(25) County Counsel

The Office of the County Counsel provides legal advice and litigation representation to the County, including the Board of Supervisors, departments, boards, and commissions. The Office of the County Counsel is committed to providing high quality representation and advice to assist the county, its Board of Supervisors and other county officials in achieving their programmatic and strategic goals. County Attorneys represent Child Welfare Services in all phases of juvenile dependency cases, as well as the Public Guardian in conservatorship court proceedings. 

County Counsel's office has one budget unit. The office provides legal representation and substantive work in virtually all aspects of County government, including but not limited to claims and litigation, legal advice, and day-to-day transactional work.

• Assisted in resolving several employee matters in a successful manner.
• Several litigation matters have been successfully concluded in the County’s favor
• Assisted with major land use projects, integrated waste/landfill expansion, and Pacheco Storm Water District.   
• Successfully integrated contracted outside County Counsel services with in-house attorney and clerical support staff, thereby adding significant resources without additional cost to the County.

• Retaining two full-time flexibly-staffed permanent office support staff positions.  One of these positions has been funded using ARPA funds for the last two fiscal years with the intent to make that position permanent in this fiscal year. This will have no effect on this year’s budget as we are proposing to de-fund the County Counsel position while it is contracted with outside counsel.
• Other primary adjustment for staffing is to fund the Senior Legal Secretary position with details on this proposal with the Human Resources Department.

• The budget for legal services will need to be increased over time, merely to keep up with inflationary costs. However, an increase is not requested this fiscal year. 

• The goals are primarily to increase professionalism and effectiveness in service to county departments with the goal of limiting liability exposure and reduce claims and legal actions through proactive advice and counsel.

• No significant changes have been made in this year’s services and supplies budget.   
• Requested limited-term position be converted to permanent position with no increase in this year's budget.
• Requested staffing of Senior Legal Secretary position.