Job Description
The Office of the General Counsel at VTA is seeking to hire two experienced attorneys for the position of Assistant/Senior Assistant Counsel to provide legal services and support to the agency. These attorneys will play a critical role in advising the agency on complex legal matters, either in the area of litigation or transactional law, depending on the candidate?s qualifications and experience. The Assistant/Senior Assistant Counsel classification at VTA is a flexibly staffed position, meaning appointments may be made at different levels within the classification series based on the selected candidate?s background and agency needs.
The Ideal Candidate:
The General Counsel will consider applicants with expertise in either of the following areas:
1. Litigation
Ideal candidates should have experience in areas such as:
- Personal injury defense
- Employment and labor relations
- Civil litigation
- Administrative law
Litigation duties include:
- Initiating and conducting comprehensive legal research, analysis, and crafting & preparing legal opinions, briefs, and pleadings.
- Representing VTA in litigation, arbitration, administrative hearings, trials, and appeals, which may require in-person depositions, court appearances and hearings/trials, in the surrounding area.
2. Transactional
Ideal candidates should have experience in:
- Public works and procurement
- Construction and real estate law
- Public finance
- Contract negotiation and drafting
Transactional duties include:
- Advising VTA staff in public procurement, construction contracts, public finance, and public law matters.
- Drafting, review, and negotiation of critical documents such as construction contracts, public procurement contracts, and public financing documents.
- Interpretating, developing, drafting, and reviewing internal policies and procedures, legislation, contracts, and other pertinent legal documents crucial to VTA operations.
The successful candidate will exhibit a high degree of discretion and independent judgment, reflective of their specialized legal skills and experience. Proficiency in research and writing is essential to be effective in this dynamic legal environment.
What You'll Be Doing:
Assistant Counsel:
Under general direction of the General Counsel, or other counsel as designated by the General Counsel, a Assistant Counsel represents VTA in a wide variety of legal matters, and serves as primary or secondary counsel in routine to fairly complex cases/matters in the areas of labor, contract, civil and administrative law (including real property law); and performs tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This class is distinguished from the Senior Assistant Counsel in that the latter routinely works more independently, handles highly complex matters, and may serve as lead attorney. Assistant Counsel are typically responsible for less complex matters but are nevertheless required to obtain a degree of knowledge of legal processes and comprehension relative to the application of the law to enable him/her to handle, without much assistance, legal problems that normally occur in the public transportation law arena.
$13,494.00 - $17,541.33 Monthly
$161,928.00 - $210,496.00 Annually
Full job description: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/vtasantaclara/classspecs/110540?keywords=counsel&pagetype=classSpecifications
Senior Assistant Counsel:
Under direction of the General Counsel or the Deputy General Counsel, a Senior Assistant Counsel represents VTA in complex legal matters and serves as primary counsel in complex cases in the areas of labor, contract, civil, and administrative law; and performs tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility and developed expertise.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This highly advanced working level class serves under direction of the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel. This class is distinguished from the Deputy General Counsel in that the latter leads and supervises other attorneys in litigation and arbitration matters or in complicated business transactions. Incumbents in this class are required to demonstrate advanced comprehension and knowledge of the law related to public agencies and public transportation and how that law applies to the issues unique to the transportation industry and to public agencies.
Incumbents in this class may also be responsible for the direction of lower level staff.
Salary Range:
$16,068.00 - $20,886.67 Monthly
$192,816.00 - $250,640.00 Annually
Full job description: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/vtasantaclara/classspecs/111627?keywords=counsel&pagetype=classSpecifications
About VTA
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County?s authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation-related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.
VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participates as a funding partner in regional rail service including Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.
VTA provides these services throughout the county, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County.
For more information about our VTA Forward Plan, visit: https://www.vta.org/VTAForward
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Family-friendly workplaces improve health outcomes and job satisfaction for employees and increase work productivity and retention for employers. Employers can create a family-friendly workplace by meeting and exceeding state and federal employment laws relating to parental leave, lactation accommodation, and work/family balance.
