8182-Head Attorney, Civil And Criminal

Job description

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Title: Head Attorney

Job Code: 8182

DEFINITION

Under general administrative direction, performs the most difficult and responsible professional legal work in the City or District Attorney's Office in connection with the prosecution or defense of involved and important civil and criminal cases; assigns, supervises and reviews the work of subordinate attorneys; and performs related duties as required.

Requires major responsibility for: interpreting, carrying out and assisting in the development of methods and procedures relative to the legal processes of the office in which assigned; making regular responsible contacts with other legal personnel, court officials, law enforcement agencies and outside organizations relative to assigned legal matters; preparing and reviewing extremely complex and important legal instruments and documents in connection with assigned cases.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

Civil

1. Prepares for trial and tries the most involved and important contract, personal injury, accident and damage cases and other litigation for and against the city; assigns, supervises and reviews the work of subordinate attorneys handling similar cases of lesser scope and responsibility; assigns and supervises the work of investigators in preparing for and trying injury and damage cases; advises subordinate personnel on problems of trial tactics; provides legal advice and opinions on the powers, duties and responsibilities, legal methods and procedures, the conduct of quasi-judicial hearings and the reception of evidence therein for the Board of Supervisors.

2. Prepares, reviews and approves proposed contracts, charter amendments, ordinances and resolutions for form and content; writes legal opinions covering a wide variety of legal problems; and reviews and approves legal opinions prepared by subordinate personnel; serves as legal adviser to the Board of Supervisors and in matters concerning state legislation; attends Board meetings and acts as legislative advocate to the State Legislature; attends legislative sessions as required; presents policy on bills affecting the interests of the City and County.

3. Prepares and tries condemnation actions in connection with the acquisition of privately owned lands for municipal proposals; negotiates settlements of any such condemnations prior to and-subsequent to legal action; prepares briefs and argues condemnation matters before the District Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court when necessary.

Criminal

1. Prepares and prosecutes the most involved and important criminal cases in the Superior Court; advises, supervises and reviews the work of subordinate attorneys and investigators in connection with the prosecution of criminal cases; supervises and participates in the gathering and presentation of evidence to the Grand Jury relative to possible issuing of indictments by the Grand Jury.

2. Advises, supervises and reviews the work of subordinate attorneys in connection with the presentation of felony preliminary hearings and trials of all misdemeanor cases in the Municipal Court; is responsible for the issuance of all citations, both felony and misdemeanor; assigns and hears all complaints and citation matters; disposes of suspicion-of-felony arrests.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: state and federal and municipal codes, laws and ordinances, particularly as applied to civil and criminal laws; legal processes and techniques of courtroom and jury trial work; administrative techniques and methods, particularly as they relate to the activities of the City or District Attorney's Office.

Ability or Skill to: speak and write effectively in the preparation and presentation of assigned legal cases; exercise considerable judgment and tact in dealing with court officials, juries, law enforcement agencies and other governmental agencies in connection with legal assignments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education:

Experience:

Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience as a practicing attorney, with emphasis on jury trial and courtroom work, including at least two (2) years of responsible supervisory experience.

License and Certification:

Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California.

Substitution:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PROMOTIVE LINES

No normal line of promotion - positions exempt from examination

ORIGINATION DATE:

12/01/1966

AMENDED DATE:

09/26/19

REASON FOR AMENDMENT:

To accurately reflect the current tasks, knowledge, skills & abilities, and minimum qualifications.

BUSINESS UNIT(S):

COMMN

Standard information

Disaster service work

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. 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.

Historic and future compensation