Attorney III-Law Enforcement Review
Position Information
- 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.
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.
License: Current 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.