Title
Human Resources Department recommending the Board:
1) Approve and adopt the department-specific class specification for the District Attorney’s Office: Chief Assistant District Attorney; and
2) Approve and adopt the department-specific class specifications for the County Counsel’s Office: Assistant County Counsel, Associate Deputy County Counsel, County Counsel, Deputy County Counsel, and Sr. Deputy County Counsel.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The current minimal education requirement for the class specifications listed below require “A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university, plus a Juris Doctorate from an accredited school of law”. In addition to this educational requirement, minimally qualified candidates must also possess an active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California.
District Attorney’s Office
Chief Assistant District Attorney
County Counsel’s Office
Assistant County Counsel
Associate Deputy County Counsel
County Counsel
Deputy County Counsel
Sr. Deputy County Counsel
Human Resources conducted an analysis of the admission and educational standards to practice law in California set forth by the State Bar of California. The educational requirements set forth are as follows: Completion of at least two years of college work or demonstrated equivalent intellectual achievement, which must be certified by the law school the applicant is attending; and possession of a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the Committee; or demonstration that they have passed or established exemption from the First-Year Law Students' Examination.
After consultation with the District Attorney’s Office and the County Counsel’s Office, Human Resources has determined that the educational requirements, in addition to the requirement of active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California, is beyond what is necessary and is inadvertently disqualifying otherwise qualified candidates.
With this, the classification specifications for the classes listed above have been revised to reflect the educational requirement of “A Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from an accredited law school” to more closely align with the requirements set forth by the State Bar of California.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to adopt the revised class specifications and direct Human Resources to conduct further analysis.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
April 21, 2020, Legistar #20-0578, Attorney Class Spec Updates
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
District Attorney’s Office
County Counsel’s Office
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The revisions to the class specifications will not result in any financial impact, as there are no corresponding changes to the compensation structure.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Tameka Usher, Director of Human Resources