Essential Job Functions
Typical Tasks
- Develops VTA defense and tries complex cases before state and federal trial and appellate courts and in labor arbitration hearings under collective bargaining agreements; coordinates litigation activities;
- Initiates claims and files lawsuits in appropriate forums to protect fundamental VTA interests;
- Plans, organizes, assigns, reviews, and monitors work related to complex litigation and arbitration matters, including matters assigned to outside counsel; may provide guidance to other attorneys;
- Initiates, researches, analyzes, and prepares legal opinions, briefs and pleadings;
- Advises VTA staff in contract, personnel, labor relations, and business matters;
- Interprets, develops, drafts, and reviews VTA internal policies and procedures, legislation, contracts, other legal documents, and collective bargaining agreement language;
- Exercises discretion and independent judgment, commensurate with specialized legal skills and experience;
- Performs related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Assistant Counsel
Sufficient training, education, and public or private legal experience to demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Development of the required knowledge, skills and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to
- A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and
- Three years of increasingly responsible experience in a public agency or private law firm.
- Membership in the California State Bar or membership in another state Bar with ability to become a member of the California State Bar within six months from date of hire is also required.
Senior Assistant Counsel
Sufficient training, education, and public or private legal experience to demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Development of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to:
- Completion of a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and
- Five years of increasingly responsible experience in a public agency or private law firm.
- Membership in the California State Bar at the time of appointment is required.
Supplemental Information
- State and federal court procedures;
- Statutory and case law and regulations applicable to public agencies;
- Legal principles, practices and procedures relating to contract, labor, real property, administrative, environmental, and construction matters particularly as applied to public agencies;
- Methods and techniques of legal research;
- Principles and practices of supervision.
Ability to:
- Analyze complex legal issues and apply relevant legal principles and practices;
- Prepare and present legal information in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in writing; make effective and persuasive legal arguments;
- Evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations;
- Exercise initiative and independent judgment;
- Analyze complex legal issues and apply relevant legal principles and practices;
- Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with VTA personnel, colleagues, opponents, and other business contacts.
Working Environment/Conditions and Physical Demands
Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Good Conditions
Primarily Sedentary Work
Work Locations:
Office or similar indoor environment ? Frequently
Exposures:
Minimal exposure to environmental factors
General Application Instructions
Please read this job announcement in its entirety before applying. We recommend printing or saving a copy for future reference.
To be considered, applications must be submitted online through the Human Resources department by the posted deadline. If the job posting is listed as ?continuous,? we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the posting may close without prior notice. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an immediate email confirmation.
Important: Only online applications will be accepted for this recruitment. We do not accept paper applications, resumes, Job Interest Notification Cards, or incomplete/unsubmitted applications in place of a fully completed application.
Communication & Contact Information
All updates regarding your application?including notices for testing and interviews?will be sent via email. Be sure to select email as your preferred method of communication and maintain a valid, up-to-date email address. Applicants are also responsible for keeping their phone numbers and mailing addresses current in their online profiles.
Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide individual updates. Please check your application status through your online account. For technical support, contact NEOGOV at (855) 524-5627, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM ? 5:00 PM (PST), excluding holidays.
Application Review & Processing
All current and prior relevant work experience?including experience with VTA?must be fully detailed in the Work Experience section of your application. Entries such as ?see resume? are not acceptable. Incomplete or improperly completed applications may be rejected, even if you meet the minimum qualifications.
While you are welcome to upload a resume, it does not substitute for completing the online application in full. Be sure that your application accurately reflects the education and experience necessary for the position.
Applications are reviewed throughout the recruitment process to determine whether candidates meet the minimum qualifications. Meeting these minimums or advancing through any stage does not guarantee further consideration. Any misrepresentation or falsification of qualifications, experience, education, or training may result in disqualification and/or exclusion from future employment opportunities with VTA
Tentative Examinations:
Conditions of Employment
Eligibility List
Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations
Equal Employment Opportunity
Qualification
Juris Doctor (JD)
Practice Areas & Specialty
Administrative, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Personal Injury, Transportation
Designation
Key Skills Required
Job Overview
Job Function: Legal Services / Legal
Job Type: Full Time
Workplace Type: Not Specified
Experience Level: Not Specified
Salary: $13,494 - $17,541 / Monthly Salary
Experience: 0 - 0 yrs
Contact Information
Company Name: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Recruiting People: HR Department
Website: N/A
Location
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