (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent) who are currently employed in sworn law enforcement positions
While not required National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) certification is desirable.

Bring Your Commitment to Public Service to the County of Sonoma

The County of Sonoma is the place to live, grow, and build your career legacy. When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county - its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. For additional information about the beauty of our community and the valuable services and support that the County provides our communities, please visit sonomacounty.ca.gov and sonomacountyconnections.org.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill an Attorney III - Law Enforcement Review position in the IOLERO. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title of this position is Law Enforcement Auditor III.

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide for possession of the stated knowledge and abilities. Normally this would include possession of a Juris Doctor degree or the equivalent from an accredited U.S. law school and at least three years of related legal experience, including two years as a licensed attorney, typically in civil rights, criminal law, or other relevant experience working with individuals of diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. Prior professional level experience in a law enforcement oversight/audit organization, and bilingual Spanish/English skills are desirable.

Special Requirements: Successful completion of a thorough background investigation; have not been a sworn law enforcement officer within the last five years; and does not have any immediate family members (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent) who are currently in sworn law enforcement positions. Possession of the Certified Practitioner of Oversight (CPO) Credential is desirable.

LicenseCurrent active membership in the State Bar of California is required. Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: the principles of civil and criminal law and rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedures; the statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California; applicable policies/laws, weighing evidence in accordance with legal standards; the fundamentals of investigations including interviewing and interrogating principles and techniques; legal research principles; conducting depositions and litigating subpoenas and other issues in court; written and oral communications including language mechanics, syntax and English composition; legal document formatting and writing.

Working Knowledge of: the responsibilities, functions, policies, and procedures of law enforcement; the fundamentals of investigations including evidence collection; conducting critical evaluations of findings and supporting analysis; current Federal and California case law and statutes in the civil and/or criminal law; techniques of law enforcement training, instruction, and evaluation of work performance; techniques for dealing with persons of various ages and ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, who may have physical and/or emotional issues.

Knowledge of: limitations and authorities of the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach; local government organization, structure, and administration and its procedures, principles, and concepts; office practices and procedures, including filing and operation of standard office equipment such as a computer.

Ability to: interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, and regulations; conduct independent research, investigations, and fact finding assignments, perform statistical analysis, and prepare reports; act independently and remain unbiased, objective, and professional; demonstrate integrity and sensitivity; honor confidentiality and basic constitutional and legislative rights of all affected parties; establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with other employees, public officials, community groups, other governmental agencies, and the general public, particularly those with diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds; maintain effective media relations; work effectively under pressure; effectively facilitate and gain cooperation and participation of interested parties to achieve desired results; present recommendations and alternative proposals; prepare and/or edit clear, concise reports and to present them effectively both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences; provide training, and instruction to attorney staff and other related department personnel, as requested.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

  • Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
  • You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
  • You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
  • Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative in order to keep the department’s employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate’s personal, employment, educational, and criminal history. The investigation may include but is not necessarily limited to the use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records searches, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.

Depending on the assignment, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment medical examination and may be required to take a polygraph examination. All candidates for law enforcement positions are required to undergo drug testing as part of the selection process. Additionally, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment psychological and physical abilities examination. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed and judgment and discretion will be used to determine the employability of the candidate. Where there is evidence of a candidate’s past use of controlled substances, many factors shall be used to determine the employability of the individual such as a pattern of use, kind of drug used, circumstances of the start of the drug use, treatment, behavior and attitude since discontinuance, etc. Please note that a history of using controlled substances does not result in automatic disqualification from the selection process. Prior to disqualifying any candidate whose profile falls within the provisions of the policy, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to present any and all evidence of mitigating facts that the candidate feels should be considered by the hiring authority. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CG
HR Technician: KC/EV

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*
 
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
 
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
 
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County paid premium contribution.
 
Cash AllowanceIn addition to monthly salary, a cash allowance of approximately $600 per month.
 
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.
 
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
 
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
 
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
  • I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
  • I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
  • I am only interested in full-time positions
02
This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions, and your level of proficiency.
  • Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position
03
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
  • Asian American Bar Association of the Bay Area
  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  • CA Appellate Defense Counsel
  • CA Attorneys for Criminal Justice
  • CalJobs
  • Careers in Government
  • Charles Huston Bar Association
  • College or University
  • Corporate Counsel-Women of Color
  • Craigslist
  • Craigslist Mendocino
  • Craigslist Sacramento
  • DiversityJobs
  • Employee of Sonoma County
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • GovernmentJobs.com
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
  • Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Indeed
  • Instagram
  • Job Fair
  • La Voz
  • Latino Service Providers
  • LinkedIn
  • Los Cien
  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association
  • Minority Organization or Group
  • Monster
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Inc.
  • National Association for Law Placement (Psjd.org)
  • National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
  • National Associate of Women Lawyers
  • National Bar Association
  • National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA)
  • National Conference of Women's Bar Associations
  • National District Attorneys Association
  • National Legal Aid and Defender Association
  • National LGBT Bar Association
  • National Native American Bar Association
  • National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
  • North American South Asian Bar Association
  • Press Democrat
  • SF La Raza Lawyers Association
  • sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
  • Sonoma County Human Resources Office
  • South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA)
  • Sonoma County Job Line
  • Twitter
  • Veterans Services Office
  • Women's Organization or Group
  • Workplace Diversity
  • ZipRecruiter
  • Other Internet Site
  • Other Publication
04
Have you been a sworn law enforcement officer within the last five years?
  • Yes
  • No
05
Do you have any immediate family members (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent) who are currently in sworn law enforcement positions?
  • Yes
  • No
06
Are you willing to undergo a thorough background investigation, which may include a review of criminal, employment, education, driving, and credit records, and an inquiry into your personal and social history, including any use of drugs and alcohol?
  • Yes
  • No
07
Do you currently possess active membership in the State Bar of California?

(If you respond, "Yes" please ensure you have included your Bar Number and Date Issued in the "Certificates and Licenses" section of your application materials.)
  • Yes
  • No
08
The Certified Practitioner of Oversight (CPO) Credential is desirable but not required. Do you possess a CPO Credential?
  • Yes
  • No
09
For this question and all subsequent questions, provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions may be reviewed by the Director of IOLERO.

Please describe your qualifying legal experience which included three or more years as a licensed attorney, typically in civil rights, criminal law, and/or law enforcement auditing which involved working with individuals of diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
  • List your relevant certifications, coursework, and/or degree(s)
  • For each relevant position you list, include job title(s), employers name, dates of employment (mm/yy - mm/yy), and a description of your primary responsibilities
10
Please describe your experience conducting investigations, inquiries, audits, and/or similar work. Provide a specific example and describe your audience, the topic you were addressing, how you presented your ideas, and the outcome.
11
Please describe your experience working with others to build collaborative relationships with various stakeholders such as public/private sector agencies, community organizations, and/or committees. Provide an example that best demonstrates your abilities and describe any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

Required Question

Agency
County of Sonoma (CA)
Address
575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Phone
(707) 565-2331