AC Transit is currently seeking candidates for the position of Senior Attorney. Under general direction, this position, performs the District's complex, professional, legal work; acts as lead attorney on projects involving multiple attorneys, department heads, and/or staff. Incumbents in this role will handle the District’s most complex litigation matters, including major personal injury claims, property damage, tort defense, and risk mitigation. The ideal candidate will bring extensive courtroom experience, the ability to manage litigation strategy from inception through resolution, and a proactive, solutions-oriented legal approach within a public agency framework.

This is the lead, supervisory and highest-level classification in the flexibly staffed Attorney series. Working under general direction and exercising a high degree of discretion and independent judgment in performing the full range of routine to complex duties to represent the District in legal matters. Incumbents in this position are responsible for the most important, highly sensitive matters requiring an advanced degree of knowledge of legal processes and comprehension of the application of law in handling unusual and unique legal problems. This class is distinguished from the Attorney III in that this position may provide technical and functional direction, and training to professional attorneys, technical, and clerical staff.

The responsibilities and work assignments within the Attorney classification series combine specialization and general practice, focusing on specific areas of law while also addressing a broad range of legal matters that include contracts, labor and employment, regulatory compliance, litigation, real estate, and risk management to ensure legal compliance and protect the District’s interests. This is an unrepresented at-will classification.

This is an excellent opportunity to work for the largest bus agency in California, make a difference in our local community, and promote AC Transit as a great employer of the East Bay. In addition to working with some of the best in the business, AC Transit also has an excellent benefits package that includes pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, and 457 savings plan.

• Provides lead direction, guidance, and training to other Attorneys; reviews work assignments, and evaluates work product; sets priorities and follows up to ensure coordination and timely completion of assigned work.
• Directs the work and leads teams of attorneys on projects requiring interdisciplinary skills and policy development.
• Leads and manages complex litigation matters, including personal injury lawsuits, tort claims, and civil litigation defense.
• Provides legal advice and renders legal opinions on matters assigned by the General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel.
• Confers with the General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, General Manager, and other District executive staff to formulate and implement policies for the District in the area of assignment.
• Develops District administrative policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, as well as court-ordered judgments, settlements, and decrees.
• Drafts and analyzes Board policies, administrative regulations, resolutions, memoranda, contracts, solicitations, funding agreements, and other legal documents.
• Provides expert legal supervision to investigations, fact-finding, depositions, and other activities required in connection with negotiations or litigation.
• Provides legal advice on employment law, federal and state labor laws/regulations, contracts, transit district law, and the collective bargaining agreements to the Executive Officers, Department Heads, and other District staff.
• Develops policies and procedures regarding labor and employment law, to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state labor laws and the District collective bargaining agreements.
• Recommends personnel actions, when appropriate.
• Litigates major personal injury cases for the District.
• Provides general legal direction to District departments.
• Conducts settlement negotiations and recommends settlement amounts and details to the General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel.
• Advises and directs subordinate attorneys on District policies and procedures regarding legal matters; assists in the operation of the General Counsel Calendar; may assist in determining case assignments for attorneys; directs training procedures for subordinate attorneys, technical, and clerical staff.
• May be required to temporarily replace or act in the position of the General Counsel staff member to whom this position normally reports and may be required to perform some or all of the staff member's essential functions in such situations.
• Performs related duties as required.

Desirables:

• Experience with personal injury plaintiffs or defense work or similar experience (construction defect, other tort cases)
• Experience in insurance defense
• Strong litigation skills
• Strong oral advocacy skills
• Experience in supervising less senior attorneys and support staff
• Strong writing skills
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Organized
• Ability to work independently

Physical Requirements: Must maintain the physical condition necessary to: (1) perform tasks in an office setting operating a personal computer, keyboards, and other peripheral equipment; and (2) possess physical mobility in order to attend off-site trials, hearings, negotiations, and to attend external meetings and events.

The Selection Process: The Human Resources department must receive a completed online application by the filling date. If this recruitment is "Continuous," it may be closed at any time without notice. Applications will be screened for job related qualifications, and those candidates who best meeting the qualifications listed on this Job Announcement will be invited to participate in an examination process that may include written, oral and/or performance segments. Current District employees must have satisfactory attendance and performance records. Finalists will be placed on an Eligibility List. When filling vacancies, the Human Resources Department will refer the top candidates to the hiring department for final screening and recommendation.

Benefits: The transit professionals who call AC Transit home represent the rich cultural diversity of the Bay Area. For more than 60 years, we have been an equal opportunity employer honoring religion, ethnic background, national origin, gender, gender expression, genetic information, disabilities, age, and veteran status. We are not only an inclusive employer but also offer a comprehensive benefits package rooted in choice, flexibility, and affordability. Most Benefits are effective the first of the month following your hire date. Employees and eligible dependents have access to the following benefits*:

• Medical - Choice of two Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): Kaiser Permanente and Health Net. $10.00 office visit co-pays; $5.00 - $35.00 prescription co-pays.
• Dental – MetLife Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) $50 annual deductible per person/$150 per family; $3,000 per person annual maximum; preventative care covered at 100%; basic and major care covered at 90%; $4,000 lifetime maximum orthodontia covered at 50%.
• Vision - Vision Service Plan - $10.00 copay; eligible for an exam, lenses, frames or contact lenses every 12 months – based on the last date of service. $200 frame allowance or $120 allowance for contact lenses.
• Employer paid Basic Life Insurance
• Employee paid Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health Care, Dependent Care, Parking, Transit
• AC Transit contributes up to $50.00/month towards an employee’s FSA Transit costs
• Free AC Transit Bus Pass
• Federal Credit Union
• Vacation and Sick Leave or Personal Time Off
• Ten (10) paid holidays; 2 paid floating holidays; 1 paid birthday holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement – up to $2500 per fiscal year on approved courses
• Wellness Program

*AC Transit benefits are negotiated and subject to change based on collective bargaining agreements.

Pension: All AC Transit employees participate in a lifetime defined benefit pension. All employees hired on or after January 1, 2020, may be in the District's Tier II pension plan covered by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). As such, he/she may be required to contribute a small portion of annual income towards the cost of his/hers District pension.

ADA Compliant and Drug Free Workplace: The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If you have a need for an accommodation, please call Human Resources at (510) 891-4783.

The Alameda Contra Costa Transit District has established the goal of a 100 percent drug and alcohol-free workplace. Applicants will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to employment and those in safety sensitive positions will be subject to further drug and alcohol testing through their period of employment, including random drug and alcohol testing.

In accordance with federal requirements, all job applicants selected for appointments in a safety sensitive position are subject to pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. A final job applicant will be tested for five prohibited drugs: Cocaine, PCP, Amphetamines, Marijuana and Opiates. During employment, employees holding safety sensitive positions are subject to random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. Additionally, in the event of an absence of more than 90 days from a safety sensitive position, pre-employment drug testing will be performed.